How did you get into your line of work?
Besides my activities in the building and real estate industry, I always keep an eye out for new trends and developments in other industries. When I came across electric jetboards, it caught my attention, and I decided to investment in a company producing these.
Can you explain a bit about the background of Lampuga
At the beginning I invested venture capital in a company, that at the time, manufactured the previous Lampuga boards. I was intrigued by the idea of electrically driven surfboards and had great aspirations for the products. In 2017 the company went bankrupted, so I decided to acquire the Lampuga brand name and to start up a new company producing the boards in southern Germany. I put together a new team, which has done an amazing job at developing and promoting the new boards.
What makes Lampuga electric surfboards so successful in your opinion?
I think an emission free drive is appealing to many people, as well as the plug-and-play system, which allows for an effortless re-charge of the battery. The boards have also received much attention due to their performance and design.
How would you describe the designs of Lampuga for those who don’t know about them?
The basis for the Lampuga designs is simplicity and timelessness. The designs are however, quite different depending on the board model. The Lampuga Air has a playful and fun design, it comes in several colours and has the inflatable hull, which ensures practicality. The Lampuga Boost is made entirely out of carbon, has dark colours and a glossy finish, which gives it more of an exclusive and elegant look.
Tell me about the design process of the Lampuga surfboards?
We made the designs in collaboration with a renowned design agency from Germany. Utilising CAD engineering, we came up with new, fresh designs for our boards with innovative convenience features, such as our plug-and-play system. We also re-engineered all the technical components of the boards.
Do you have a favourite?
I like both of the Lampuga models for different reasons, so it’s difficult for me to choose a favourite. I love the elegance and the remarkable speed of the Lampuga Boost, while I love the innovative design and flexibility of the Lampuga Air.
Where and how did you source the products, materials and craftsmen for the projects?
We source components and materials from German suppliers. We work closely with these to ensure top-notch quality. The assembly of the boards happens on-site in Rastatt by our skilled developers.
What has been your biggest success so far?
The greatest success up to this point was certainly the positive responses received at this year’s Boot tradeshow in Düsseldorf. There were many enthusiastic visitors who expressed positive attitudes towards our products and eagerness to try the boards. We are also achieving great success in the daily development of the boards, which is exciting.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your industry?
The biggest challenges can probably be split into three parts. Firstly, we had to come up with a solution to deal with the motor heat, as high-performance motors generate much heat. Secondly, we have dedicated much time to developing a system that allows for stable performance over longer time periods. That the performance of the boards do not decrease over time have been an important focus area for us. Thirdly, we have had to ensure that our boards perform under a variety of environmental conditions such extreme heat and in salt water.
What’s next?
We are currently building a new production hall, which will enable us to mass-produce our boards by the end of this year. We are also working on expanding our dealer network in Europe and want to distribute the boards worldwide in the coming year. We are looking forward to having many happy and satisfied customers!
Find out more about Lampuga’s electric surfboards here | lampuga.de