28 June, 2013

The Neoteric Way: Neoteric Partners with Hirth Engines

Across the globe, the automaker Toyota is highly recognized for consistently raising the bar for manufacturing, product development and process excellence – the major reason Toyotas are the most preferred cars on the market. Neoteric shares many of Toyota’s business philosophies and has adopted the automaker’s world-famous TPS System (Toyota Production System). One of the main tenets of TPS is establishing partnerships with suppliers and partners to work hand-in-hand for mutual benefit.

Göbler-Hirthmotoren KG (Hirth Engines) is Neoteric’s largest supplier, and this month Neoteric president Chris Fitzgerald visited Hirth in Benningen, Germany to formalize and strengthen the partnership between the two companies. The trip was quite a success and, Fitzgerald reports, one of his most enjoyable.

Hirth owner Siegfried Göbler (left) and Chief Engineer Dietrich Kehe (right) 
extend a warm welcome to Chris Fitzgerald (center).
History of Hirth

Hirth has an intriguing history. Its founder, Hellmuth Hirth, born in 1886, was the most successful German pilot before WW1. At age 18 he worked with Edison in the USA as a mechanic, then returned to Germany in 1909 to help build the first German aircraft. He founded Hirth Motoren GmbH in 1927.

Hellmuth Hirth lost his life in an air crash in 1938 and the company was taken over by Ernst Heinkel AG. After WW11 the defeated Germany could not manufacture aircraft engines due to production constraints imposed by the Allied Forces, so Hirth began manufacturing small 2-stroke engines for vehicles and stationary applications.

In 1974, Hans Göbler acquired all production rights and the company became Göbler-Hirthmotoren KG, as it’s known today. Siegfried Göbler purchased the company from his father Hans in 1993.

The company is known for its state-of-the-art research, technology and production and Hirth engines are at home in all the elements: from breaking the world’s record in hovercraft racing to lifting paragliders off the ground, pushing ultralight aircraft into the sky, supplying firefighters with high-pressure water and powering UAV aircraft for reconnaissance in natural disasters, border surveillance and traffic monitoring.

An aerial view of Hirth facilities, which remain today in their original location
in the midst of dense housing in Benningen am Neckar, near Stuttgart, Germany.
Stuttgart is a major auto and component manufacturing region.
The Neoteric-Hirth Partnership

In addition to learning more about the Hirth philosophy and its operation, one of the main objectives of Fitzgerald’s trip was to work with Hirth to modify their engines to Neoteric’s specifications. In order to meet the unique requirements of hovercraft, Neoteric spends considerable time modifying engines after it receives them.

Also, Neoteric is the exclusive supplier of training craft for HovercraftTraining Centers, and wants to partner with Hirth to manufacture heavy fuel engines specifically for HTC. Hovercraft Training Centers is developing a light hovercraft training program for the U.S.Navy’s LCAC and Ship-to-Shore Connector crews, which ultimately will require the use of heavy fuels (diesel/kerosene) for military hovercraft.

A third goal was to mutually achieve engine improvements to make them even more suitable for all hovercraft environments - salt water, etc. Finally, for aesthetic reasons and to improve resistance to corrosion, Neoteric requested that engines be painted or anodized black.

Mr. Göbler wholeheartedly agreed to all Neoteric’s proposals and he was an engaging and extremely gracious host. Fitzgerald was allowed full access to the factory and staff. He also visited Mr. Göbler’s home and met his family and was treated to exquisite dining experiences and accommodations.

Fitzgerald concludes, “Mr. Göbler was eager to assist us however he could. I regret not having made this trip several years in the past. I was made extremely welcome and this was a most worthwhile mission which should produce verifiable results in the future for all involved. I’d like to thank everyone who made this visit a productive one, especially our team at Neoteric.”

Hirth factory photos:

The Hirth assembly line. Fitzgerald noted that everything in the factory
and the office is exceptionally organized and spotless.

A technician mills crankshaft components, with a smile on his face
that is typical for Hirth employees. Note the orderly arrangement of his tools.

A technician machines and drills an oil pump housing.

A CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machine is programmed.

At center right is a broaching machine, used to cut keyways.



26 June, 2013

Golf Digest Promotes Neoteric's Hovercraft Golf Cart

Golf Digest Stix
June 2013
By Stephen Hennessey


RIDING ON AIR
HOVER LOVERS

Bubba Watson’s hovercraft golf cart, unveiled in an online video a couple of months ago, continues to draw attention. His clothing sponsor, Oakley, brought the BW1 to the CVS Charity Classic this week at Rhode Island Country Club. Last week, it appeared at a Dick’s Sporting Goods event outside Pittsburgh, where about 300 people got to ride it.

People have really been fanatical about it since we debuted the video,” says Nathan Strange, Oakley’s director of global marketing.

Chris Fitzgerald, president of Neoteric Hovercraft, which made the BW1 at the request of Oakley and Thinkmodo’s advertising/video team, says 100 hovercraft have been ordered. A four-seater with a fuel-injected, 65-hoursepower engine is available for $58,000, and a six-seater with a 100-horsepower engine costs $70,000. In your price range? You can call the Indiana plant to place an order: 812-234-1120.


20 June, 2013

Bubba's Hover on the Road

When Bubba’s Hover, the viral video of Bubba Watson’s BW1 hovercraft golf cart manufactured by Neoteric, captured massive world attention in April you may have thought it was just another passing fancy. Not so! The attention lives on and the vehicle dubbed “the coolest thing to hit the golf course” has now hit the road. Oakley, who commissioned the craft, has Bubba’s Hover on tour – not only attracting attention but also contributing to the greater good.

This month Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald traveled to Pennsylvania where Oakley showcased the BW1 at a corporate event for Dick’s Sporting Goods, the largest U.S.-based full-line sporting goods retailer. The BW1 was the highlight of the event for the 2,500 employees at Dick’s Store Support Center in Coraopolis, outside Pittsburgh. Fitzgerald treated about 160 employees to joyrides in the BW1; most of the joyriders' enthusiastic response was to tell Chris, “You've got the coolest job in the world!

Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald and the BW1 at Dick's Sporting Goods' Store Support Center in Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy Mr. Kenneth Babbert.
From Pennsylvania, Bubba’s Hover moved on to Ohio, where Oakley held a charity event at two Cincinnati area golf courses - the Heritage Club in Mason and Four Bridges Country Club in Liberty Township. The event was designed to raise funds for OneSight, a Luxottica Group Foundation dedicated to restoring and preserving clear vision for the hundreds of millions of adults and children in need who can’t afford basic eye care. Oakley is a division of Italy-based Luxottica.

At each course, Chris Fitzgerald gave the winner of a round of golf and the highest donor to OneSight, along with their guests, a joyride in Bubba's Hover.

The BW1 awaits the next joyride at the Heritage Club in Mason, Ohio.

Sand traps or water, Bubba's BW1 simply hovers the hazards. Photo courtesy Mr. Kenneth Babbert.

Lights, camera, action! Bubba's Hover attracts attention wherever it appears.

Aboard its elaborate transport system, Bubba's Hover readies to travel from the Heritage Club to Four Bridges Country Club for the second attraction in Oakley's charity event.
At Four Bridges Country Club, golfers check out Bubba's Hover. Photo courtesy Mr. Kenneth Babbert. 

The BW1 inspires photo opportunities wherever it appears. Model Kathryn Rose gets one of the first shots at Four Bridges Country Club, encouraging golfers to get involved in the charity event.

Golfers in traditional carts are awed by the hovercraft golf cart's ability to soar right over water hazards. Photo courtesy Mr. Kenneth Babbert. 
As an Internet celebrity, Bubba’s Hover definitely attracts major attention wherever it goes. The unique and captivating nature of a hovercraft golf cart makes it the perfect tool to boost participation in charity events, golf tournaments, country club and golf course grand openings – or just about any special event imaginable!

After wowing the crowds in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Bubba's Hover won't be languishing in a hangar any time soon. Right now the craft is at Neoteric's headquarters in Terre Haute, Indiana, undergoing some cleanup and standard maintenance, after which it will travel to Rhode Island to meet Bubba Watson at the 2013 CVS Caremark Charity Classic June 24-25 at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington.

After that? Stay tuned and we'll keep you updated!