PRODUCTS
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Specialisation has been the key
to Sabre's success over the past 30 plus years. Specialisation in every aspect
of diesel engines, and in particular marine diesel engines - their design,
development, manufacture, sales and after-sales support.
This - perhaps more than any other factor - has enabled Sabre, a family company,
to become a significant and respected player in the marine engine industry,
a market which worldwide is otherwise dominated by large multinational organisations.
Sabre was founded in 1968 by John Freeman, a successful businessman and experienced
boatowner. Today his sons, Paul and Andrew, are respectively Commercial Director
and Sales Director of the company. There are many long serving staff, including
Works Director Eric Fisher who was the company's first employee. These staff,
together with a younger generation, jointly form a highly trained, dedicated
and enthusiastic team. |
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The company's first production engine was the Sabre 180.
This was a 6 cylinder turbocharged and intercooled unit which developed 180hp.
As its core it used a Ford 6 litre engine - the start of an association which
lasted until 1993, for the majority of Sabre engines up to that time used Ford
core units.
During this period the Sabre name became synonymous with high performance,
yet durable marine engines. Power outputs for production engines were raised
and by 1987 had reached 370 hp. |
During the 70's and 80's the company was a leading force
in offshore powerboat racing, an involvement that benefitted the company in
several ways. It ensured that Sabre stayed at the leading edge of high performance
marine engine technology, and it brought the young company much needed publicity.
The high point of Sabre's racing success came in 1982 when, with Ford sponsorship,
Sabre developed an engine that set a new world diesel water speed record. Additionally,
the success of the Sabre engines - particularly in endurance events - silenced
the sceptics who had previously contended that engines with such high specific
outputs could not be reliable.
But how did Sabre achieve such reliability? The answer is by making quality
the primary consideration at all times. The base engines, when received into
Sabre’s factory, were stripped apart and then rebuilt to Sabre’s
precise tolerances and specifications. This included changes such as lower
compression ratios, additional piston cooling and steel main bearing caps. |
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| Racing and cruising the Fairey Huntsman
'SEASPRAY' led to John Freeman identifying a need for a company specialising
in the supply of high performance diesel engines for use in planing hulls. |
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| In 1987 Sabre launched the 370L engine. This engine produced
370hp and was based on a Sabre-designed 6.8 litre block, which was a modification
of the Ford block with additional strength built in to cope with the extra
capacity and power. |
| By the end of the 1980's it was apparent that significant
changes were about to take place in the world diesel engine market. Sabre’s
management determined that a definite shift of direction was necessary if the
company was to continue as a significant force in the marine diesel engine
industry into the next century. In 1991 Sabre signed a collaboration agreement
with the multinational diesel engine company Perkins. |
The agreement covered the development and marketing of
a range of marine diesel engines from 80 to 600hp, and heat exchanger cooled
engines for electricity generation. The rationale behind the collaboration
was that Perkins would provide the base engines and concentrate its substantial
engineering effort on core engine development. Sabre, with its marine experience
and focus, would design and develop the marine components, assemble them onto
the power unit and dynamometer test the final marine engine.
The first product from the collaboration was the Perkins Sabre M225Ti which
was launched in January 1993. Since then a succession of new products have
been developed. |
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| The first product jointly developed by Perkins and Sabre was the M225Ti launched at the 1993 London Boat Show. |
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In April 1993 the association with Perkins took on an
added dimension when Sabre was appointed a Perkins Marine Power Centre. Sabre
is now the sole Perkins Marine Power Centre for England, Wales and Ireland,
with responsibility for the sales, service and parts support for all Perkins
marine engines in the territory. Now, in addition to maintaining extensive
stocks of Sabre spare parts, the company also holds a comprehensive inventory
of Perkins parts.
In 1997 the company was made responsible for the management of the Perkins
marine business world-wide, and in 2000 Sabre Engines was acquired by Caterpillar. |
| The Company Today |
| The Sabre factory is located on the edge of heathland
in rural Dorset near the old market town of Wimborne. It occupies a three acre
site with adequate floor space. There are seven dynamometer test bays, six
for production/service use and one for development work. Several are equipped
with fully computerised, state-of-the-art system's for manual or automatic
control. |
The company also has its own electrical
shop, machine shop, fabrication shop and fuel injection laboratory. The Engineering
Department is equipped with computer aided design and desktop publishing technology.
In fact, the reputation of Sabre's Engineering Department is such that it undertakes
diesel engine design, development and testing work for other companies.
Up until the end of 1993 the company held the AQAP4 MOD quality standard. In
January 1994 this was superseded by ISO9002. Quality has always been and will
remain a top priority at Sabre. Hence the importance placed on continual investment
in employee training, facilities and capital equipment.
From the earliest days, the repair and overhaul of diesel engines has been
a significant activity at Sabre. This is carried out adjacent to the production
facility, by the same personnel, to ensure that overhauled engines are given
the same level of care and quality control.
The Service Department is responsible for the running of technical courses
for distributors and fleet users, plus owner/operator courses for boating enthusiasts.
The company is recognised as a teaching establishment by the Royal Yachting
Association, so those attending can be issued with a RYA Diesel Engine Course
certificate.
Sabre also uses it’s diesel engine design, assembly and testing expertise
to develop and build engines for special applications, These include military
applications where, to date, over 3000 engines have been supplied. |
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| Sabre has achieved success over the past 30 plus years
by providing products and services which fully satisfy its customers requirements.
Its policies of specialisation, engineering expertise, commitment to quality
and flexibility mean that Sabre will continue to satisfy its customers over
the next 30 years. |
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