Svanehoj acquires Dutch pump service firm to grow Benelux presence
What's the deal? Svanehoj, a Danish marine pump specialist, has acquired H&K Services B.V., a Dutch company that services and repairs marine fuel and cargo gas pumps. The transaction closed on May 1, 2026.
H&K Services will operate under the Svanehoj EPS name from its current location in Stellendam, Netherlands, about 50km from Svanehoj's regional service hub in Oud Gastel. Founder John Huizer will stay on as technical manager, while co-owner Bert De Korte plans to retire.
Why now? The global LNG carrier fleet has more than doubled over the past decade, exceeding 800 vessels. The number of LNG-fuelled ships in operation has grown to more than 600, reflecting a broader shift towards cleaner marine fuels.
That growth is driving demand for service and maintenance of gas pumps and related equipment — exactly Svanehoj's core business. The Benelux region, particularly the Netherlands, is a key maritime and energy market where natural gas plays an increasingly important role.
The deal follows Svanehoj's acquisition last year of European Pumps Services (EPS) B.V. in Oud Gastel, which now serves as it main Benelux service hub. As official distributor and service provider for ITT brands Bornemann and Goulds Pumps, Svanehoj EPS delivers turnkey solutions with in-house engineering and project management.
What could go wrong? Integrating a small specialist firm into a larger organisation always carries risks — retaining key talent, maintaining customer relationships, and preserving the hands-on expertise that made H&K valuable in the first place. Back-to-back acquisitions in the same region also raise questions about execution capacity.
The signal: Svanehoj is building a global service network with hubs in Denmark, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Dubai. The strategy reflects a wider industry trend: as the LNG fleet expands rapidly, pump manufacturers are shifting from pure equipment sales to recurring service and aftersales revenue. Proximity to customers — through local service sites rather than centralised facilities — is becoming a competitive advantage in marine equipment markets.
Read more: marinelink.com
