Rigged profiles

– We know about sailing and Sapa’s technicians know the possibilities of aluminium profiles. Using this as a point of departure, we have together developed solutions that successfully compete on the world market, says Peter Rönnbäck, the CEO of Seldén.

Peter Rönnbäck, CEO for Seldén

The Seldén Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of rigging systems for yachts – masts, booms, standing and running rigging, and Furlex, the best selling furling headsail system. In practice, rig systems manufactured by Seldén can be installed on any boat from a dinghy to a 70 feet sailing yacht. Aluminium is an excellent material for sailing boat masts. It is strong and light-weight. And it is much less expensive that carbon fibre.
Today, Seldén delivers, for example, 20 metres long masts without any need of jointing the profiles.

He really appreciates the possibility of building in many solutions in the finished profile. For example, the profile wall thickness can be increased in places where it is really needed. The strength is optimised and the weight can be reduced.

At the same time, the safety requirements for sailing yacht masts are extremely stringent.

– This is why we must have a total confidence in our partners.

Developing together

According to Peter, there is a strong commitment among Sapa’s staff to make an active contribution to Seldén’s development work.

– In this way, we have been able to learn more about aluminium profiles and Sapa has had the opportunity to analyse in detail our needs and the requirements of sailing.

An assembly plant

Seldén has a clear objective as regards the technical side of the production.

– We want to buy as complete components as possible: Then we can work more as an assembly plant. It is more cost-effective when the supplier takes care of his part of the production. At the same time, we get the quality that we require. And this applies also to the surface of the profiles.

 – The yachts for which we deliver rigging systems often cost several million. In such cases we cannot accept anything else than a perfect surface.

Today Sapa delivers about 450 profile-based components directly to Seldén’s production facilities in Sweden, Denmark, Holland, England, the USA, Argentina and Australia. The range comprises everything from masts to different kinds of fittings.