Empacher

The boatyard Empacher GmbH with headquarters in Eberbach is one of the world's largest shipyards for rowing boats. The shipyard painted their boats traditionally exclusively yellow. Since all boats are custom, is only made to order.

History

On 18 December 1923, the shipyard was founded in Königsberg by Willy Empacher. First yachts were built, with Willy Empacher was soon supported by Wilhelm Karlisch. The operation expanded to next sailing and motor yachts also Eissegelboote were prepared. In the 1930s Empacher had over 100 employees. In the war boats of the Navy had to be made ​​, production was affected by the ravages of war. 1945 finally fled Willy Empacher with his family from East Prussia first to Schleswig-Holstein and arrived penniless Eberbach in 1947.

Willy Empacher took over after 1948, the shipyard Seibert in Eberbach. In the early days especially rowing boats were repaired, from 1952 also reinforces new boats were built, so that in 1953 a move to a new, larger premises were needed.

Breakthrough

As Jochen Meissner 1968 at the Olympic Games in Mexico won the silver medal in a Empacher - One, the company experienced a real boom. Other successes of these boats secured the company financially. 1970 took over the son of Willy Empacher Hans Empacher, the management of the company. Hans Empacher, who had previously worked in the aerospace, optimized operation and briefed him on the construction of reinforced plastic boats. In 1977, the wooden boat yard was built. Through personnel actions brought both the wooden and plastic boat yard gain. The latter was rebuilt and modernized in 1990.

Current

Currently the shipyard is led by Helmut Rainer and Empacher. Row you could by new developments of boats and production modifications improve the quality, so that today (2010) about 50 % (company information) of all participants in international regattas and championships in Empacherbooten.

Developments

• Plastic boats: As early as 1956 Empacher developed together with BASF's first plastic boats, 1972 could win an Olympic gold medal for the first time, a plastic quad in so-called sandwich construction. 1983 Empacher had the technology improved so that plastic boats without financial penalty could be produced, the sale of wooden boats went from about 1987 back rapidly.
• With carbon fiber reinforced boats: Empacher currently produces almost exclusively in this type that has been continuously developed since the 1980s, so most boats consist of only even with carbon or aramid -reinforced synthetic resins.