What Hydramec does

Hydramec is a UK-based, family-owned offshore engineering company founded in 1990 by Peter Church in Great Yarmouth, specialising in the design, manufacture and servicing of bespoke marine Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), winches, Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) and offshore containers. Its core competency is integrated LARS delivery — A-Frame LARS (200+ units operating offshore), Crane LARS (160+ units) and bespoke variants such as the Electric AHC LARS and Scorpion LARS — built under one roof with in-house design (3D CAD), coded welding (FCAW, MIG, TIG, MMA), CNC machining (4 lathes, 3 semi-CNC mills), painting/coatings and assembly on a 36,000 sq ft site. Technology integrates Active Heave Compensation (AHC) controls via a long-standing partnership with Scantrol (15+ mTrack integrations by 2022), electric or hydraulic drive systems (Brammer electric drives for the RNZN Electric AHC LARS), and Lloyds/DNV/BV-certified engineering for sea state 6 (3G) operation and water depths up to 6 km.

The business model is project-based, high-touch engineering sales: customers engage directly via [email protected] or +44 1493 441000, the in-house design team produces drawings and 3D models, and bespoke systems are delivered on timelines measured in weeks (7-week 20ft ISO A-Frame LARS, 16-week Electric AHC LARS for RNZN, 20-week Scorpion LARS for Louis Dreyfus Travocean). Revenue derives primarily from one-time capital sales of LARS, winches, HPUs and offshore containers, complemented by 24-hour marine repair and emergency call-out worldwide, refurbishment and recertification of installed LARS (including AHC and constant-tension retrofits), and a 25-year-old walk-in trade counter for hydraulic components. Customer segments span offshore oil & gas (Fugro, AKOFS Offshore), offshore wind and renewables (Louis Dreyfus Travocean), naval/defence (Royal New Zealand Navy), autonomous/uncrewed vessel operators (Fugro Blue Essence / SEA-KIT), commercial shipping and maritime heritage expeditions (Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust / Endurance22); multi-decade relationships (20+ years with Fugro, 50+ LARS delivered) provide a sticky installed base across roughly 200+ A-Frame LARS and 160+ Crane LARS units worldwide.

The company is privately held within the Church family, with ownership and Managing Director responsibility held by Danny Church since 2013 following his father Peter Church's retirement. Hydramec acquired CAP Fabrications in 2016 (integrated as a division), employs 50–60+ staff including 8 apprentices, and operates without disclosed institutional funding, external shareholders or public financial reporting.

Name

Hydramec

Legal name

Hydramec Offshore Hydraulic Systems Ltd.

Website

https://hydramec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hydramec is a UK-based, family-owned offshore engineering company that designs, manufactures and services bespoke marine Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), winches, HPUs and offshore containers for offshore energy, defence, renewables and commercial shipping clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Marine Engineering Equipment

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems (IMAJAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Generators, Alternators & Power Electronics (Gen-sets, VFDs, converters) (IMAJAHAI), Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN)

Keywords

• Offshore engineering systems
• Marine launch recovery
• Subsea winch manufacturing
• Hydraulic power units
• Offshore fabrication services

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Yarmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bespoke LARS Equipment Sales: One-time, project-based sales of bespoke Launch and Recovery Systems (A-Frame LARS, Crane LARS, Scorpion LARS, Basket LARS) engineered to client specifications. Sales cycle measured in months (e.g., Scorpion LARS delivered in 20 weeks). Multi-million-pound turnover referenced in 2020 article.
2. Winch Sales (ROV tether, TMS, umbilical, heavy lift): One-time sales of bespoke electric or hydraulic winches with cable capacities 100m to 8000m and SWL from 1t to 50t, typically integrated within LARS or sold standalone; e.g., two 25000m aluminium winches supplied to Endurance22 expedition.
3. Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) Sales: Turnkey supply of offshore power packs (5KW–300KW, diesel or electric) for LARS, davits, cranes, winches and ship ring mains, including offshore lifting frames, slings, coatings, electrical installation and commissioning.
4. Marine Repair & Service Contracts: Professional services revenue from 24-hour, year-round marine engineering service — on-vessel repairs, hydraulic cylinder ram overhauls, hose manufacture on site, coded welding repairs, steering system and pneumatic component repair, with engineers travelling UK or worldwide. Includes emergency call-out revenue stream.
5. LARS Refurbishment and Upgrade Services: Full refurbishment service for LARS-related equipment including hose/fittings replacement, pressure testing, HPU servicing, coded welding repairs, marine-spec coatings, load testing and recertification; upgrades to remote/radio controls and AHC/Constant Tension retrofits.
6. Hydraulic Component Sales (Trade Counter): Walk-in / one-off / bulk sales of hydraulic components (filters, adaptors, quick release couplings, bearings, hard pipe fittings, pneumatic air fittings, seals, hose assemblies, inserts, ferrule kits, bespoke control valves) — trade counter established for 25 years.
7. Fabrication Sales (Containers, Coded Welded Products): Manufacture and sale of offshore containers, baskets, platforms and bespoke welded frames plus structural steel fabrication; includes industrial coatings application in-house.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hydramec designs, manufactures and services bespoke marine Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), winches, Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs), offshore containers, snubbers, bullets and docking devices for offshore energy, defence and autonomous vessel operators. The company also offers coded welding and fabrication, a 24-hour marine repair and alteration service, a hydraulic component trade counter and full refurbishment/recertification of LARS equipment, with engineering, fabrication and assembly delivered under one roof at its 36,000 sq ft Great Yarmouth workshop.

Product overview

Hydramec is a single integrated offshore engineering, design, manufacturing and maintenance company with a core product family of bespoke marine Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) plus supporting modules and services. The portfolio is centred on the flagship A-Frame LARS (over 200 systems operating offshore) and Crane LARS (over 160 systems), supported by complementary sub-products including Bullets & Running Latches, Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs), Snubbers & Docking Devices, and a full range of Winches (tether, TMS lift, umbilical, tugger, heavy lift). These products are brought together inside Bespoke engineered systems and 20ft ISO-based offshore Containers that combine fabrication, welding and assembly in-house. The portfolio is wrapped by services that sustain and extend the installed base: Component Sales (trade counter), Machine Shop, Refurbs, Coded Welding & Fabrication, and Marine Repair & Alterations (including 24-hour emergency cover). Together these form a vertically integrated offering for offshore, renewables, defence and oil & gas sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A-Frame LARS (Launch and Recovery System) Portable A-Frame Launch and Recovery System with over 200 systems working offshore, used for free swimming or TMS applications at depths from shallow water to 6km plus. Range from 0.5t SWL to 30T line pull, designed and approved to Lloyds BS EN 12079, DNVGL or BV, with 20ft ISO A-Frame LARS deliverable in as little as 7 weeks and options including AHC, telescoping A-Frame, snubber, bullet latch, push/pull system and air blast/sea water coolers.
• Crane LARS Crane-based Launch and Recovery System for fixed installations or vessels of opportunity, conforming to freight container sizes, with over 160 systems currently working offshore. Range from 4tm to 75tm marine spec cranes, Atex Zone 2 rated electrical systems with Eexd electric motor, weighing up to 16 tonnes; Lloyds approved for freestanding use up to 300m water depth and certified for sea state 6 (3G).
• Winches (ROV tether, TMS lift, umbilical, tugger, heavy lift) Full range of ROV free swimming tether winches, TMS based lift winches, slip-ring based umbilical winches for side scan sonar, geotechnics, seismic streamers, tugger and heavy lift winches (electric or hydraulic). Cable capacity 100m to 8000m and lifting from 1t to 50t, built on Lloyds/DNV approved lifting frames, PUWER-compliant guarding, optional level winds, slip ring fitment, remote controls, sheaves and integrated HPUs.
• Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) / Power Packs Turnkey offshore power packs designed for LARS, davits, cranes, winches and ship ring mains, manufactured in accordance with the latest MCA regulations. Standard designs from 5KW to 300KW in diesel or electric variants, with bespoke builds to specification including offshore lifting frames, slings, coatings, electrical installation and commissioning.
• Bullets and Running Latches Designed and manufactured bullets for ROVs, snubbers and free swimming ROVs, plus running latches. Bullets machined from 316, 431 and 17-4 PH stainless steels or titanium grade 5 via CNC. Three standard running latch models covering 0.5t to 10t vehicle sizes with all-stainless construction, plastic-lined cable protection, single-handed tool-free gate on smaller latches and full load testing to 3g.
• Snubbers and Docking Devices Load handling devices using the latest plastic technology for cable damping and rotate features, with roll ram and pitch cylinders for swing and current drift control, keeping A-Frame widths to a minimum. Docking devices offer an economical way to handle loads and reduce heel loads on crane and A-Frame during over-boarding, with nylatron sheave and bullet docking latch.
• Offshore Containers (ROV cabins, offices, workshops) Offshore container systems based on 20ft ISO shipping container dimensions, fully Lloyds/DNV/BV built and DAD approved to 2.71/BS12079. Available in containerised ROV cabins, offices and workshops with 60/40 or bespoke configurations, optional built-in deployment systems, A60 lining and fire rating with damping systems, zone 2 compliance, gantry lifting beams and bench/lab fit-outs.
• Bespoke Engineering Products Bespoke engineering service offering unique designs beyond Hydramec's standard catalog. The in-house design team produces drawings and 3D designs from client requirements, with consistent photographic and video call updates throughout workshop build; bespoke equipment is described as Hydramec's most popular type of order.
• Coded Welding and Fabrication Structural steel fabrication in mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, specialising in offshore containers, baskets, platforms and repairs. Multi-coded welders using FCAW, MIG, TIG and MMA processes, certified to ISO 9001:2015 with an in-house weld engineer.
• Marine Repair and Alterations Service Marine engineering service offering repairs and alterations for vessels, with fully insured marine engineers repairing all types of hydraulics or air equipment on ships anywhere in the UK or worldwide. Includes hydraulic cylinder ram service, overhaul and supply, hydraulic valve repair, flexible hose manufacture on site, deck equipment maintenance, ships steering system repair and 24-hour emergency cover.
• Hydraulic Component Sales (Trade Counter) Walk-in trade counter established for 25 years supplying a wide variety of hydraulic equipment including filters, adaptors, quick release couplings, probe and carriers, bearings, hard pipe fittings, pneumatic air fittings, seals, hose assemblies, inserts, ferrels and bespoke control valves, with sales and technical department available for sourcing non-stocked components.
• Machine Shop Comprehensive in-house machine shop with 4 lathes and 3 semi-CNC milling machines for machining most LARS components. Manufactures components in relatively small batches with flexibility to interrupt production runs for customer machining support, complementing the fabrication department for ship mobilisations in any east coast port.
• LARS Refurbishment and Upgrade Service Full refurbishment service for LARS-related equipment from small-scale repairs to complete rebuilds, including hose and fittings replacement with pressure testing, HPU servicing, coded welding repairs, marine specification coatings, load testing and full recertification. System upgrades available including remote and radio remote controls, Active Heave Compensation and Constant Tension control systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 A-Frame LARS systems operating offshore worldwide
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, minor community partner, minor community sponsorship, flagship strategic technology partner, minor co-development partner and core certification partner.

• Alzheimer's SocietyminorOthers · 6 March 2026The Church family will make a donation to the Alzheimer's Society in memory of founder Peter Church (who passed on 1st April following a battle with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's). Donations are welcome via peterchurch.muchloved.com.
• National Apprenticeship Week (UK Government initiative)minor community partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 February 2026Hydramec is participating in National Apprenticeship Week (9–15 February) with eight apprentices (4 welding, 3 engineering, 1 machining). The initiative is co-promoted via the NAW website (naw.appawards.co.uk).
• Bohemians FCminor community sponsorshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 August 2025Hydramec sponsored the 2025 Bohemians Festival of Football (Under 7s, 8s, 11s, 13s, 15s; ~200 games, ~500 goals over two days). The company has been sponsoring Bohemians FC for over 13 years as part of its commitment to grassroots football and the local Great Yarmouth community.
• Scantrol ASflagship strategic technology partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2021Scantrol (Bergen, Norway) is Hydramec's long-standing chosen supplier of Active Heave Compensation (AHC) control systems. The partnership is described as 'invaluable' and 'for many years', and has produced 15+ mTrack AHC integrations including bespoke autonomous winches for Fugro's Blue Essence USV, the AHC Basket LARS for AKOFS Offshore, the Scorpion LARS, the Endurance22 winches and the Electric AHC LARS for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Scantrol is described as Hydramec's 'favoured control system partner' and 'first port of call when AHC is required'.
• SEA-KIT Internationalminor co-development partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2021SEA-KIT is the builder of Fugro's 12m Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessel. Hydramec's in-house design team modelled every aspect of the LARS system allowing SEA-KIT to place the models into their vessel hull to verify fit-out. The collaboration underpinned the development of fully autonomous launch and recovery for USVs.
• Lloyds Register / DNV / Bureau Veritas (BV)core certification partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHydramec's engineering team liaises with Lloyds, DNV and BV for design approval of LARS, winches and offshore containers (e.g., BS EN 12079, DAD 2.71/BS12079). Crane LARS are Lloyds approved for freestanding use up to 300m water depth and certified for sea state 6 (3G). Containers are fully Lloyds/DNV/BV built.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dynacon: US-based specialist in winches, AHC systems and Launch & Recovery equipment for subsea and surface vessels. Direct competitor on AHC-integrated LARS and heavy-lift winches for offshore energy and naval customers, with overlapping technology and product certification footprint.
• Caley Ocean Systems: UK-based supplier of A-frame LARS, winches, deck equipment and cable handling systems for offshore ROV/subsea operations. Direct peer in the same bespoke engineering niche, sharing Lloyds-approved product ranges and a similar customer base in offshore survey and oil & gas intervention.
• MacArtney: Danish-headquartered specialist in underwater technology, supplying winches, A-frame LARS, cable handling systems and connectors to offshore, ROV and survey operators. Direct competitor to Hydramec in bespoke offshore handling equipment, particularly in the European offshore survey market where both serve Fugro-tier clients.
• Hawboldt Industries: Canadian manufacturer of marine winches, AHC systems and deck machinery used on offshore vessels, naval ships and survey platforms. Directly comparable on the winch/AHC product line and Lloyds-class certification profile, serving the same offshore/naval end markets.

Regional players

• Cathelco: UK-based marine engineering company supplying corrosion control, engineering services and marine equipment to commercial shipping and offshore operators. Comparable as a UK-headquartered marine engineering peer in the same Great Yarmouth/UK marine cluster, though focused on a different sub-segment of marine equipment and services.

Broad incumbents

• Liebherr Maritime: German-Swiss manufacturer of offshore and shipboard cranes, including heavy-lift and AHC-enabled crane systems for offshore vessels. Overlaps with Hydramec's Crane LARS range on marine-spec certified cranes for offshore deployment, with substantially larger scale and a global dealer/service network.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian-headquartered global incumbent in offshore and subsea technology, supplying vessel automation, dynamic positioning, winch control systems and complete integrated deck packages. Broader portfolio than Hydramec but overlaps significantly on winch/AHC control systems and offshore LARS integration for naval and oil & gas vessels.
• Huisman: Dutch manufacturer of heavy offshore lifting equipment, cranes, winches and foundation installation tools for the offshore energy and maritime industries. Broader scale and product scope than Hydramec but directly comparable on bespoke offshore cranes, AHC winches and LARS for harsh-environment vessels.
• Palfinger Marine: Austrian-headquartered global manufacturer of marine cranes, davits, winches and deck handling equipment. Comparable on Crane LARS and offshore deck machinery product lines, with a much broader geographic and product footprint and a stronger reseller/distribution model than Hydramec's direct bespoke sales approach.

Others

• Scantrol AS: Norwegian supplier of Active Heave Compensation (mTrack) control systems and integrated winch control solutions. Not a direct competitor but Hydramec's 'favoured control system partner' across 15+ AHC LARS integrations; comparable technology stack in AHC and a strategic ecosystem dependency for Hydramec's premium products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/with_replies

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydramec