IP Germany (International Farbenwerke GmbH) has been named ‘Shipbuilding Partner of the Year 2008’ by Meyer Werft Papenburg.
 

Monday, February 9, 2009

This is the third year running that Meyer Werft has awarded the ‘Partner des Jahres’ prize to their top suppliers. The award is part of the shipyards supplier management initiative which continually assesses the performance of suppliers and rates them accordingly. The award, which also includes the categories mechanical engineering, outfitting, interiors and innovation was based on the results of supplier ratings during the construction of the cruise vessels ‘Celebrity Solstice’ - the largest cruise vessel ever built by Meyer Werft, the ‘AIDAbella’ and the passenger ship/ container carrier ‘Gunung Dempo’. 

Attending the ceremony held at Meyer Werft on the 24th of January, Mr. Andrew Rayner, Marine Manager, International Farbenwerke GmbH said, “We are very proud and honoured to receive this award. Since 1999 International Farbenwerke has been continuously supplying marine coatings to Meyer Werft. During this time our partnership with Meyer Werft has continued to develop and we have jointly introduced a number of coating innovations to meet the changing requirements of cruise vessel construction and operation. Through regular meetings involving key Meyer Werft personnel and our own local and central International Paint teams, we have been working to drive improvement in all areas of new vessel construction. This award is a great example of what can be achieved through close cooperation between customer and supplier and teamwork within our own organisation”. 

At the awards ceremony, Mr. Hans Thieke, Meyer Werft Senior Purchaser made reference to the contribution made by International Farbenwerke GmbH through coatings which have helped reduce shipyard VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), improved operator fuel efficiency through advanced foul release technology and reduced operator maintenance costs through high performance coatings for external vessel areas. 

International Farbenwerke is currently supplying coatings for five Meyer Werft newbuildings, including the ‘AIDAluna’, ‘AIDAblu’, ‘Celebrity Equinox’ and ‘Celebrity Eclipse’.