In shipbuilding, one factor is essential: safety and control in every situation. Whether luxury yacht, naval vessel, research ship, or submarine—modern ships place high demands on technology, reliability, and ease of maintenance. Shaft brakes for ships are a crucial component, offering a wide range of functions that ensure safety and enhance onboard efficiency. Today, collaborative expertise leads to even greater performance: With the merger of ATEK Antriebstechnik Willi Glapiak and the renowned Deutsche van Rietschoten & Houwens to form ATEK Drive Solutions in 2024, expertise, experience, and innovative power are now united for the development and production of custom shaft brake solutions for ships of all types and purposes.

In this blog article, you will learn why the Elephant Brakes from ATEK Drive Solutions are the first choice in the maritime world. We will show how “Made in Germany” shaft brakes for ships can suit your ship vision and what to consider when selecting and installing them.

1. Custom-Built ATEK Elephant Brakes: Distinctive Solutions

Every ship brings unique safety challenges: ocean-going yachts, research vessels, or fisheries protection boats operate in extreme climatic conditions, requiring absolute reliability and maximum control over drive and propulsion components. This is where customized shaft brakes for ships from ATEK come into play—all from a single source, from the initial draft through planning and production to maintenance, retrofitting, and service.

Key advantages of these tailor-made solutions:

Safe locking of shafts and propellers
No interference with maneuvering, especially for sailing vessels
Securing moving parts during maintenance, servicing, or diving operations
Increased safety during reversing maneuvers and while stopping the propeller shaft
Compliance with country-specific requirements of international classification societies

Always “state of the art,” achieved by:

Use of selected, corrosion-resistant, highly seawater-resistant materials
Surface treatment and coatings up to the “Highest Yacht Standard”
Modular system architecture
High-precision design, calculation, and engineering
Specialized expertise in hydraulics, controls, wiring, and piping

2. What Makes the ATEK Elephant Brake Unique?

After the merger and rebranding to ATEK Drive Solutions, all resources for the development and implementation of complete shaft brakes for ships are now concentrated in Rellingen, Schleswig-Holstein. Delivery times are short, well below the market average. Furthermore, ATEK Elephant Brakes are available both as individual components and as fully pre-assembled systems.

Core Functions

Classic shaft brake systems combine three basic functions: Turning, Locking & Braking:

Turning: Rotating the shaft at low speed, e.g., during harbor maneuvers, disengaged gearboxes, controlled assembly, or maintenance.
Locking: Locking the shaft to safely perform maintenance work or to prevent rotation due to current while stationary.
Braking: Rapid, controlled stopping of the shaft, aiding in reversing maneuvers, and improving maneuverability.

These functionalities can be combined and extended according to customer requirements. ATEK Drive Solutions offers solutions ranging from simple and cost-efficient to highly complex premium systems with extensive monitoring and remote control.

Turnkey Service

From idea to commissioning: you receive system solutions tailored precisely to your requirements. The service encompasses all aspects, from steel construction and complex piping to hydraulic power unit design, control technology, on-site installation, and coating to customer-specific color and quality standards.

3. Quality, Safety, and Durability: The Advantages in Detail

Extreme marine conditions place the highest demands on technology and materials. Elephant Brakes from ATEK Drive Solutions impress with:

Sturdy, corrosion-resistant materials and surface treatments (heat, frost, saltwater)
Customer-specific coatings
High braking and locking torques (up to 900 kNm possible)
Custom disc designs: smooth or toothed, split or solid, with hubs for radial mounting, with holes or external toothing according to application
Split designs allow quick installation and removal in spaces with limited access
Comprehensive certifications (including DNV GL, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping)
Sensor monitoring and status indicators for maximum operational safety

Customers also benefit from short delivery times due to optimized processes and inventory. Shaft brakes for ships can be ordered as individual parts for easy on-site installation—ideal for shipyards seeking flexible integration solutions.

4. Practical Examples – Typical Reference Projects for Modern Shaft Brakes for Ships

To give an idea of the range of performance, here are some practical examples from recent shipbuilding projects by ATEK Drive Solutions:

Ship Type	Braking Torque	Locking Torque	Brake Disc	Special Features
Research Vessel	370 kNm	900 kNm	Ø 1536 × 65 mm	With turning gearbox and split design
Luxury Yacht	150–370 kNm	227–900 kNm	approx. 1500 × 50 mm	“Highest Yacht Standard”, special damping
Naval Vessel	Up to 900 kNm	Up to 900 kNm	Custom-made	Shockproof design per BR3021
Submarine	Custom	Custom	Corrosion-optimized	Extremely pressure- and seawater-resistant
Bow Thruster	Up to 370 kNm	As required	Modular system	Space- and weight-optimized

Typical installed systems include: shaft brakes for ships with locking devices (e.g. 60 kNm braking torque), individual monitoring units (certified pressure switches, runtime monitoring), and a turning gearbox for moving the ship’s shaft during specific maneuvers.

5. Flexibility & Efficiency: How Customizable Elephant Brakes Can Be

From design to color finish, Elephant Brakes from ATEK Drive Solutions are fully adaptable to your needs. Every detail counts—from integration into higher-level control systems to premium finishes for luxury yachts.

Your benefits at a glance:

Individual production for every ship and all designs (main drive, bow thruster, etc.)
Wide range of technologies: from simple brake systems with hydraulic actuation to complex systems with turning gear, locking device, and control
Flexible ordering as a complete system or as individual components
Fast, installation-friendly delivery due to modularization and logical system structure

6. Quality Assurance, Service, and International Standards

Innovations are only valuable if they are reliably durable. That’s why ATEK relies on rigorous processes and comprehensive quality assurance:

Regular employee training (internal/external)
Manufacturing to all recognized international standards
Technical acceptance testing in-house and by classification societies
Customer-specific testing and complete documentation
Fast service and global support

7. For Which Ships Are Elephant Brakes Ideal?

Wherever precise steering, safe locking, or slowing of the shaft/propeller is required, Elephant Brakes and shaft brakes for ships from ATEK Drive Solutions are the first choice:

Luxury yachts (visually and technically to the highest standard)
Research and supply ships (maximum reliability & tracking capability)
Fisheries protection boats (high service life, robust construction)
Naval vessels and submarines (extremely durable materials, shockproof systems)
Special ships such as icebreakers, ferries, or cruise ships (high performance in limited spaces)

8. Why ATEK Drive Solutions (formerly Deutsche van Rietschoten & Houwens)

Synergy makes the difference: through the merger of our two German companies, not only is all the expertise in shaft brakes for ships consolidated under one roof, but also the innovative strengths of two market leaders in gear and brake technology.

More resources for developing new, even more efficient products
Continuous expansion of the portfolio—from simple locking systems to high-end complete solutions
Short lines of communication, high availability, rapid realization of even complex projects

For you, this means: One contact, all solutions, uncompromising quality.

9. Why Elephant Brakes from ATEK Drive Solutions Are the Standard in Modern Shipbuilding

Safety, efficiency, operability—modern shaft brakes for ships are integrated products resulting from engineering, materials expertise, and hands-on experience. Elephant Brakes from ATEK Drive Solutions combine these qualities to perfection. Whether you are planning a new ship design, a retrofit, or an individual project, with bespoke Elephant Brakes you are choosing:

Maximum safety for ship and crew
Long service life and corrosion protection for extended deployment
Highest flexibility for individual requirements
Reliable service and top-quality inspection
Future-proof components and simple retrofitting