GB Marine Group, the renowned builder of Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts, has announced the opening of its dedicated state-of-the-art Composite Manufacturing Facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Once again, the company and CEO, Mark Richards lead the way with innovation, bold initiatives, and a focused strategy on growth through perfection and sustainability.
“I think it’s one thing to own our facility, which surprisingly has become rarer and rarer,” says Mark Richards, “but it’s quite another to carry-out a continued investment program back into the workers and the facilities like we have for the past decade.
“This expansion has been a strategic project to further improve our efficiency and production output to meet the significant demand for larger, more sophisticated motor yachts.”
The grand opening will be officiated by Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts’ CEO, Mark Richards and Shareholders, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued pursuit of innovation, quality and sustainability.
Advancing Yacht Construction with Cutting-Edge Composite Technology
The new expanded facility is a key step in Mark Richards’ vision to push the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and craftsmanship.
This expansion enables:
- Fully vertically integrated production – Ensuring precision, efficiency, and custom craftsmanship across Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts’ extensive model range.
- Optimised resin infusion techniques – Providing a dedicated space to deliver strong, lightweight, and fuel-efficient hulls with a precise ratio of resin to E-glass, unidirectional, and multi-axial fibre.
- Enhanced carbon fibre construction – Allows the company to deliver its goal of increasing structural integrity and reducing overall weight, contributing to class-leading speed, efficiency, and durability across the entire range.
According to Mark Richards, investing in cutting-edge facilities is crucial to delivering an
unparalleled yachting experience.
“In my opinion, many builders lose focus on the facility responsible for bringing their boats to life,” says Richards. “I learned long ago that if the tree has too many branches and no roots, it’s simply going to topple over. That’s part of the philosophy here which has been part of a nine-figure, multiyear development project.
“I can’t thank enough our entire team and the local government entities for making this all
happen.”
Sustainability & Energy Independence
GB Marine Group remains committed to reducing its environmental impact both on and off the water. The new facility incorporates massive solar panel capabilities across the entire roof structure, reducing reliance on the electrical grid at the production level and lowering the carbon footprint of each model’s production.
In fact, excess electricity is being delivered back to the local grid.
Additionally, vertical integration with the factory reduces transportation emissions, further helping the company to achieve its sustainability goals.
Setting a New Standard in Custom Yacht Manufacturing
With over 1,000 skilled employees, GB Marine Group produces luxury yachts ranging from 42 feet to 107 feet.
The expanded facility allows for:
- Larger yacht production and extended pre-launch testing capabilities.
- On-site 8-axis rotor robotics, testing pools, and engineering labs, elevating precision in every aspect of yacht construction. When carbon fibre and advanced resin-infused materials are used, precise molds are critical. The high-speed automation of 8-axis routers not only improves quality but also increases production efficiency, enabling faster turnaround times without sacrificing craftsmanship.
- Further development of Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts’ proprietary V-Warp Technology integrates hull form, exotic materials, building techniques, and sustainability philosophies to achieve exceptional performance and fuel-efficiency.
This technology is designed to decrease fuel and energy consumption, resulting in fewer carbon emissions required to propel our motor yachts.
A Legacy of Excellence
This new factory expansion is a testament to Mark Richards’ and the entire Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts’ team commitment to craftsmanship, efficiency, and sustainability. As Palm Beach Motor Yachts celebrates 30 years, and Grand Banks celebrates nearly 70 years of designing and building world-class yachts, this expansion reinforces these brands position as global leaders in luxury motor yacht design and construction and innovation.
