Ohlmeier and AL-KO VT: Sailing in the Same Waters
“It is not the wind but the sail that sets the direction,” says a Chinese proverb. The Ohlmeier Anhängercenter GmbH sees things the same way. This family business from Leopoldshöhe, North Rhine-Westphalia, manufactures boat trailers tailor-made to customer requirements with the highest quality. On board for over 20 years: quality components from AL-KO VT.
Custom-fit boat trailers tailored to your needs
Ohlmeier boat trailers delivering quality for over 45 years
For over 45 years, custom-made boat trailers have defined the business of the Ohlmeier quality manufactory. The Ohlmeier range covers everything boat owners need: from 500-kilogram trailers to Slip-Master trailers, an innovative and hydraulic boat storage system from Ohlmeier with a permissible gross weight of ten tonnes. The trailer manufacturer from North Rhine-Westphalia is particularly proud of the fact that everything can be designed down to the smallest detail according to specific customer requirements: This long-established company plans and develops each trailer individually with the boat owners and/or dealers for the respective boat. “There are no limits to individuality here for us,” says Nils Stamp, Junior Managing Director at Ohlmeier. Decades of experience in building boat trailers and close cooperation with boat builders, dealers and water sports clubs have earned this innovation leader a reputation in the European boating scene.
From vehicle smithy to boat trailer manufacturer
Quality workmanship since 1963
Ohlmeier boat trailers were already founded in 1936 by August Ohlmeier at today’s location as a vehicle construction smithy. At the beginning of the 1970s, Hermann Ohlmeier, of the second generation, redirected the company’s focus towards building trailers for boats. The demand for quality and durability has always formed the brand essence. In 1989, with the entry of the third generation, Martin Ohlmeier, the philosophy of quality manufacturing was expanded to include always striving to be the innovation leader in the sector.
AL-KO VT makes customer wishes come true
Flexibility for every application
Ohlmeier has relied on AL-KO VT’s expertise for two decades: “We work closely with AL-KO, not only on axles but also for add-on parts or winches,” says Stamp. A main reason for the close partnership is Ohlmeier’s focus on individuality when it comes to building trailers: Before trailer manufacturing can start, all the boat data must be available. “Weight, size, height, shape—even the hull contours play a decisive role in how the trailer must be designed.”
There are also factors like the positioning of the helm and the weight distribution, depending on whether, for example, an outboard or inboard engine is powering through the waves. According to Stamp, these aspects determine the boat’s centre of gravity and also significantly influence the trailer’s configuration and the design of the axles. Stamp: “The centre of gravity is relatively central for a sailing boat but further back for a motorboat.”
To accommodate these many individual customer requirements for trailer construction, you need, in Stamp’s words, “a partner that offers high flexibility”. This is especially relevant for axles with waterproof bearings, something that is particularly important when launching—meaning when the boat is backed into the water on the trailer. Frequent launching can lead to wheel bearings corroding and overheating due to friction. Stamp: “Replacement of wheel bearings due to corrosion has become very rare thanks to the waterproof bearings.” “Quality, safety and individuality. That’s exactly what Ohlmeier customers expect from their boat trailers – and that’s exactly what they get.”
Your boat is in the best hands with Ohlmeier and AL-KO VT
A close and successful partnership
Through close collaboration, AL-KO VT supports this commitment made by the Ohlmeier family and draws not only on its own expertise, but also on that of DexKo Global,” says Pierre Auf dem Brinke, Area Sales Manager North at AL-KO VT. “Boats are valuable cargo that customers can be confident are in safe hands with both Ohlmeier and AL-KO.”
AL-KO VT expertise for custom-built projects
Driving safety and comfort are key priorities for customers
The trailer specialists at Ohlmeier build around 500 trailers per year and always keep a stock of AL-KO VT products such as chassis components ranging from 750 to 3,500 kilograms as well as cable winches and stabiliser couplings. For special custom projects, Ohlmeier directly involves the AL-KO VT experts and develops the projects in partnership. “An example is when axle blocks need to be built so that they can be adjusted to achieve optimal weight distribution.”
Stamp knows exactly why AL-KO VT components are indispensable: “Our customers expect quality and we expect the same quality from our suppliers. You can rely on AL-KO.” In addition, AL-KO VT is the partner of choice when it comes to topics like safety and driving comfort. “After all, we are talking about valuable cargo here. A boat like this can easily cost 250,000 euros. If it falls, the consequences are very costly.”
AL-KO VT Trailer Control for utility trailers
The anti-snaking system for safe trailer handling
Safety is especially important when handling trailers. For this, AL-KO VT also offers, for example, ATC for utility trailers. The ATC (AL-KO Trailer Control) is an anti-snaking system that detects hazardous lateral accelerations of trailers using sensors. Specifically, as soon as the trailer starts to sway slightly—due to, for example, excessive speed or a gust of wind—the sensors detect these lateral movements and the ATC gently applies the brakes on the trailer via Bowden cables. This short but effective intervention straightens the entire combination and stabilises it. The ATC is available in various versions for trailers with a maximum permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. AL-KO VT Trailer Control can only be installed in combination with an AL-KO VT axle and an AL-KO VT wheel brake.
