Tectrax names European manufacturer

New Zealand’s Tectrax has appointed Vanclaes Trailers as its exclusive European manufacturing partner for the Boat-Launcher by Tectrax, an electric system for launching and retrieving boats without a tow vehicle.

The partnership covers mainland Europe. Vanclaes Trailers, based in Alphen aan den Rijn in the Netherlands, will manufacture trailer chassis engineered to integrate Tectrax’s amphibious wheel technology. Production will focus on bespoke stainless steel frames configured for the Boat-Launcher system.

The news comes two months after Tectrax appointed SBS Trailers as its partner in the UK and Ireland.

The Boat-Launcher by Tectrax is a fully electric, remote-controlled solution intended for use with standard boat trailers. The system incorporates high-torque 48V electric drive units mounted within the trailer chassis, enabling controlled movement during launch and retrieval. According to the companies, this approach eliminates the need for a 4WD tow vehicle at the water’s edge and helps support operations in constrained or congested launching environments.

The technology is based on amphibious wheel systems developed by Tectrax over more than ten years. These systems are adapted for marine trailer use, allowing powered movement on ramps and other launch surfaces. The Boat-Launcher is designed to convert a conventional trailer into a self-propelled unit operated remotely by the user.

“The global response to the Boat-Launcher has been significant,” says James Morton, CEO of Tectrax. “Over the past few months, we have seen a constant stream of enquiries from across Europe as people discover our technology through our digital channels.

“It is clear there is a genuine appetite for smarter, electric launching solutions. By partnering with Vanclaes, we are combining our high-performance electric drive systems with the most sophisticated trailer chassis in Europe to meet this demand with a locally manufactured product.”

European production and market rollout

Under the agreement, Vanclaes Trailers will act as the exclusive manufacturing partner for mainland Europe. The company will design and produce chassis frames to accommodate the modular Tectrax wheel units while maintaining compatibility with a range of boat sizes and weights.

Vanclaes Trailers manufactures stainless steel boat trailers and marina equipment for recreational and professional marine users. Its production facilities in the Netherlands will be used to assemble Boat-Launcher chassis for distribution within the European market.

“Our partnership with Tectrax represents a significant leap forward in trailer technology for the European market,” says Stian Duijvelaar, CEO of Vanclaes Trailers. “We pride ourselves on engineering trailers that are ‘different from the rest’, and the Boat-Launcher system fits that philosophy perfectly. This isn’t just an accessory; it is a completely new way to approach boat launching that makes the entire process easier, safer, and more efficient for everyone from recreational boaters to professional operators.”

The Boat-Launcher by Tectrax system is modular, with configurations available that combine powered and unpowered wheels. These configurations are intended to suit different vessel weights and launch conditions, including paved ramps, soft sand and private waterfront locations.