New vision for the marine industry

In the marine industry, requirements such as corrosion resistance, durability, flush installation and modern, aesthetic design are creating numerous challenges for today's boat manufacturers.

In the marine industry, requirements such as corrosion resistance, durability, flush installation, and increasingly modern, aesthetic design requirements are creating numerous challenges for today's boat manufacturers.

OEMs in this industry need to be able to rely on their supply partners for products designed with performance, reliability and even luxurious design in mind.

As a leading global designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions, Southco has extensive experience in the marine industry and a commitment to building relationships with their customers that go beyond that of a traditional supplier.

Innovative product development, exemplary customer service, and a reputation for quality, have earned Southco a place as a valued supplier to this industry.

"At Southco, we are committed to providing superior customer satisfaction.

Our dedicated and experienced people around the world enable us to provide the industry's broadest and highest quality access hardware solutions.

Our passion and desire to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction is best described in three simple, yet powerful words: connect - create - innovate", explains Southco President and CEO, Brian McNeill.

For marine manufacturers, connect, create, innovate is the manifestation of Southco's commitment to the industry.

By focusing on its customers' individual needs, Southco is uniquely positioned to become a virtual extension of its customers' organisations.

"Because we work closely and listen carefully to our customers, we come to understand their needs, as well as the needs of their direct customers", explains Irene LeCovec, Southco Industry Manager.

"By becoming an extension of their team, we can reconcile the expectations of these different user groups".

This connection with customers is evidenced by the new latch Southco developed to answer the industry's request for a new design and functioning latch for interior cabin compartments and panels.

"The new Pull-to-Open latch was really designed for the marine industry", explains Southco Product Manager, Gerry Clisham.

"This small, round, flush, pull-to-open/slam-to-close latch is a direct response to what our customers told us they wanted".

"After a lot of research with boat manufacturers, we learned that most boat owners wanted something they could just pull open-like a door or a drawer.

So we developed a latch that offers simple pull-to-open/slam-to-close operation, housed in a small, round, sleek package, and available in a variety of finish options.

Further, its flush, slightly rounded surface eliminates the possibility of bumping or snagging clothing on it", explains Clisham.

"There are also no moving parts to rattle".

For boat manufacturers, the latch is ideal because it installs in a simple, round hole, which can reduce installation time of up to 50% compared to other cabinet latches.

It does not take up much room either inside the cabinet (a little over an inch), and the flush surface does not protrude into the cabin, except during operation.

The latch is made of durable materials the resist corrosion, UV-exposure and scratching.

"This latch is a great example of being able to satisfy not only our customers requirements, but also those of their customers", says Clisham.

When it comes to access hardware solutions for the marine industry, Southco understands the critical functional requirements, as well as the specific factors that allow their customers to differentiate their products.

Access hardware products must be extremely resistant to environmental extremes such as corrosion, UV exposure, and temperature.

Boat owners require latches and fasteners that operate quickly and intuitively.

Today's access hardware must combine functionality with key design elements such as polished chrome and gold finishes, ergonomic handle shapes for user-friendly access, and custom colours to match overall product styling.

With Southco's thorough understanding of these requirements, it can supply its marine customers with numerous products to satisfy a variety of applications.

From anchor storage compartments and deck hardware, to instrument panels and glove boxes, storage spaces, bait boxes, engine covers, and cabin/galley equipment, Southco flush latches, draw latches, positioning and free-swing hinges, captive screws, and handles provide a multitude of mechanisms and finishes.

Southco's overriding philosophy is to work in tandem with its customers to create value.

"We excel at providing creative solutions to customer challenges", says LeCovec, "and to developing unique human interface points that lead to product differentiation".

Enhancing the ease of use, appearance and comfort of its customers' boats through unique designs and operator-friendly mechanisms is the primary value that Southco brings to each of its customers.

To effectively do that, Southco compliments its variety of marine access hardware solutions with unique product designs that integrate easily with, and in many cases exactly match, its customers' overall product design.

An example of this can be found with one of the company's most popular marine latches.

This plastic, round, flush pull latch offers flush installation into a single, round hole, the ability to accommodate different panel thicknesses, an intuitive pull-to-open/slam-to-close operation, an optional keylock, inside actuation whether locked or unlocked, and the ability to custom colour match to meet the boat's styling.

Southco now offers this latch in a robust 316-grade stainless steel.

The result is a stylish, versatile latch that offers increased corrosion- and UV-resistance, along with a more modern, highly polished design.

It also offers boat manufacturers the option of using a proven latch and mechanism, while giving them a variety of finish and material choices to match the specification of different boat ranges.

"Being innovative is an attitude, and we have it", states LeCovec.

"We routinely help our customers build innovation into their products through access hardware that offers quick access, intuitive operation, and even built-in security/safety features".

Southco engineering teams constantly develop and modify products to meet the exacting performance and aesthetic requirements of the marine industry, as well as the specific requirements of individual customers.

Customisation examples include: finding new or different materials to increase durability and UV- and corrosion-resistance; integrating a customer's exact design requirements; adding covers and lockplug shutters for protection against environmental contaminants; and offering custom packaging specifications to suit individual assembly operations.

Southco is taking the spirit of innovation even further by adapting products proven in other industries for applications in the marine industry.

One example is the company's popular sealed lever latch.

This compression latch is already used extensively in the RV/caravan, off-highway/construction, and industrial machinery industries.

Recently, Southco engineers looked for ways to integrate the latch's features into the marine industry on boat engine covers.

The latch installs in a simple, square hole, and is flush with the panel, ensuring that there is no possibility of hitting or snagging the latch.

Its push-button operation is intuitive, and the latch also serves as a handle to help open the engine cover.

It is extremely corrosion-resistant, and offers strong, secure latching.

Its built-in compression feature helps to hold the engine cover securely closed, while also helping to reduce vibration.

The latch is sealed, and is suitable for Nema 4/IP66 applications.

It also accommodates multiple panel thicknesses, and is available in a key-lockable version.

Innovative thinking also extends to the services Southco offers its customers.

The company' website offers a section specifically for marine customers to show them product solutions designed for their industry.

The site also offers an extensive on-line engineering resource.

From online solutions to product packaging, Southco provides its marine customers with a range of human interface points that lead to product differentiation in the marketplace.

Southco products and services are developed to meet the evolving requirements of its customers' customers.

They are truly engineered access solutions that meet their customers' functional requirements and design criteria, while also meeting the exacting requirements of the global marine industry.

"Every day we're working with this industry to develop solutions our customers need", says LeCovec.

"At the same time, we're working to innovate the future to match the advances of the industry".

In order to serve its Marine customers more effectively and efficiently, Southco has developed a unique partnership with long-time Marine specialist, GEM Products of Orange Park, Florida.

GEM serves as Southco's direct marine representative for all Southco marine customers throughout the USA.

Like Southco, Gem is a recognised leader in the marine industry, offering Gemlux stainless-steel hinges and Gemlux stainless-steel investment cast hardware.

This industry-leading partnership enables their valued customers in the marine industry to take advantage of numerous immediate benefits, such as the ability to consolidate product requirements in a more efficient and effective manner, and receive responsive, knowledgeable customer service and support.

This partnership also enables both Southco and Gem to provide the marine industry across the US with enhanced product solutions and an increased level of quality, customer service, engineering, and design support.

Southco and Gem are committed to working closely together to develop new and innovative Marine product and service solutions.

According to Gerry Clisham, Southco Product Manger, "GEM will help us add tremendous value to this industry.

By combining Southco's years of experience and expertise with the marine industry with GEM's extensive knowledge, we are uniquely positioned to be able to offer our marine customers the products they need to be successful and to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

This partnership is just another connection we can offer our marine customers: one that will afford them an outstanding level of customer service".

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