Schottel constructs thruster workshop in Colombia

Schottel de Colombia, the Colombian subsidiary of Germany-based Schottel GmbH, is constructing a new workshop in Cartagena that, when it opens in summer of 2025, will be the only maintenance and repair workshop in the country operated by a propulsion system provider, the company said. Representing a total investment of €5 million (~ $5.5 million USD), the facility will benefit customers throughout the Latin American (LATAM) sales area.

The new maintenance and repair workshop will service the entire LATAM sales area. (Photo: Schottel)

The 4,700-sq.-meter site will feature a new 1,000-sq.-meter workshop equipped with modern machinery and dual overhead cranes with up to 60-tonne lifting capacity. 3D scanning for complex part evaluation will be available. A new office building, designed to accommodate up to 37 employees, is also being constructed.

The workshop will provide the capacity to work on multiple propulsion units simultaneously; a machining area for turning, milling and grinding; and vertical assembly capacity of up to 12 meters in hall height. An auxiliary pivoting crane with a 6.3-tonne capacity and 5.5 meters outreach will further enhance operational efficiency.

Operational features will include a 100-sq.-meter spare parts warehouse, automatic gearbox handler, automatic parts cleaner, ergonomically designed assembly hole for subcomponents and oil traps.

The new workshop will provide the capacity to work on multiple propulsion units simultaneously. (Photo: Schottel)

Strategically located close to major shipyards, the facility will allow for quick and efficient maintenance and repair services, the company stated, improving the operational times of customers’ fleets. 

“With this new workshop, a significant gap in the service offerings for propulsion systems in LATAM will be filled, raising overall customer support to a new level,” said Julio Carrasquilla, general manager, Schottel de Columbia. “Our customers will benefit greatly from this comprehensive aftersales service.”

“This strategic move is aimed at increasing proximity to LATAM customers, expanding on-site services and further tapping into the potential of this market,” added Stefan Kaul, CEO of Schottel GmbH. “General Manager Julio Carrasquilla and his team at Schottel de Colombia have done an excellent job in recent years, paving the way for this further expansion.”