Welcome to the Syncrolift Innovation Center

Syncrolift wants to redefine shipyard technology

At the heart of Syncrolift’s mission to redefine shipyard technology, the new Innovation Center in Vestby, Norway, represents more than just a test facility. The Innovation Center is Syncrolift’s platform for developing, validating and transferring technology and competence across the full lifecycle of shiplift systems, from product development and training to modernization and long-term operation. It is a bridge between ideas, imagination and reality, a spark for engineering creativity, and a arena for practical problem-solving.

CEO Rolf Tomassen shares the story behind this ambitious initiative, and what it means for the future of the shipyard industry.

A Vision Rooted in Reality: Why the Innovation Center Matters

For Rolf Tomassen, the decision to invest in the Innovation Center was not just about
building a test lab, it was about building culture. Years of global outsourcing created
efficiencies but also a disconnect: engineers designed systems without ever seeing
them operate.

"As a young engineer, I had the joy of walking down to the workshop to see my design
work coming to life. That was formative. We lost some of that connection when we
started outsourcing production."— Rolf Tomassen

The Innovation Center aims to fix that. It is where engineers can move seamlessly from design to physical testing, gaining hands-on understanding of how systems behave in reality.

It is a conscious effort to strengthen a company culture that keeps Syncrolift at the forefront of marine technology. The two-hall Innovation Center is a cornerstone in a long-term strategy to accelerate Syncrolift’s position as the industry leader in shiplift and transfer solutions.

“This facility closes the loop between design, testing and improvement, and strengthens collaboration between theoretical and practical disciplines — internally and together with customers and partners.“ Concepts and problems are easier to understand when you see and discuss them in real life. 

From Testing to Innovation

Technology leadership, safety and system reliability have always been core to Syncrolift. For years, the Assembly & Testing Bay has been used to test trolleys, power packs and key components before shipment to customers.

What is new is the expansion from component testing to a complete Innovation Center, combining development, training, demonstration and lifecycle testing in one integrated environment.

Facilities and Technical Capabilities of the Syncrolift Innovation Center

The Center consists of three main sections:

• Innovation Lab - Product development, prototyping and demonstration of new solutions.
• Academy - Training of operators, dockmasters, maintenance and installation teams in best practice - letting them experience real life situations in a safe environment.
• Assembly & Testing Bay - In-house assembly, testing and integration of key technologies, including projects subject to strict confidentiality and security requirements..

At the heart of it all? A near full-scale functional shiplift that allows Syncrolift to trial new motors, sensors, and software systems.

"We can swap in new or old motors, test different motor and drive setups, run software updates, and show customers how upgrades can work on their existing systems. It’s not theory — it’s happening live. This way we can show the customers how their shiplift will react to the new technology."

Alongside the shiplift is a simulator used by the Academy to train dockmasters and shipyard crews to handle normal operations and rare but critical situations.

Installation Readiness and Lifecycle Modernization

Many shiplift installations are one-time events for the customer’s project team. Installation, commissioning and first docking are therefore the most critical phases in the system’s life.

The Innovation Center allows installation teams to become familiar with equipment, procedures and roles before arriving on site, reducing risk during installation and start-up.

The in-house shiplift is also used to test modernization packages and control system upgrades for existing installations worldwide.

"We want customers to modernize with confidence. Upgrades should be proven on our shiplift before they are applied to theirs."

This enables lifecycle extension without full system replacement, allowing customers to modernize step by step.

FastDocking™ and Operational Demonstration

The Center also includes some of Syncrolift's FastDocking™ equipment, allowing customers to experience fast, controlled and repeatable docking in real operating conditions.

Mock ship hulls and auxiliary equipment are used to simulate realistic docking and maintenance scenarios.

"The loads shipyards handle are enormous. Safety is non-negotiable. That’s why we need this space — to understand, refine and validate every component."

Tomassen likens the center to a modern-day “engineering gym”: a place to test, prototype, fail, learn, and iterate fast. It is designed to test a wide range of equipment:

• Wire ropes and winches
• Control and software systems
• Transfer systems and wheel assemblies
• Load-sensing and digital diagnostics tools

"We’ve had shipyards visit from the Middle East with real-world problems. Right here in Vestby, we’ve prototyped solutions that they took back and applied successfully."

Engineering and Innovation that Solve Real Problems

The Innovation Center already have several initiatives underway:

SafeWire™ Sensor Technology

Tomassen doesn’t shy away from bold visions. One “moonshot” project involves dramatically reducing the cost of sensor-based monitoring, making predictive maintenance available to all Syncrolift systems and in practice minimizing manual wire inspections.

A game-changer for shiplift safety and lifecycle management, these sensors are designed to monitor every individual wire rope 24/7 rather than relying on periodic manual inspections.

"Instead of sending inspectors around the world to test say 20% of all wireropes annually, we aim to monitor every wire continuously. That’s the future."

This technology supports two models:

• On-site ownership: sensors are installed and monitored by the yard
• Product-as-a-Service (PaaS): Syncrolift owns the sensors and provides diagnostics remotely.

"We want to deliver a full sensor setup at an affordable cost.

AI-Powered Wheel Load Sensors

Shiplift and transfer systems often include tens of thousands of wheels. Traditional inspection is time-consuming and disruptive. These new sensors detect overloading or abnormal friction in real time.

"Rather than inspecting say 2,000 wheels, our system can tell you: "Check wheel #853 as this has too much friction – indicating a bearing or other issue."" 

Combined with digital twin technology, this creates a predictive maintenance ecosystem where our Machine Learning algorithms can detect failure patterns and pre-empt system breakdowns.

"It’s not just about catching failures. It’s about understanding patterns — are the issues always the front wheels? Always the port side? That data can help both us and our customers engineer and plan better. It’s the power of data."

The Innovation Culture

Creating an Innovation Center is ultimately about people. Tomassen emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, combining software, mechanical engineering, operations and customer experience.

"It’s like a football team. You need a mix of skills.  Everyone brings something different to the table - software skills, mechanical insight, hands-on know-how, customer experience - and that mix is where innovation happens."

The Syncrolift CEO is very excited about how the organization will respond to the innovation center and how the engineers will use it. He emphasizes that there is a lot of understanding that needs to be integrated into the culture and built upon for it to truly become a successful part of the company.

"We’ve built a new organ in the Syncrolift body. The question now is how we use it."

The Road Ahead

Over the next five years, Syncrolift envisions the Center bustling with activity, from customer demos and supplier tests to academic partnerships and rapid product iterations.

• Customer feedback will play a central role in shaping the next iterations
• New hires and trainees will learn by building, not just designing
• Lifecycle support will be strengthened by demonstrating retrofits and upgrades on-site

"We want to show that you don’t need to replace your whole system — we can take baby steps. Modernize one part at a time. That’s what lifecycle support really means."

Whether it's supporting legacy systems in a lifecycle model, introducing AI to predictive maintenance, or helping prepare for new maritime sectors like offshore wind — the Innovation Center is built to adapt.

"We want it to be alive - not something we have to push, but something that pulls people in because of its value."

Syncrolift expects the Innovation Center to evolve as new needs emerge. Its flexibility means it can support adjacent sectors, such as offshore wind or green ship technologies, if the need arises.

A Message to Shipyards and Engineers

Syncrolift is eager to get dockmasters, shipyard leaders and maritime engineers to visit the Innovation Center in Vestby, explore how modern technology can improve operations, share knowledge and challenge the engineers with new problems and ideas.

Rolf Tomassen has a clear message:

"If you want to see what’s possible, come visit. We can show you real equipment solving real problems - and if you want to BUILD something: This is a rare place where you can think it, build it, and test it — all in the same week."

Unlike traditional R&D departments, Syncrolift’s Innovation Center is built to collaborate — not just internally, but across the maritime ecosystem.

"We’ve built a space where our engineers, customers, suppliers, and even universities can come, test ideas, and improve technology — together."

Syncrolift is already working with academic institutions and partners in Germany to explore wire behavior in saltwater and advanced sensor applications. Two shipyards are currently lined up to run collaborative tests, and tech suppliers are being invited to test their gear - free of charge.

"We're not just improving our own systems. We're helping suppliers and customers improve theirs. That’s the spirit of the Innovation Center."

Do you have things you want to test and discuss? Give us a call!