A breath of fresh air

FOUNDER AND PROUD OWNER OF SEPSYS, WILLEM VRAETS HAS WORKED IN THE YACHTING SECTOR SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER. Six years ago, after realising that there aren’t any specialised companies in the Netherlands for air intake separation systems in the maritime sector, Mr Vraets founded SepSys. He knew he was the right man for the job, after gaining years of experience and extensive specialised knowledge in marine & offshore air intake systems.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEPSYS. SepSys is a Dutch company that provides turnkey HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) solutions. The company develops and manufactures air intake separation systems in the Netherlands for marine & offshore applications worldwide. The key values of the company are quality products, innovation, fexibility, great customer service, and a personal touch that derives from Mr Vraets’ passion for the industry. The SepSys head offce in Hoofddorp is only a stone’s throw away from Schiphol International Airport and Amsterdam.

Mr Vraets explains, “Due to our fexibility and eye for detail, we have the pleasure of serving some of the fnest yacht builders and reft yards worldwide. In addition, we often work for yachts directly. We have seen an increasing interest in air intake systems from owner’s teams in the recent years. Due to the pandemic, yacht owners are becoming more aware of the vital need for high quality air on board. Our services include ship visits and on-site replacement of mist eliminators and flter systems and that is why you can fnd our products on some of the greatest superyachts ever built. We aim to design our equipment to make installation as easy as possible. When designing parts that need to be serviced on a regular basis, such as flter systems, we try to avoid the need for using tools and often create illustrated manuals so any crew member can do the job. My older brother Joeri Vraets, Technical Director at SepSys, taught me to always aim for making life easier for yourself. I consider this a great engineering rule.”

Mr Vraets continues to explain, “With regard to air intake, it is important that only air comes in. The yacht, it’s technical equipment, valuable interior and often fne pieces of art must be protected against harmful effects caused by contaminants such as salt water, dust, bugs, sand, and soot. The problem is not just corrosion, but these contaminants also form a breathing ground for health threatening problems like bacteria, mould, fungi, and viruses. Actually, the air intake separation system can be compared to the masks we wear to protect ourselves from breathing in any harmful contaminants. Our mist eliminators and flters are used for air

“Just to keep you informed, we took the opportunity today (after six months and several thousand miles) to check the Intake flters. They are still dry and in good condition, and the difference in the engine room is noticeable. Many thanks for your efforts on the works!”

intakes of engine rooms, generator rooms, air conditioning systems, and (electrical) equipment rooms and all other spaces that need ventilation. They are custom-made at our company in Hoofddorp. In addition, we offer services such as design advice, installation, and commissioning.”

Last year, SepSys became the Dutch distributor for Italian company Termodinamica Marine. Mr Vraets and Maurizio Tropea, Design and Production Manager at Termodinamica, met some years ago at the Monaco Yacht Show and recognised some core values and matching business ethics in each other. Besides their love of skiing, the two men soon found out that customer satisfaction and service level is at the top of their priorities. They decided to team up. Together with this >>

KOHLERPOWER.COM/MARINE

Picture courtesy of Damen Yacht Support

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“We have found the work of his company to be exemplary and the product to be first class. SepSys performed the work very quickly and was a pleasure to have onboard. SepSys understood the level of detail and quality we demand and took the time and care not to damage any other components. I would not hesitate to recommend their products or company to any high-level mega yacht.”

new collaborating partner, SepSys looks forward to assisting its customers in the yachting industry in all their HVAC needs ranging from supply of equipment to turnkey projects including installation. The companies currently have orders for six big projects in the Netherlands.

Termodinamica is a company that specialises in marine air conditioning. It was established in 2010 by three founders who have been working for industrial refrigeration and mechanics since the eighties. Their passion for the sea inspired them to start their endorsement and promote Moreover, Termodinamica is specialised in heat recovery systems for the make-up air unit, these systems can reclaim 70% of the energy on the air exhaust and release to the air intake. Together the companies offer state of the art technology and equipment that the most demanding yacht owners deserve in 2021.

their vision of onboard comfort. The Italian company offers advanced systems with powerful cooling and heat pump heating with the highest energy efficiency in the industry. The products are lightweight and compact, which allows for more space for the luxury area. The advanced electronic control keeps the humidity at a desired level. Thanks to higher delta temperature on the fan coils, the air flows can be limited, making the system more silent and increasing comfort on board. Reliability is at the highest level thanks to titanium sea water heat exchangers and avionic grade electronics. Mr Tropea explains, “Our products not only allow for a very low energy consumption, thus greener yachting classification, they also provide more independence to yacht owners who want to explore the world by extending the fuel autonomy.”

Mr Vraets points out that people go on more and more expedition cruises around the world nowadays. The high cooling performance combined with the electronic humidity control offer a very high comfort level, also in the Caribbean. Termodinamica is also offering heat pump systems for North Pole routing instead of electric heating, which results in a major reduction in costs, around six times less.