Kamewa

Kamewa is a Swedish marine propulsion brand whose origins lie in AB Karlstads Mekaniska Werkstad, commonly abbreviated as KMW. The company was established in Karlstad in 1860 and developed a broader industrial manufacturing business that included machinery for pulp and paper mills as well as hydroelectric turbines. Kamewa initially functioned as a brand name for KMW's controllable-pitch propellers, but the name later became associated more broadly with marine propulsion equipment, particularly waterjets and propeller systems. The business's industrial history reflects the consolidation of specialist engineering companies into larger international groups. In 1986, KMW and the Kamewa business were acquired by British engineering company Vickers plc. Rolls-Royce acquired Vickers in 1999, bringing the marine propulsion activities into Rolls-Royce's wider commercial marine portfolio. In 2019, Rolls-Royce sold its Commercial Marine business to the Norwegian industrial group Kongsberg Gruppen. The Swedish operations were integrated into Kongsberg Maritime and are now organized as Kongsberg Maritime Sweden AB, based in Kristinehamn. Under Kongsberg Maritime, Kamewa continues to be used as a product and technology name rather than as an independent publicly listed company. Kamewa waterjets remain commercially available and are offered in five product lines across two product series. Kongsberg also produces Kamewa and Kamewa Ulstein propellers. These products serve marine applications that require maneuverability, efficient power transmission, and high-speed propulsion, including commercial, specialized, and other professional vessels. Earlier Kamewa products included the A-series waterjet, a mixed-flow pump manufactured in aluminum; the SII and P62 pumps, produced in stainless steel; and the Kamewa Advanced Propulsion Systems waterjet, developed specifically for Volvo Penta diesel engines. The brand's portfolio therefore spans both established propulsion architectures and application-specific systems developed in cooperation with engine manufacturers. Kamewa has maintained an international commercial presence through direct group operations and distributors. In 2016, Pacific Power Group was appointed as Kamewa's first distributor for the Western United States. The appointment expanded local sales and service access for Kamewa propulsion products in that region. Today, the brand's commercial identity is closely tied to Kongsberg Maritime's global marine technology organization, while its Swedish engineering heritage remains connected to Kristinehamn and the original KMW business.

Kamewa traces its institutional origins to AB Karlstads Mekaniska Werkstad, or KMW, a Swedish engineering company founded in Karlstad in 1860. KMW operated as a diversified manufacturer rather than as a marine-only business. Its activities included machinery for pulp and paper mills and turbines for hydroelectric power generation. This industrial base provided the engineering context in which the Kamewa name emerged. Kamewa began as a brand designation for controllable-pitch propellers manufactured by KMW. Controllable-pitch technology allows the propeller blade angle to be adjusted while the propeller is turning, enabling a vessel's propulsion and maneuvering characteristics to be adapted to operating conditions. Over time, Kamewa became associated with a wider set of marine propulsion products, especially waterjets and propellers. The company entered a new ownership phase in 1986, when the British engineering group Vickers plc acquired the Kamewa business. Vickers ownership connected the Swedish propulsion operation to a larger international engineering portfolio. In 1999, Rolls-Royce acquired Vickers, and Kamewa subsequently became part of Rolls-Royce's commercial marine activities. During its development as a propulsion brand, Kamewa produced several waterjet designs and related pump systems. Earlier products included the aluminum A-series mixed-flow pump, the stainless-steel SII and P62 pumps, and the Kamewa Advanced Propulsion Systems waterjet. The APS waterjet was developed specifically for use with Volvo Penta diesel engines, illustrating the brand's work on propulsion systems designed around particular engine applications. Kamewa also developed and marketed propeller systems, including controllable-pitch products. Its marine propulsion portfolio was used in applications where waterjet or propeller performance, maneuverability, and integrated propulsion engineering were important requirements. The brand's products were sold beyond Sweden through international commercial channels. In 2016, Pacific Power Group became Kamewa's first distributor for the Western United States. The arrangement expanded access to Kamewa products and support in a major regional marine market. The following major ownership transition occurred in 2019, when Kongsberg Gruppen acquired Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine. Kongsberg integrated the acquired business into Kongsberg Maritime, and the Swedish operations became Kongsberg Maritime Sweden AB, based in Kristinehamn. Kamewa therefore exists today primarily as a continuing product and technology brand within Kongsberg Maritime rather than as an independent company. Kamewa waterjets remain traded under the Kamewa name, with five product lines organized into two product series. Kongsberg also offers Kamewa and Kamewa Ulstein propellers. The brand combines the legacy of a Swedish engineering company founded in the nineteenth century with the resources, distribution, and marine systems capabilities of a contemporary international group.

• 2019

  Commercial Marine business joins Kongsberg

  [1]Kamewaen.wikipedia.org

  Kongsberg Gruppen acquires Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine and integrates the Swedish operation into Kongsberg Maritime.

• 2016

  Western U.S. distributorship established

  [1]Kamewaen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Power Group becomes Kamewa's first distributor serving the Western United States.

• 1999

  Acquisition by Rolls-Royce

  [1]Kamewaen.wikipedia.org

  Rolls-Royce acquires Vickers, bringing Kamewa into its commercial marine organization.

• 1986

  Acquisition by Vickers

  [1]Kamewaen.wikipedia.org

  Vickers plc acquires the Kamewa business from its Swedish industrial ownership.

• 1860

  KMW is founded in Karlstad

  [1]Kamewaen.wikipedia.org

  AB Karlstads Mekaniska Werkstad, later associated with the Kamewa brand, is founded in Karlstad, Sweden.

A specialist marine propulsion brand combining Swedish engineering heritage with Kongsberg Maritime's international marine technology and service network.

• Marine propulsion

  Kamewa waterjets

  Kamewa waterjets are marine propulsion units in which a pump draws in and accelerates water through a nozzle to generate thrust. The brand's waterjet range continues to be sold by Kongsberg Maritime under the Kamewa name and is organized into five product lines across two product series. Waterjets are particularly associated with vessels requiring responsive maneuvering and high-speed propulsion.

• Marine propellers

  Kamewa controllable-pitch propellers

  Controllable-pitch propellers were the product category that originally established the Kamewa brand. Their blade pitch can be adjusted during operation, allowing propulsion output and vessel handling to be controlled without relying solely on engine speed. Kongsberg Maritime continues to produce Kamewa propeller systems.

• Marine propellers

  Kamewa Ulstein propellers

  Kamewa Ulstein propellers are part of Kongsberg Maritime's continuing propeller portfolio. They extend the Kamewa name into a product family associated with integrated marine propulsion solutions for professional vessels.

• Marine waterjet

  A-series waterjet

  The A-series was an earlier Kamewa waterjet using an aluminum mixed-flow pump. It represents one of the product families developed before the brand's integration into Kongsberg Maritime.

• Marine waterjet pumps

  SII and P62 pumps

  The SII and P62 were earlier Kamewa pump products manufactured in stainless steel. They formed part of the brand's historical waterjet and marine pumping portfolio.

• Integrated marine propulsion

  Kamewa Advanced Propulsion Systems waterjet

  The Kamewa Advanced Propulsion Systems waterjet was developed specifically for Volvo Penta diesel engines. Its application-specific design illustrates Kamewa's work on matching propulsion units with particular marine power systems.

• 2019

  Integrate with Kongsberg MaritimeM&A

  Background

  Rolls-Royce sold its Commercial Marine business to Kongsberg Gruppen.

  Action taken

  Kongsberg acquired the business and integrated the Swedish operations into Kongsberg Maritime.

  Aftermath

  The Swedish operation became Kongsberg Maritime Sweden AB in Kristinehamn, while Kamewa waterjets and propellers continued to be marketed under the Kamewa name.

  Source

• 1999

  Become part of Rolls-Royce Commercial MarineM&A

  Background

  Rolls-Royce acquired Vickers, which owned the Kamewa business.

  Action taken

  Kamewa was incorporated into Rolls-Royce's commercial marine activities.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued as part of a larger marine propulsion and engineering organization.

  Source

• 1986

  Join the Vickers engineering groupM&A

  Background

  Kamewa was operating as part of the Swedish KMW engineering business when Vickers acquired it.

  Action taken

  The business was transferred into Vickers plc's international engineering portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The transaction began Kamewa's ownership by larger international industrial groups and preceded its later integration into Rolls-Royce.

  Source

1. 1Kamewaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Propulsors & Propulsion Systemskongsberg.com