RHIGO

http://www.rhigo.com/

Our business was established in 1969 in Bergen op Zoom. The name Rhigo arose out of a combination of two names: RHIWA and WIGO. Those businesses had a financial interest in our company in the distant past. RHIWA in Rotterdam, a dealership for articles in the field of coachwork and shipbuilding, together with WIGO in Gorinchem (still in business: www.wigo.nl) which specialises in heavy duty windows and portholes for ships. This is how the name RHIWA-WIGO came into being, later abbreviated to RHIGO.

In 1974 our company became part of the glass concern Pieterman which wanted to expand its sales opportunities for toughened glass. In 1984 Pieterman passed into other hands and RHIGO did not fit into the strategy of the new owners. RHIGO was transferred to the management at the time, which was free from that moment to determine its course on its own initiative.

Some developments since then:

• The aluminium profiles from which our ships’ windows are made were made more suitable for the market, both in form and appearance.
• The method of fixing of our windows in the side of the ship was improved (no more fixing with screws for which holes always had to be drilled, but fixing from the inside, with clamp blocks).
• We bought better bending machines to improve the manufacturing accuracy of the ships’ windows.
• We had special software developed to improve control of the whole production process and to better oversee the costs.
• The increasing demand for double glazing was met with by acquiring our own production line for double glazing, whereby we became independent of the glass manufacturers and were able to realise shorter delivery times.
• The choice of profiles was extended with heavier profile systems for larger ships, and with types that could be mounted sunk into the side.
• Doors were introduced into the range. First with a single-leaf revolving door, later followed by two-part doors (folding open) and three-part folding doors. And now also sliding doors.
• Through an increase in the use of yachts in the early and late part of the season, the demand for profiles less subject to condensation increased. Our “Thermobloc" profile was added, that uses an interruption in the aluminium to prevent the cold being let through from the outside to the inside.
• For our windscreens we developed modern and more solid profiles.
• Our customers let us know that they would also like to buy portholes and escape hatches from us. We therefore developed our own range of portholes and escape hatches to which we for a very good reason gave the name “Prestige". These meet the most demanding category of CE requirements namely suitability for the ocean.

In 2006 the business was transferred to the next generation.

Latest developments:

• The development of a heavy, thermally insulated profile: RT06 or RhigoTHERM. Windows made out of this profile are fitted with double glazing.
• Introduction of an electrically-controlled (24 Volt DC or 230 Volt AC) folding window.
• Introduced november 2007 on the METS Amsterdam: The Rhigo flushline escape hatch. A hatch that is more flush with the deck than our Prestige hatch. Very suitable for sailing boats and catamarans since its top is only 27 mm above the deck.

This is how we came to be what we now are: a dynamic company operating in the specialised field of ships’ windows, windscreens, entry doors, portholes and escape hatches.

Our customer base consists of yacht builders with a production of a few vessels per year but includes also the larger production builders. As well as this we supply to commercial vessels such as patrol boats, fishing boats, ferries, working boats, party ships, passenger ships and inland waterway vessels. Besides this, a number of private boat owners find their way to us.