Converting MAN engines to run on green methanol and other climate-neutral fuels is a hot topic in the shipping and power plant segments. But according to Michael Petersen, Head of PrimeServ Denmark, MAN colleagues should not lose sight of the small deals that are a crucial component in PrimeServ’s success. “Our business in standard components has exploded in recent years. You could call them ‘bread-and-butter deals’, as they are what make the big projects possible in the first place.” Stefan Eefting, Head of PrimeServ Germany, is of the same mind: “There are lots of customers who are unable to spend umpteen million euros on a retrofit, but are looking for smaller solutions, such as automation systems or upgraded components. These may only offer small efficiency gains on paper, but over time they add up for our customers.”
Desperately seeking solutions
Michael Petersen and Stefan Eefting are optimistic about the future of the retrofit business. According to Stefan Eefting, legislation that penalizes emissions, for example, makes our solutions a coveted commodity: “The EU has brought in emissions trading and emissions certificates for shipping with effect from 2024. Customers desperately need solutions, as they have to pay for the emissions they cause on top of their fuel bills.” What is more, our setup enables us to supply retrofit solutions for all engines – whether for a container ship in a small port or a power plant on a remote Caribbean island.
The role of R&D
Close collaboration with the experts from Research & Development gives us another competitive advantage. They help us clarify in the course of negotiations with customers just what is possible and what not. This cooperation also ensures that PrimeServ can constantly refine its retrofit solutions. “Our teamwork and various Product Centers give us a unique selling point. The ideal scenario is that we retrofit the two-stroke main engine with a turbocharger from Augsburg and at the same time add a propeller from Frederikshavn and auxiliary engines from Augsburg too,” says Stefan Eefting, making no secret of his enthusiasm.
Our teamwork and various Product Centers give us a unique selling point. The ideal scenario is that we retrofit the two-stroke drive engine with a turbocharger from Augsburg and at the same time add a propeller from Frederikshavn and auxiliary engines from Augsburg too
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