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How we can help you with your Wichmann engines...

Looking for help with your Wichmann engines? You’re in the right place.

At Bartech Marine, we’re the only UK supplier of genuine parts for Wichmann engines, making us the first choice for Wichmann parts.

And that’s not all, we’re also the UK partner of QuantiParts, a Wärtsilä company, allowing us to lean on their OEM knowledge to help you get exactly what you need to keep your Wichmann engine running safely and reliably.

As well as our extensive experience and ability to secure and supply you with Wichmann engine parts, our highly experienced field service and project team stand ready to help you with maintenance programmes, breakdown responses and overhauls to get or keep your Wichmann engine up and running.

The Story of Wichmann Engines

The Wichmann story begins on the rugged Norwegian coast, in the village of Rubbestadneset on the island of Bømlo. In 1903, Martines Haldorsen, a local blacksmith, founded a small workshop, originally focused on wagon wheels and general smithing. His son, Haldor Andreas Haldorsen, was fascinated by engines and, at just 20 years old, constructed his first: a single-cylinder, 2-horsepower two-stroke engine. This engine, installed in his own boat and paired with a controllable-pitch propeller, proved so successful that neighbors soon lined up for their own.

By 1908, the family business was officially registered as M. Haldorsen & Søn Motorfabrik. The company’s reputation for practical, reliable engines spread quickly along the Norwegian coast, and by 1913, it employed 50 people. The Wichmann name, drawn from the Haldorsen family’s ancestry, became synonymous with marine propulsion in Norway

Wichmann’s early engines were “glow head” types, but the company soon embraced diesel technology. By 1938, Wichmann was producing true diesel engines, and its workforce had grown to 190, with an annual output of 160 engines. These engines powered fishing boats, ferries, and coastal vessels, earning a reputation for being “built for morons, but by geniuses”, a nod to their robust, user-friendly design.

The postwar years saw rapid expansion. Wichmann became a cornerstone of Norwegian industry, with a major factory expansion in the 1970s that brought staff levels to over 500. The company was at the forefront of marine engine innovation, introducing two-stroke trunk piston engines, controllable-pitch propellers, and even early electronic propeller control units.

However, the global shipping downturn of the late 1970s hit hard. Wichmann went bankrupt in 1978, but Norwegian public support kept production alive. After several changes in ownership, the company was acquired by Wärtsilä in 1986. Under Wärtsilä, Wichmann continued to innovate, launching the WX28 series in 1984, a two-stroke, loop-scavenged trunk piston engine with a 280 mm bore and 360 mm stroke, available in a wide range of configurations and power outputs.

Despite technical success, Wärtsilä eventually ceased Wichmann engine production in 1997. The Rubbestadneset site remains a hub for marine engineering, now home to Wärtsilä Norway’s repair yard and a museum dedicated to Wichmann’s legacy.

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What we can do for your Wichmann engine:

  • Source and secure correct Wichmann parts – as the only UK supplier of genuine parts for Wichmann engines, we’re the place to come for Wichmann parts that fit the bill and do the job
  • Supply and install Wichmann engines
  • Significant Wichmann assembly overhauls
  • Onsite overhauls, fault diagnosis and troubleshooting

How you can benefit from our expertise:

  • Save money on Wichmann parts – come direct to the exclusive UK Wichmann parts supplier, to secure the best possible price
  • Reduce significant expenditure – our experienced and proven overhaul and engineering team can often help you avoid replacements, cutting down on the cost of your Wichmann engine
  • Access unrivalled expertise – Bartech’s engineers, partnered with the OEM, know Wichmann engines like the backs of their hands, giving us decades of experience to lean on.
  • Get peace of mind that your job is done right, first time – all Bartech work is guaranteed for 12 months.

Our experience covers the following engines:

28 Series

  • Production Years: 1986 to 1998
  • Configurations: A, B, and C types
  • Cylinder Arrangements: 4 and 6 cylinders in-line; 8, 10, and 12 cylinders as V-engines
  • Bore: 280 mm
  • Stroke: 360 mm
  • Power Output: 990–4679 kW at 600–720 rpm
  • Design: Two-stroke, trunk piston engine with monoblock construction and integrally cast cooling water jackets. The pistons are oil-cooled for durability and efficiency.

    • The Wichmann 28 series engines are recognized for their robust design and ease of operation—one engineer famously remarked that “Wichmanns were built for morons, but built by geniuses,” highlighting their user-friendly maintenance and operation.

    The engines’ monoblock construction and oil-cooled pistons contribute to their legendary durability and long service intervals.

    The 28 series was among the last Norwegian-designed marine engines before the full transition to Wärtsilä branding and technology.

    Models include 6L28 & 12V28

    		 AX Series

  • Produced 1969–1985
  • Configurations: AX, AXA, AXG, AXAG
  • Cylinders: 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 in-line
  • Bore/Stroke: 300 mm / 450 mm
  • Power: 732–3670 kW at 290–480 rpm

    • Features: Two-stroke, Root’s blower scavenged, block type with integrally cast cooling water jackets, oil-cooled pistons. AX/AXA: rpm range 290–375; AXG/AXAG: rpm range 415–480 with external reduction gear and servo system. Both clutch and pitch control servomotor are enclosed in the aft end of the bedplate.

    Benefits: Easy maintenance, long component lifetime, high reliability, low NOx (EIAPP Tier 1), low specific fuel oil consumption compared to engines in the same power range.

    AC Series

  • Produced 1950–1978
  • Configurations: AC, ACA, ACAT
  • Cylinders: 2–9 in-line
  • Power: 100–1030 kW at 330–400 rpm

    • Features: Two-stroke, Root’s blower scavenged, block type with integrally cast cooling water jackets, oil-cooled pistons, hydraulically operated controllable pitch propeller, and double cone friction clutch. Both clutch and pitch control servomotor are enclosed in the aft end of the bedplate.

    Benefits: Easy maintenance, long component lifetime, high reliability

     

    Key Features Across the Range

    • Medium-bore, two-stroke trunk piston design for marine propulsion
    • Mechanical Root’s blower scavenging for efficient operation
    • Block construction with integrated cooling for durability
    • Oil-cooled pistons for extended service life
    • Designed for easy maintenance and long-term reliability

    Applications

    Wichmann engines are ideal for:

    • Marine propulsion and auxiliary power
    • Classic vessels and heritage fleets
    • Industrial and power generation applications

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