NOMEN Products GmbH Wins DAME Award 2013

In 2002 the Hamburg, Germany based company NOMEN Products was founded by Axel Hoppenhaus in order to produce high quality yacht equipment and to bring it to the market. The company immediately got recognized in the Yachting Industry when breaking into this widely traditional oriented market showing a stunning design of the NOMEN folding cleat, which was the first NOMEN product. From a standing position this product received a Special Mention at the DAME Award in 2002. The NOMEN folding cleat today is well known in the Superyacht industry and it is also much in demand as standard equipment on upmarket production boats – power and sail.

Now the new CLIP-cleat appears on the scene and consequently again it sets a new standard for mooring equipment. This cleat does not need to hide underneath the deck in order to keep the deck clean from stumbling elements nor to avoid snagging or catching loose lines. While the different kinds of flush cleats are out of the way if they are not in use they still are in the way when mooring lines are belayed to them. Different from these products the NOMEN CLIP-cleat proudly stands on deck, always ready for use. A lot of success seems to be predetermined.

The CLIP-cleat

The new mooring cleat from NOMEN PRODUCTS always remains closed, no matter whether it is belayed or not. During the belaying the soft moving ends give way readily. The line simply can be turned around the rigid part of the cleat. This central part, made from aluminium (or stainless steel), takes over the loads from the mooring line. The ends stay free from any load and are held in position by a spring mechanism. It is always possible to release the mooring line without any hindrance.

The Clip-cleat is available in working lengths of 186 – 462 mm wich covers boat lengths between 8 Meter (26 feet) and 50 Meter (164 feet)

Report by the DAME Award Jury about the NOMEN Clip-cleat:

Just when you think every variation of a cleat must have been designed, then along comes a very clever and elegant alternative. This cleat features spring-loaded ends that present a smooth profile to avoid snags and injuries when closed but can be pressed aside as you make a line off or release it. The Jury was very impressed with the Clip-cleat, admiring the great balance of this product between function and form and also the quality of the end product.

Axel Hoppenhaus
Already a qualified boat builder, Axel Hoppenhaus went on to study shipbuilding before changing to the subject of industrial design. After initially working for yacht and ship design offices as for judel/vrolijk design, Axel Hoppenhaus started up on his own so as to devote his energies to his own ideas. He works in small teams of specialists, which he puts together for each project. His goal is distinctiveness with high quality products by means of outstanding functionality and aesthetics.

To view a short video of our product, click on the link  http://youtu.be/1BAQ9hfkF4w