Michiel van Es, specialist and experienced Professional in Inland Shipping

“My first position in inland shipping was as a deckhand.” Speaking is Michiel van Es, our newest colleague in sales at DROMEC. “With great pleasure, I worked on board for 8 years, transporting containers from Rotterdam to Germany along the Rhine.” With this experience, he is a true asset to DROMEC when it comes to winches for the inland shipping sector!

Skipper’s experience

At DROMEC, it is important to think along with the skipper. Michiel has sailed himself and, in his current role, can share his knowledge about winches. “When you’ve been working with winches from a young age, you know how important good equipment is.” His 3 years of experience in the fishing industry also gave him additional insight into this sector. This allows him to operate multifunctionally and support customers from a broader perspective.

“I enjoy visiting shipyards and ports to look at vessels on-site. Every situation is different. The line of sight is important, and the freedom to think along is what I enjoy most about my work at DROMEC,” says Michiel. “Financial considerations are always a dilemma for skippers. Together, we look at how to make the best return on an investment. Technically, this often comes down to choosing between electric or hydraulic systems.”

Vision

Michiel also has a vision for the future of the inland shipping sector. “In the long run, I’d like to build a network of dealers across the country so that, in the event of an emergency or urgent repair, we at DROMEC can provide on-site service to skippers. That’s why I like to visit shipyards and ports—to make connections and build positive brand awareness.”

Innovative Coupling Winch

“At DROMEC, we specialize in new developments for winches and winch systems. One of these innovations is our new electric coupling winch, designed to bring significant ease and benefit to inland shipping.” The coupling winch is available in electric, hydraulic, or manual handwheel versions.

DROMEC recently delivered a series of 12 new coupling winches. In inland shipping, this winch is used to connect push boats or barges. With a very high pulling force of 60 tons, this innovation offers a powerful system. Skippers can easily double the cable around the bollards and tighten it so that no slack remains.

Thanks to the multifunctionality of this new winch, the electric motor can also be removed, allowing it to be operated manually. The electric motor requires only 2.2 kW of power, but through the transmission from small to large gears and the number of revolutions, the winch achieves enormous traction.

Safety pawl

The coupling winch is also equipped with a safety pawl, ensuring system safety. Once the vessels are coupled, the winch no longer brakes on the motor but on the safety pawl. By releasing the pawl, the cable can be eased out again. Michiel adds: “At DROMEC, we chose a slanted design because the base plate needs to be wider for the counterweight, and the cable runs underneath along the ship’s deck so the skipper doesn’t risk tripping over his own cables in a hurry.”

Welcome aboard at DROMEC to discover this new innovation!