Sailing yachts: “We meet life dreams – that’s what we really do” | EUROtoday

Hanjo Runde, 45, has been working the Hanseyacht firm based mostly in Greifswald since 2021. Hanseyacht is at the moment the second largest producer of crusing yachts worldwide and likewise a number one producer of Motorbooten, measured by the turnover of 185 million euros (fiscal yr 2023/24). In the previous monetary yr, the corporate made 568 boats from the Hanse, Dehler and Moody crusing yacht manufacturers in addition to the Motorboat manufacturers Fjord, Sealine and Ryck. After the pandemic, the sports activities boat market has shrunk once more. And the erratic coverage of US President Donald Trump additionally impacts the worldwide enterprise of boat producers, stated spherical of the world on Sunday.

Welt am Sonntag: Mr. Runde, the pandemic gave the boot and particularly the yachtsport in Germany from 2020 to an upswing. How is the order scenario at Hanseyacht these days?

Hanjo Rund: During the pandemic there was a big improve in demand – on the similar time the capacities in business have been restricted as a result of disturbed provide chains and the dearth of specialists. This growth is now over. Last yr, the demand for a pre-corona degree normalized. Since Donald Trump took workplace in January, we’ve been observing a big decline in demand, triggered by world uncertainty. Our order guide at the moment has a variety of three to 6 months – relying on the manufacturing band. Of course, all of us hope for higher world political framework – additionally to keep away from important cuts.

WAMS: Are you notably afraid of gross sales on the US market?

Round: No, the higher impact for us is oblique, world uncertainty for the financial system and its actors, triggered by Trump’s financial and commerce coverage. The direct impact within the USA will hardly be noticeable for us, we’ll make about ten p.c of our gross sales there. In the primary three months of this yr, nonetheless, we expertise a big decline so as, which I attribute to precisely this world uncertainty by Trump. But I hope and suppose it’s doubtless that an enchancment will quickly be, as a result of this commerce battle doesn’t make sense for any facet.

WAMS: There are many rich “baby boomers” in Germany and Europe that might deal with themselves to a ship on the finish of a protracted skilled life. And there’s a massive group of heirs in Germany that represents a possible for a ship and yacht building firm akin to Hanseyacht. Isn’t that an enormously robust basis for your corporation?

Round: Absolutely. Overall, the variety of so -called excessive internet Worth people’, in keeping with new research, will increase by round seven p.c. The present market research on the yacht business additionally assume lengthy -term development of round seven p.c. So we will look into the longer term with confidence.

WAMS: Can the at the moment troublesome financial scenario speed up an additional consolidation of the yacht and boat business? Hanseyacht is likely one of the drivers of a stronger model focus in boat constructing.

Round: I believe we’ll see additional consolidation of our business with acquisitions, acquisitions and mergers.

WAMS: There are nonetheless very small shipyards in a crusing yacht constructing akin to Sirius in Plön or Nordborg in southern Denmark. What function do these firms play?

Round: They construct one to 2 dozen boats a yr and have a special enterprise mannequin than we’ve with a number of hundred boats a yr. If you have been transferred to the automotive business, you might take the Roadster producer Wiesmann for example of the very small shipyards. There will at all times be individuals who admire the very particular and likewise pay a really clear surcharge. For a serial producer like us, nonetheless, it is not sensible to suppose for very small portions in different manufacturing ideas.

WAMS: Does the subject of life cycle for your corporation mannequin play a task, i.e. the service assist of your yachts or a motorboat for many years?

Round: With us, the innovation cycles play the pressing function, change of mannequin each 5 to eight years to convey the newest traits to the water. With 400 to 600 boats a yr and a worldwide market, the life cycle isn’t so robust for us.

WAMS: What synergies do you employ between the development of motor boats and the manufacture of crusing yachts at Hanseatyachts?

Round: We profit from serving each market segments, with the worldwide marketplace for motor boats being a lot bigger than the marketplace for crusing yachts. In the manufacture of the fuselage, inside design or electronics, so much is comparable and comparable. This ends in alternatives for the switch of intelligent options between our manufacturers.

WAMS: What improvements do you anticipate when constructing crusing yachts?

Round: We see a development in the direction of extra consolation, extra expertise and the combination of programs on board. Lots may even occur, for instance within the selective use of sustainable supplies. I additionally anticipate that it is going to be about simplifying and automating the sail expertise extra, akin to placing on and taking off. The entry barrier in crusing may even be diminished by new possessions. With the motor boats, the query arises as to which improvements there can be within the drive programs. We are nonetheless ready for technological progress within the engine producers for electrical drives.

WAMS: At the time, you introduced numerous expertise as a supervisor from varied firms and industries to Hanseatic Look. Was that a bonus on this scenario, particularly in comparison with a pacesetter who has labored in boat constructing for a few years?

Round: The query is at all times, at what time which firm wants which administration kind. Different experiences are useful. I’ve beforehand skilled many ideas that apply to us in the present day in different firms, for instance manufacturing at Airbus. My COO Stefan Zimmermann and I modified so much right here in manufacturing. We have modified the fabric move, additional developed module building and launched considerably extra qc. At Siematic and Hilti, I had so much to do with premium advertising and marketing. This additionally helped us so much in advertising and marketing, for instance within the introduction of digitization ideas, additionally along with the sellers.

WAMS: Hanseyacht happens to values-from local weather safety and sustainability to range within the workforce-which are extraordinarily attacked politically in AfD-strong federal states akin to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Does your organization should battle with it or outweigh the benefits when recruiting new workers?

Round: For me, the company function and the company tradition are the inspiration of Hanseatic Nights. We meet life goals – that is what we actually do. We have a transparent technique. The means we work collectively – that’s my definition of company tradition – will determine whether or not we’re profitable. That is why we’ve considerably invested in the way in which of our cooperation, and this funding is likely one of the causes for our success up to now three and a half years.

WAMS: Do you additionally get assist out of your state’s politics?

Round: Industrial coverage in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is one other essential issue for us. Hanseyacht has been properly and sustainably supported by the nation and its determination -makers since its basis. We even have worldwide clients and a various workforce. Of course, there may be nice concern that extremist tendencies destroy social constructions and concentrate on demarcation. We are at the moment experiencing within the United States, which causes politics which can be too nationalist. But I even have nice confidence within the folks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and in democracy in Germany. Hanseyacht stands for range, cosmopolitanism and respectful interplay.

Born in Hamburg, Hanjo Runde, 45, studied on the Nordakademie, ETH Zurich and the Harvard Business School. As a supervisor, he labored for the kitchen producer Siematic, the device producer Hilti and the European plane group Airbus earlier than he was managed in 2021 the administration of the- then deficit- crusing yacht and motorboat producer Hanseyacht in Greifswald took over. Runde, one of many two sons of the previous Hamburg first mayor Ortwin Runde (SPD), is married and has three kids.

Olaf Preuss is the enterprise reporter of the world and world on Sunday for Hamburg and northern Germany. He additionally usually stories on the north German shipyards for crusing yachts.