Company Profile

SECUMAR – unique through consistent research and innovation

Many companies have made safety at sea their area of work. However, hardly any of them have approached the subject with such high requirements and with such sound scientific knowledge as Bernhardt Apparatebau GmbH & Co from Holm, near Hamburg, Germany which for more than 60 years now has manufactured the most innovative lifesaving equipment under the brand name of SECUMAR. Logically consistent research and demand for top quality has helped Bernhardt Apparatebau attain a world leading position in this field.

The starting point for this unique development was the foundation research carried out by the company’s founder, Jost Bernhardt. His father Karl Bernhardt had been manufacturing diving equipment since 1926, so Jost Bernhardt decided to turn to the area of emergency sea rescue equipment after the war.

The tragic loss of the training sailing ship “Pamir”, with the loss of 80 men, even though some were wearing lifejackets, had left its mark on him, so in 1957 Jost Bernhardt intensified his research into the physics of the principle of floating. His publications “Zur Problematik der Schwimmweste” and “Der Mensch im Medium Wasser” (1958/1959) analyzed the techniques known at that time, uncovered their weaknesses and formed the basis for the construction of far more effective lifesaving equipment. The first milestone came in 1958 with the introduction of a lifejacket that could protect its wearer from drowning even when unconscious.

There followed a period of research and development which was just as consistent as it was continuous and led to constantly improved and innovative products. In 1964 there was a significant thrust forward when the German Navy decided on the SECUMAR MRS 3 as their standard lifejacket. The German Army and Naval Forces of many other nations have shown confidence in SECUMAR lifejackets ever since.

Likewise the research efforts brought a further outstanding event, the licensing of the SECUMAR BS 8, a compact, fully automatically inflated lifejacket that was activated through contact with water. Initially developed for inland waterway navigation, this concept also lead to a breakthrough in leisure boating use.

As a result, the technology of the lifejackets has become more and more refined: the construction of the automatic release mechanisms, already in their fifth generation, has become more robust and by means of a ‘traffic-light system’ increasingly fool-proof. The buoyancy chambers have become more durable due to new materials and processes and their airtight properties more reliable and the complete lifejackets have become more efficient because of shape, design and additional components such as emergency beacons and spray hoods.

The company is certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2008, has a team of 100 specialists and an annual turnover which amounts to a double-digit million-Euro figure. Through its cooperation with international sea rescue services and many industrial, commercial and leisure users, it has not only an intensely thorough view of present practice, but also places great demands for the future on research, development and design of all product components.

The company’s philosophy is to continuously develop tailor-made solutions in lifesaving equipment to meet existing and future customer requirements for equipment to protect them from drowning in any given situation.

There is never a 100 percent guarantee when one is exposed to the powers of nature. However, Bernhardt Apparatebau strives constantly to obtain the closest possible proximity to this 100 percent target.

Secure fit of CO2 cartridges in all SECUMAR lifejackets since 1992

CO2 cartridge in all SECUMAR lifejacket cannot inadvertently unscrew from the inflation device during its intended use. In fact, the SECUMAR inflation devices were designed to precisely avoid this scenario.

Since 1992 all automatically inflatable SECUMAR lifejackets for leisure and professional use incorporate one of the following two SECUMAR inflation devices:

  1. SECUMATIC 3001S (since 1992)
  2. SECUMATIC 4001S (since 1999)

The two inflation device are described in more detail below.

Continue reading Secure fit of CO2 cartridges in all SECUMAR lifejackets since 1992

Innovative developments at A+A

SECUMAR presents new lifejackets and immersion suits at the A+A 2017 exhibition in Düsseldorf, the largest international trade forum for safety, security and health at work.
A+A 2017 will open its doors from October 17th – 20th, 2017 – the best opportunity to find out about the latest PPE product developments at the SECUMAR stand in hall 04 – booth number 4G27. Continue reading Innovative developments at A+A

CO₂ Spare Cartridges

CO₂ spare cartridges with 2 pills and pins

16 g – Mini
20 g – Junior
22 g – Midi, Junior (from 2015)
32 g – 150 N
38 g – KSK 20
43 g – 220 N
56 g – 275 N
60 g – 275 N
75 g – KSK 40

All SECUMAR CO₂ cartridges are 100% weighttested. The extremely pure carbon dioxide gas (99.95% pure) prevents icing up as well as preventing any delay in its expansion during the inflation process. (applicable for all lifejackets with firing mechanisms SECUMATIC 3001 S, SECUMATIC 2000 or SECUMATIC 10).

Proper integration of distress beacons

Electronic alarm and direction finding equipment is a major step forward for lifejackets, offering an extra positive safety feature. However, many factors need to be observed in order that the complete system functions properly and reliably: for example, the transmitter needs to be automatically activated via the inflation of the lifejacket in one seamless operation.

The antenna must not be able to damage the lifejacket but at the same time be stiff enough to reliably raise itself into position; the transmitter must not have sharp corners and also be capable of stowing properly within the lifejacket cover. Importantly, the wrong transmitter or incorrect installation can in the worst case, damage the lifejacket as well as its operation or affect the operation of the PLB as well. It may also negate the DIN EN ISO classification of the lifejacket if fitted by an unqualified supplier as it no longer conforms to the original test parameters.

SECUMAR has rigorously tested several different MOB solutions to find the best compatible systems appropriate with its stringent requirements for safety and quality.