Uflex USA, Inc.
Uflex USA, Inc. manufactures marine steering, control, and accessory systems (mechanical steering, hydraulics, electronic controls, steering wheels, hatch lifters, trim tabs, and VelAir air conditioning) for boat builders and the North/South American aftermarket distributor network, operating as the U.S. arm of Italy's Ultraflex Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersSarasota, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Uflex USA, Inc. does
Uflex USA, Inc. is a Florida-based marine equipment manufacturer that designs, produces, and distributes steering and control systems for recreational and commercial boats. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Sarasota, the company operates as the U.S. subsidiary of Italy's Ultraflex Group, with full manufacturing capabilities at its Sarasota facility and a corporate office in Bradenton. Its product portfolio spans mechanical steering (rotary and rack & pinion helms, cables, tilt mechanisms), hydraulic steering systems (helms, cylinders, hose kits, tie bars), electronic and mechanical boat control systems (including the Power A Mark II electronic control), a wide range of steering wheels (premium Italian Vero Volante Italiano line plus polyurethane, wood, stainless, and composite models), trim tabs with actuators and patented joystick controls, electrical hatch lifters (AV and Ulysses series), and VelAir-branded variable-speed drive marine air conditioning.
The company sells through two principal channels: direct OEM relationships with boat manufacturers for factory-installed equipment, and an aftermarket distributor network covering North and South America, supplemented by an online dealer locator tool for end customers and service providers. Uflex USA's technology stack is anchored by proprietary innovations including Zero Torque helm technology, Zero Torque Feedback tiller systems, Integra EPS electronic power steering for single to quad-engine configurations, MasterDrive power-assisted steering, a Navitech naval-certified power steering line, and a patented joystick control with automatic flare realignment for trim tabs. VelAir air conditioners use brushless DC motors, inverter-driven twin rotary compressors, and electronic expansion valves for energy-efficient operation. The company markets compliance with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9100:2015, ABYC, EMC 2004/108/EC, and the EU 2013/53 Recreational Craft Directive.
Financially, Uflex USA is a privately held corporation under strategic parent Ultraflex Group, with no public listing, no disclosed external funding rounds, and no reported revenue figures in the source material. Revenue mechanics are concentrated on hardware sales across OEM agreements and aftermarket distribution, with pricing conducted on a quote basis through the dealer network rather than via published list prices. Marketing is executed primarily through the company website, a content blog, and standard social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram), backed by a downloadable technical resource library and post-sale technical support portals for both Uflex and VelAir products.
Uflex USA, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Uflex USA, Inc.
- Legal name
- Uflex USA, Inc.
- Website
- https://uflexusa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Uflex USA, Inc. manufactures marine steering, control, and accessory systems (mechanical steering, hydraulics, electronic controls, steering wheels, hatch lifters, trim tabs, and VelAir air conditioning) for boat builders and the North/South American aftermarket distributor network, operating as the U.S. arm of Italy's Ultraflex Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Uflex USA, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Steering and Control Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Propulsion Drives, Gearboxes & Shaftlines (IMAJAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN)
Keywords
Where Uflex USA, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sarasota
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Uflex USA, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- OEM Marine Steering Systems: Products sold as originally installed equipment to boat manufacturers for new boat production.
- Aftermarket Parts and Components: Replacement parts and upgrades sold through distributor networks to service providers and boat owners in North and South America.
- Marine Accessories: Steering wheels, trim tabs, hatch lifters, and air conditioning systems sold as complete packages.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Uflex USA, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Uflex USA, Inc. manufactures marine steering and control systems for recreational and commercial boats. Its portfolio includes mechanical steering (rotary, rack & pinion), hydraulic steering systems, electronic control systems, steering wheels, trim tabs, electrical hatch lifters, and VelAir marine air conditioning units. Products are sold both as original equipment to boat manufacturers (OEM) and as aftermarket components through a distributor network across North and South America.
Product overview
Uflex USA is a marine equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of boat steering, control, and comfort systems. The product range centers on three core categories: Steering Systems (mechanical steering including rotary helms, rack & pinion helms, steering cables, tilt mechanisms; and hydraulic steering including helms, cylinders, hose kits, power steering systems like MasterDrive and Integra EPS, and accessories), Control Systems (mechanical and electronic boat control systems including the Power A Mark II electronic control), and Steering Wheels (Vero Volante Italiano premium line, polyurethane, wood, stainless steel, composite materials, and captain's wheels). Supporting product lines include AV Series and Ulysses Series Electrical Hatch Lifters for engine hatches, Trim Tabs with actuators and joystick controls, and Velair Marine Air Conditioning (Compact i10/i16/i21 VSD Smart units). The company was established in 1989 and operates as part of the Ultraflex Group with full manufacturing capabilities in Sarasota, Florida.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VelAir: Marine air conditioning brand offering self-contained VSD air conditioners including Compact i10, i16, and i21 VSD Smart models for pleasure boats.
Products and services
- Mechanical Steering Systems Complete line of mechanical boat steering systems including rotary helms (T71FC, T72FC, ROTECH, ROTECH II, ACCURA), rack and pinion helms (FOURTECH, FOURTECH ZTF), steering cables, tilt mechanisms, mounting bezels, and complete kits for outboard, sterndrive, and inboard propulsion applications.
- Hydraulic Steering Systems Full range of hydraulic boat steering solutions including helms, cylinders for outboard/sterndrive/inboard applications, hose kits, tie bars, power steering systems (MasterDrive, Integra EPS, Navitech for naval applications), SilverSteer high performance helms, ZTF Tiller hydraulic steering, and accessories including the BubbleBuster portable purging device.
- Control Systems Boat control systems including mechanical controls (single/dual action, hybrid controls) and electronic controls (Power A Mark II Electronic Control System), available in side mount and top mount configurations with related accessories.
- Steering Wheels Marine steering wheels including the Vero Volante Italiano premium Italian luxury line, polyurethane, wood (mahogany, teak, oak), stainless steel, composite materials, captain's wheels (V89, V90, V93), Captiva HU/B heated steering wheel, and accessories (quick disconnect hubs, knobs, fabric covers).
- AV Series Electrical Hatch Lifters Electromechanical hatch lifters for marine pleasure boats enabling full or partial opening/closing of heavy engine hatches, peak tanks, and hatch beams with self-locking mechanism and emergency manual opening. Max load 1200N single/2400N dual installation, available in 12/24 VDC versions with stroke options of 300mm, 450mm, and 600mm.
- Ulysses Series Electrical Hatch Lifters Electromechanical hatch lifters for marine use with pull/push maximum load of 650N single/1300N dual installation. Features self-locking mechanism and emergency manual opening. 12/24 V DC versions with stroke options of 180mm and 300mm.
- Trim Tabs Trim tab systems including AC12 Compact Actuators and AT12 Standard Actuators, patented joystick control units with auto-line-up function for automatic flare realignment, high performance polished tabs, stainless steel edge mount tabs, standard non-polished tabs, and packaged complete trim tab sets.
- VelAir Marine Air Conditioning Self-contained VelAir Variable Speed Drive marine air conditioners including Compact i10, i16, and i21 VSD Smart models for pleasure boats. Features brushless DC motor, inverter technology, twin rotary compressors, electronic expansion valve, Constant Flow technology fan, and compliance with EMC 2004/108/EC directives.
- Power A Mark II Electronic Control System Electronic control system for boat engine control with advanced electronic throttle and shift functionality. Used for boat propulsion control with advanced control capabilities.
- Joystick Control for Trim Tabs PATENTED main station compact joystick control unit with auto-line-up function for automatic flare realignment. Available in round and square base versions with chrome/black inserts, LED indicators option, and single/dual station configurations.
Companies that use Uflex USA, Inc.
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Uflex USA, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Uflex USA, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ultraflex GroupcoreUflex USA is an affiliate of the Ultraflex Group, leveraging their resources for new product development in hydraulics, electronics, and other technologies. The Ultraflex Group provides manufacturing expertise, R&D capabilities, and brand backing to Uflex USA's North American operations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Uflex USA, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kobelt Manufacturing: Kobelt manufactures marine steering controls, hydraulic systems, and engine controls for commercial and recreational vessels, directly overlapping with Uflex USA's mechanical/hydraulic steering and control system portfolio for similar end customers.
- SeaStar Solutions (Teleflex Marine): SeaStar Solutions is the leading manufacturer of marine hydraulic steering systems in North America, competing directly with Uflex USA's MasterDrive and Integra EPS product lines for both OEM and aftermarket customers across recreational and small commercial marine markets.
- Vetus: Vetus manufactures marine equipment including steering systems, engine controls, and onboard systems for recreational and small commercial vessels, with a comparable portfolio breadth to Uflex USA in marine controls and accessories.
- Lewmar: Lewmar produces marine deck hardware including steering wheels, winches, and steering components for power and sail boats, competing directly with Uflex USA's Vero Volante Italiano and other steering wheel lines.
Broad incumbents
- Dometic: Dometic is a large marine equipment incumbent with marine HVAC, sanitation, and onboard comfort systems, directly comparable to Uflex USA's VelAir marine AC product line and a broader marine systems portfolio.
- Twin Disc: Twin Disc manufactures marine transmissions and propulsion control systems for recreational and commercial marine, operating in an adjacent marine drivetrain/controls space comparable to Uflex USA's electronic control systems business.
- Mercury Marine: Mercury Marine is a major marine propulsion and equipment OEM producing engines and integrated steering/joystick controls, competing with Uflex USA as both a customer (OEM supplier relationship) and a competitor for OEM contracts on outboard platforms.
- Volvo Penta: Volvo Penta is a global marine propulsion OEM offering integrated steering and joystick control systems such as IPS, comparable to Uflex USA's electronic power steering and joystick trim tab controls on sterndrive and inboard platforms.
- ZF Marine: ZF Marine is a global marine propulsion systems supplier providing drivetrain and steering-related technologies for commercial and recreational vessels, operating in the broader marine drivetrain/handling space that overlaps with Uflex USA's controls portfolio.
Emerging players
- Side-Power (Sleipner Motor): Side-Power specializes in marine bow and stern thrusters with integrated joystick control systems, directly overlapping with Uflex USA's joystick trim tab control and electronic steering offerings in the marine maneuverability category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Uflex USA, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceUflex USA, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Uflex USA, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Uflex USA, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Uflex USA, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Uflex USA, Inc. 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 Uflex USA, Inc.
What does Uflex USA, Inc. do?
Uflex USA, Inc. manufactures marine steering and control systems for recreational and commercial boats. Its portfolio includes mechanical steering (rotary, rack & pinion), hydraulic steering systems, electronic control systems, steering wheels, trim tabs, electrical hatch lifters, and VelAir marine air conditioning units. Products are sold both as original equipment to boat manufacturers (OEM) and as aftermarket components through a distributor network across North and South America.
Is Uflex USA, Inc. a public or private company?
Uflex USA, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Uflex USA, Inc. founded?
Uflex USA, Inc. was founded in 1989.
Where is Uflex USA, Inc. based?
Uflex USA, Inc. is headquartered in Sarasota, United States, in the North America region.
How does Uflex USA, Inc. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. OEM Marine Steering Systems are the primary driver. The others are aftermarket Parts and Components and marine Accessories.
Who are Uflex USA, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kobelt Manufacturing, SeaStar Solutions (Teleflex Marine), Vetus and Lewmar. Broad incumbents are Dometic, Twin Disc, Mercury Marine, Volvo Penta and ZF Marine. Side-Power (Sleipner Motor) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Uflex USA, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Uflex USA, Inc..
What industry is Uflex USA, Inc. in?
Uflex USA, Inc.'s product category is Marine Steering and Control Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAHAD, Propulsion Drives, Gearboxes & Shaftlines, with a secondary code of IMAJAHAN, Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3730.