Navico facts for kids
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| Industry | Marine electronics |
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| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Egersund, Norway |
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Key people
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Knut Frostad, President & CEO |
| Revenue |  $373 Million USD (2018) |
| Owners | Brunswick Corporation |
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Number of employees
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1,800 (2019) |
Navico is a company that makes special electronic equipment for boats. This equipment helps people find their way, measure things on the water, and even find fish! Navico makes products for people who boat for fun and for those who work on commercial fishing boats.
Navico's part that focuses on fun boating is one of the biggest in the world. They have different brands for different types of boaters:
- Lowrance is great for fishing, especially in freshwater and near the coast.
- Simrad Yachting is for people with powerboats who enjoy cruising or sportfishing.
- B&G is made for sailors.
Navico also has a division called Simrad Commercial Marine Electronics. This part makes navigation products for bigger commercial ships. Another brand, C-MAP, provides digital maps for both fun and commercial boats.
Navico's main office is in Egersund, Norway. They also have factories in the United States, UK, Norway, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Contents
Before Navico was formed, some important companies were already making marine electronics.
In 1946, a company called Simonsen Radio was started in Norway. They helped create early echo-sounding equipment. This technology later became part of Simrad Yachting.
In 1955, two people in the UK, Major R.N. Gatehouse and Ronald Brookes, started Brookes & Gatehouse (B&G).
In 1957, Darrell Lowrance in the US created Lowrance Electronics. They launched the first sonar product for people fishing for fun. It was known as the 'Little Green Box'.
In 2003, Simrad Yachting bought B&G. A company called Altor 2003 Fund then bought Simrad Yachting in 2005. The next year, in 2006, Altor 2003 Fund also bought Lowrance Electronics.
Because they had the same owners, Simrad Yachting and Lowrance Electronics merged in 2006. This merger created the company we know today as Navico!
In 2007, Navico grew even bigger. They bought the marine electronics business from Brunswick New Technologies. This made Navico the largest supplier of marine electronics for recreational boats in the world.
Later, in 2016, new owners, Goldman Sachs and Altor Fund IV, took over Navico. That same year, Navico made its factory in Mexico larger. In 2017, Navico bought C-MAP. C-MAP makes digital maps for all kinds of boaters.
In 2019, Knut Frostad became the President and CEO of Navico. Then, in 2021, Brunswick Corporation bought Navico.
Navico is home to several well-known brands, each specializing in different areas of marine electronics.
B&G: For Sailors
B&G, which stands for Brookes and Gatehouse, has been around for over 60 years. They make electronics specifically for sailboats, whether they are used for cruising or racing. Many professional and amateur sailors use B&G systems.
B&G products include:
- Chart plotters (like GPS for boats)
- Navigation equipment
- Instruments to show speed and wind
- Autopilots (to steer the boat automatically)
- Radar (to see other boats and land)
- Special software for racing and performance analysis
C-MAP: Your Digital Maps
C-MAP started in 1985. They provide digital maps and services for boaters all over the world. This includes maps for lakes, coasts, and oceans. Whether you love fishing, sailing, or powerboating, C-MAP has maps to help you.
C-MAP also used to provide products for commercial ships. However, most of those services were sold to another company in 2020.
Lowrance: For Fishing Fun
Lowrance makes sonar devices and GPS receivers for people who love to fish. Sonar helps you see what's under the water, like fish! They also make digital mapping systems.
Lowrance's main office is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Their production facilities are in Mexico. The company is famous for its High Definition Systems (HDS). These systems can add features like:
- Broadband 4G Radar
- StructureScan (to see detailed images of the bottom)
- Sonic Hub Audio (for music)
- Sirius LWX-1 Weather (for weather updates)
- NAIS Collision Avoidance (to help avoid crashes)
Lowrance was founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1957. In 2006, Lowrance joined with Simrad Yachting to create Navico. Navico now owns the Lowrance brand completely.
Simrad: For All Boaters
Simrad makes marine electronics for both people who boat for fun and for professionals. As part of the Navico family, Simrad creates:
- Navigation systems
- Autopilots
- Marine VHF radios (for communication)
- Chartplotters
- Echosounders (to measure water depth)
- Radars
- Fishfinders
- Many other marine technologies
The Simrad name has been around for over 60 years. It was started in 1947 by Willy Christian Simonsen. His company, Simonsen Radio, first made radios for fishing boats. Later, he used the name Simrad for a wider range of products. These included navigation, communication, auto-steering, and fish-finding tools.
In 1996, the Simrad Group was bought by the Kongsberg Group. In 2005, the recreational part of Simrad was sold to Altor Equity Partners, creating Simrad Yachting. Simrad Group and Simrad Yachting are now separate companies. The merger of Simrad Yachting and Lowrance in 2006 created the Navico Group.
Simrad makes navigation tools that are strong and can handle tough conditions. They have products for leisure boaters (Simrad Yachting) and for professional sailors (Simrad Professional). In 2008, Simrad Professional added MX Marine products. This helped them grow in the commercial GPS and DGPS market. For over 70 years, Simrad has developed systems for commercial vessels. These include radar, auto-steering, navigation, and safety products for all sizes of boats.
See also
In Spanish: Navico para niños
