CMC Marine Brought Propeller Production In-House
The manufacturer of high-end yacht thrusters has moved to internal production to boost customization and supply chain control.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Manufacturing
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CMC Marine has transitioned from sourcing propellers externally to full in-house design and manufacturing. This move aims to secure supply chain stability and better tailor components for yachts between 70m and 80m in length.
Why it matters
By integrating foundry and machining processes internally, the company mitigates the impact of limited specialist supplier availability. This operational shift provides greater control over the development of thrusters ranging from 60kW to 250kW, allowing for tighter customization.
CMC Marine currently generates 30 million euros in annual revenue, up from under 10 million euros in 2017. The firm, which employs 90 people globally, manages a production output that supports annual thruster unit sales of 100 to 150 units.
The players
CMC Marine
An Italy-based manufacturer of stabilization and thruster systems for yachts with a global workforce of approximately 90 employees.
The details
The transition involves leveraging internal CFD calculations, structural modeling, and mold-making to feed into new foundry and machining workflows at their expanded Italian facilities. This vertically integrated model replaces their previous reliance on external propeller suppliers, a change specifically designed to accommodate five-blade designs for larger vessel segments. CMC Marine expects this control to facilitate the development of higher-power thruster systems in the future.
Timeline
2017: Annual revenue was less than 10 million euros.
2025: The company introduced an energy recovery system.
September 2026: CMC Marine announced the completion of its investment plan.
Market Landscape
The shift toward vertical integration marks a departure from reliance on external specialist suppliers in the luxury marine manufacturing sector. This follows the firm's documented investment plan completion in September 2026, positioning the company to scale production capacity for larger vessels.
Operators in the marine hardware space should watch whether this vertically integrated model effectively reduces lead times for 70m-80m yacht components. The ability to scale power ratings up from the current 250kW threshold remains a key metric for competitive differentiation in this segment.
The takeaway
Vertical integration can serve as a potent lever for niche manufacturers facing supply chain volatility and customization demands. Managers should audit their own supply dependencies to identify which critical components are currently limiting their ability to innovate or scale product offerings.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts in production, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Marine Industry News.
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