Century-Old Navigation Enterprise Now Part of DMB
Anschütz – a name that has stood for competence in navigation systems for over 100 years – has returned to German ownership and now forms part of DMB Dr. Dieter Murmann Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, the company announced on 27 February.
The company will retain its headquarters in Kiel and subsidiary operations in Brazil, China, Panama, Singapore and the UK. “DMB is a strong partner with proven experience and expertise in international maritime business,” observed Michael Schulz, Managing Director of the future Anschütz GmbH. “Our new owner enables us to achieve sustainable growth in our markets, by reacting more quickly to the needs of our customers and creating innovations that generate additional customer benefits and shape the navigation of the future.”
Anschütz develops, manufactures and integrates navigation, bridge, and mission systems for commercial and naval vessels, and is an industrial partner in several national and international maritime research projects. The product range includes gyro compasses, autopilots, steering control systems, radar systems, electronic charts display and information systems (ECDIS), and electronic logbooks. Around 30,000 ships are equipped with Anschütz products, and are supported by a global network of certified sales and service partners.
The change of ownership includes all existing rights and obligations, so that business relationships with customers and partners remain unaffected. “Now and in [the] future, our customers can rely on the delivery of safe, reliable and high-quality navigation and mission systems […] Because that’s what the Anschütz brand is known for,” Schulz added.
Founded in 1905, Anschütz has continued to innovate and attract widespread support (including that of Albert Einstein), revolutionising shipping with, among other devices, the so-called ‘iron helmsman,’ the chart plotter, the track control system and the first integrated navigation system with type approval. It belonged to Raytheon from 1995, adding radar systems and electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) to its product range, developing into an integrator of customer-specific bridge systems and mission systems (command & control systems, situational awareness systems).
