Kobelt acquires Accu-Steer

AUGUST 10, 2015—Kobelt, Surrey, Canada, has acquired Accu-Steer Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of a range of hydraulic steering actuators for commercial vessel and pleasure craft markets.

Accu-Steer, Inc., Bellingham, WA, was founded by Bill Pulse and Paul Barber in 1993.

“The synergies between the Kobelt and Accu-Steer product lines make these two companies such a natural fit,” says Bill Pulse, Accu-Steer President. “Kobelt’s goal is to provide comprehensive systems to their customers and the Accu-Steer product line enables them to achieve this goal and better service the customer. We are very excited about the future for these combined product lines.”

Kobelt CEO David Bockhold, says the acquisition of the company and its product line will fill “some gaps in our current Kobelt product line. By packaging the hydraulic power steering unit into a complete steering package, we improve our ability to provide quality, cost effective and complete steering solutions for both the commercial and pleasure markets.

In addition to steering packages, we can also integrate our propulsion controls and our Keypower thrusters and stabilization systems to deliver solutions for all aspects of vessel motion control. With both Accu-Steer as well as our recent acquisition of Keypower, we are responding to customer demand for one company to take responsibility for the integration of multiple systems.”

Kobelt will retain the Accu-Steer brand. Accu-Steer branded products will be distributed and serviced through Kobelt’s Global Partner Network operating in 60 countries worldwide.

Accu-Steer will be physically relocated into the current Kobelt manufacturing facility in Surrey, Canada. The Accu-Steer Dealer network will remain intact but, henceforth, direct factory support will be provided from the Kobelt facility in Surrey.