Connova Deutschland GmbH has been approved by DNV as a manufacturer of fibre-reinforced plastic components. The Approval of Manufacturer under the DNV-CP-0421 class programme applies to the Klipphausen site and covers all manufacturing processes used there, from hand lay-up to prepreg autoclave technology. This means that composite components for DNV-classed assets can now be manufactured directly by Connova.
The scope of approval covers the production of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) components across the full range of processes available at the site:
Certificate No. AMPM0000065 was issued in Hamburg on 28 August 2026 and is valid until 27 August 2029. The responsible DNV unit is based in Essen.
The approval is based on a DNV factory audit conducted at the Klipphausen site, supplemented by independent test reports on the laminate properties. DNV does not assess an individual component, but the manufacturing organisation as a whole: process control, personnel qualifications, documentation and traceability. Three employees are named in the certificate as supervisory personnel.
For components subject to DNV design approval, a manufacturing inspection plan is still required for each component type and must be approved by DNV before production begins. The approval does not replace this step; it provides the necessary foundation for it.
In the maritime industry, classification determines what may be installed on board. Anyone seeking to integrate composite components into a classed vessel, an offshore structure or a tank system needs a manufacturing partner whose processes have already been audited by the classification society. This requirement is now fulfilled with the approval.
For shipyards, system suppliers and operators, this means less coordination effort during the approval process, more streamlined component approvals and a supplier that understands the requirements of classification societies. This is particularly relevant for applications Connova is already working on, such as filament-wound composite pressure tanks for green propulsion systems, structural and deck components, sonar domes, and enclosures for energy and sensor systems.
The DNV approval complements the existing EN 9100 and ISO 9001 quality management system, which is aligned with aviation industry requirements. For the maritime sector, this combination means aviation standards in process management and maritime classification in recognition.
“The approval is a team effort, both at our facility and among our partners. For our customers in the maritime sector, it means one thing above all: one less source of uncertainty in their projects.”
Thomas Leschik, Managing Director, Connova Deutschland GmbH
From feasibility analysis to series production, we support you as your engineering and manufacturing partner. Contact us for a no-obligation discussion about your application.
It is a manufacturer approval issued by the DNV classification society. It confirms that a manufacturing site meets the requirements of a DNV class programme and is authorised to supply components for DNV-classed assets.
Hand lay-up, filament winding, vacuum infusion, RTM, hot pressing and prepreg autoclave manufacturing at the Klipphausen site.
Using the filament winding process, components can measure up to 6.0 m in length and 1.0 m in diameter.