Flexofold
Flexofold is a Danish manufacturer founded in 1992 that designs and produces folding propellers (2/3/4-blade, saildrive and shaft variants) for sailboats and multihull yachts, selling direct to boat owners, marine dealers, and over 60 OEM boat builders worldwide from its Vejle factory.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersVejle, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Flexofold does
Flexofold ApS, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Vejle, Denmark, designs, manufactures, and sells folding propellers for sailboats and multihull yachts. The company's product line covers 2-blade, 3-blade, and 4-blade configurations for both saildrive and shaft installations, plus dedicated variants for Torqeedo electric POD systems. Core technology centers on a twisted blade profile optimized for peripheral velocity along the blade length, centrifugal-force-driven unfolding, water-pressure-driven folding, closed gearing to prevent marine debris intrusion, and ALCARO aluminum bronze alloy construction. All manufacturing is conducted at a single CNC-equipped facility in Vejle.
Flexofold operates a hybrid business model combining OEM sales to over 60 boat builders worldwide (including Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Hanse, Swan, X-Yachts, Dehler, Elan, and others) with direct-to-consumer sales to private sailboat and multihull owners via the company website and a network of regional distributors across Europe, North America, Oceania, and Africa. Revenue is generated through custom hardware sales (quote-based on boat, engine, and gearbox specifications), spare parts and accessories sold through a dedicated webshop, and ancillary technical advisory and repair services. Pricing is opaque and quote-based, with payment accepted in DKK, EUR, and USD via card or bank transfer.
The company was acquired by Yanmar Marine International on December 1, 2017, but continues to operate from its Danish factory under its own brand as a registered Danish entity. Sales are global, with UPS-shipping fulfillment typically within 3-5 business days. The marketing approach emphasizes technical content (multi-language websites, blog, monthly newsletter), boat show presence, and direct customer consultation by propeller experts.
Flexofold firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flexofold
- Legal name
- Flexofold ApS
- Website
- https://flexofold.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Flexofold is a Danish manufacturer founded in 1992 that designs and produces folding propellers (2/3/4-blade, saildrive and shaft variants) for sailboats and multihull yachts, selling direct to boat owners, marine dealers, and over 60 OEM boat builders worldwide from its Vejle factory.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flexofold industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Propellers
- NAICS
- Boat Building (336612)
- SIC
- Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Azimuth Thrusters & Podded Propulsion (IMAJAHAF)
Keywords
Where Flexofold is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vejle
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Flexofold business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Folding Propeller Sales: Sale of 2-blade, 3-blade, and 4-blade folding propellers for saildrive and shaft installations. Custom manufacturing based on customer specifications for blade count, diameter, and pitch.
- Spare Parts: Sale of spare parts including blades, hubs, anodes, and hardware for existing customers.
- Advisory Services: Technical advisory services and propeller sizing recommendations provided to customers.
- Repairs: Repair services offered both during and beyond warranty period.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom propeller quotation based on boat specifications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Flexofold product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flexofold develops, manufactures, and sells folding propellers for sailboats and multihull yachts in 2-blade, 3-blade, and 4-blade variants for saildrive and shaft installations, including specialized versions for Torqeedo electric POD systems. All propellers are custom-built in Denmark using ALCARO aluminum bronze alloy with proprietary twisted blade profiles and closed gearing design, and sold either directly to boat builders as OEM equipment or direct to private boat owners worldwide.
Product overview
Flexofold is a Danish manufacturer that develops, designs, and produces folding propellers for sailboats and multihull yachts. The product portfolio centers on folding propellers available in 2-blade, 3-blade, and 4-blade configurations for two installation types: Saildrive (including Saildrive Composite and LA variants) and Shaft. The product line includes dedicated variants for Torqeedo electric POD systems (POD 4/6 and Composite). All propellers are manufactured in Denmark using ALCARO aluminum bronze alloy, with a single-factory production setup in Vejle, Denmark. The core offering is complemented by spare parts and installation guides. The company was acquired by Yanmar Marine International in 2017 but continues to operate independently from its Danish factory.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 2-Blade Saildrive Folding Propeller 2-blade folding propeller for saildrive installation, offering minimal drag under sail and strong engine thrust; designed to fit all common saildrive models.
- 2-Blade Composite Saildrive Folding Propeller Next-generation 2-blade folding propeller for saildrive built with composite materials, offering a lightweight yet durable construction for sailboat applications.
- 2-Blade LA Saildrive Folding Propeller 2-blade low-angle saildrive folding propeller providing excellent reverse thrust performance alongside forward propulsion for sailboats.
- 3-Blade Saildrive Folding Propeller 3-blade folding propeller for saildrive installation offering powerful and smooth propulsion with synchronized blade opening and folding via double helical gears.
- 3- or 4-Blade SD15 Saildrive Folding Propeller Heavy-duty 3- or 4-blade folding propeller for saildrive tailored for larger engines, providing powerful hydrodynamic performance for larger sailboats and yachts.
- 2-Blade Shaft Folding Propeller 2-blade folding propeller for shaft installation delivering minimal drag for sailing and strong motor propulsion, compatible with ISO, SAE, and IMP standard shafts.
- 3-Blade Shaft Folding Propeller 3-blade shaft folding propeller offering robust power and synchronized blade operation via double helical gears, designed for shaft-mounted sailboat installations.
- 4-Blade Shaft Folding Propeller 4-blade shaft folding propeller with powerful hydrodynamic design ensuring good performance for larger sailboats, featuring a narrow hub for low-drag configuration.
- Torqeedo POD 4/6 Folding Propeller 2-blade folding propeller designed specifically for Torqeedo POD 4/6 electric outboard systems, enabling electric sailboat propulsion with folding propeller efficiency.
- Torqeedo Composite Folding Propeller 2-blade composite folding propeller for Torqeedo saildrive composite systems, providing a lightweight composite solution for electric propulsion applications.
- Spare Parts Genuine replacement hub components, blades, fasteners, anodes, and shock absorbers for Flexofold folding propellers, available through the Flexofold online shop.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sailing speed increase of 0.5 to 1.5 knots compared to fixed propellers
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Flexofold
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Flexofold technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Flexofold partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Flexofold competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Volvo Penta: Volvo Penta is a major OEM supplier of marine engines and saildrive systems used by many of the same boat builders that buy Flexofold propellers. As a broad incumbent, Volvo Penta competes for OEM propulsion bundle share and could enter the folding propeller market.
- Yanmar Marine International: Yanmar is Flexofold's parent company and a global manufacturer of marine diesel engines and propulsion systems. As a broad incumbent, Yanmar offers integrated engine-plus-propeller solutions and dwarfs Flexofold in scale, providing both strategic support and potential competitive overlap.
Emerging players
- Torqeedo: Torqeedo (Germany) is a leader in electric marine propulsion including POD drives. Flexofold produces Torqeedo-compatible folding propellers, making Torqeedo both an integration partner and an emerging competitor in the electric folding-propeller segment.
Direct peers
- Max-Prop: Max-Prop (France) is a leading European maker of feathering propellers for sailboats. Overlaps directly with Flexofold in target customers (OEM builders and private sailboat owners) and in the displacement-sailing optimization use case.
- Darglow Engineering: Darglow (UK) is a marine propulsion manufacturer and a listed UK retailer for Flexofold. Develops its own feathering propeller products, making it both an indirect channel partner and a direct competitor in the European sailboat market.
- PYI Inc. PYI (USA) supplies marine propulsion, shaft, and sealing components, including feathering propellers. Comparable in serving North American sailboat builders and aftermarket customers with complementary propulsion equipment.
- Brunton Autoprop: Brunton manufactures the Autoprop feathering propeller, a long-established competitor in the variable-pitch propeller category for sailboats. Directly comparable to Flexofold's folding propellers, serving the same saildrive and shaft installations on cruising and racing yachts.
- Kiwi Propellers: Kiwi Propellers (New Zealand) manufactures feathering propellers for sailboats. Comparable niche specialist competing for the same bluewater cruising and OEM sailboat customer base as Flexofold.
- Gori Propeller: Gori (Denmark) manufactures folding and feathering propellers for sailboats and motor yachts. As a fellow Danish marine propulsion specialist, Gori is one of Flexofold's closest direct competitors in both product and geography.
- Variprop: Variprop (Germany) makes adjustable-pitch feathering propellers for sailing yachts. Targets the same OEM and end-user sailboat market as Flexofold, particularly in the European performance-cruising segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Flexofold social profiles
Digital presenceFlexofold financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flexofold leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Flexofold funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flexofold M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Flexofold
What does Flexofold do?
Flexofold develops, manufactures, and sells folding propellers for sailboats and multihull yachts in 2-blade, 3-blade, and 4-blade variants for saildrive and shaft installations, including specialized versions for Torqeedo electric POD systems. All propellers are custom-built in Denmark using ALCARO aluminum bronze alloy with proprietary twisted blade profiles and closed gearing design, and sold either directly to boat builders as OEM equipment or direct to private boat owners worldwide.
Is Flexofold a public or private company?
Flexofold is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Flexofold founded?
Flexofold was founded in 1992. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Flexofold based?
Flexofold is headquartered in Vejle, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Flexofold make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Folding Propeller Sales are the primary driver. The others are spare Parts, advisory Services and repairs.
Who are Flexofold's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Volvo Penta and Yanmar Marine International. Torqeedo is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Max-Prop, Darglow Engineering, PYI Inc., Brunton Autoprop, Kiwi Propellers, Gori Propeller and Variprop.
Does Flexofold have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flexofold.
What industry is Flexofold in?
Flexofold's product category is Marine Propellers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAHAF, Azimuth Thrusters & Podded Propulsion. Its NAICS code is 336612 and its SIC code is 3510.