|
About
NERIS Folding Kayaks UK
The
team that runs this UK business have many years of kayaking
experience,
both in Southern Africa and in the UK. From
building the first privately owned skin-on-frame double seater
kayak back in the 1970's, to owning several different models
of folding kayaks and selling various brands of folding
kayaks
(civilian and
military) over the years, you can count on
the knowledge of a broadly
experienced folding kayak crew.
Not only the NERIS boats are of an excellent quality, we
take our after sales service super seriously. As a valued customer
you will soon become aware that our relationship with you
is long term. We also have
a special relationship with NERIS (the manufacturer) in that
they take on board our experienced advice and feedback,
so that the kayaks that we sell in the UK meets our minimum
criteria and fits in with the current market needs.
About
NERIS UA (The manufacturer)
Folding kayaks first developed in Germany on a commercial basis
in 1907, and to this day, Germany is still the heart of folding
kayak activity, where a high proportion of
kayaks in use are folding kayaks. During the heyday of folding
kayak manufacturing in Germany, many
companies started and closed over time, with a core of
at least 7 major brands between the 1930's to 1950's. During that
time, folding
kayak development and manufacturing spread from Germany, across
to Poland, southern Russia,
UK and France. From the 1950's onwards more brands
spread around the world in spite of serious competition from
hard shell glass fibre and later, plastic kayaks. Around the
1970's, It was the proliferation of cheaper glass fibre and plastic
moulded
kayaks
that sadly
caused the closure of many good quality folding kayak businesses
in Europe and the 2 main remaining manufacturers in the UK.
NERIS started in 1999 as a specialist PVC business and is based
in Kiev, Ukraine. The company first started out providing kayak
skin repair
services and
produced folding kayak
replacement
skins. By 2001, the business had rapidly developed the quality
of their PVC products such that their first catamaran white water
raft model won at most of the prestigious competitions that were
held in Russia at the time.
In 2003, NERIS became the official supplier of accessories for
Poucher-Boote - a leading German folding kayak manufacturer.
In 2004, NERIS expanded their range of framed catarafts, and
in the
following year, started production of their 1st own design double
seater kayak. This NERIS Valkure-2 became an immediate success,
not only with sales, but also with winning awards in competitions
and at Water Tourism shows.
By 2006, NERIS had designed, developed and produced 3 more folding
kayak models - all of which became popular and sold in large
numbers in Ukraine, Russia, Germany and Canada.
In 2011, saw a supply agreement placed with a large Russian outdoor
equipment dealership - that saw many Russians switching preference
to the high quality products made by NERIS.
In 2012, production of the single and double seater
inflatable kayaks started.
The same year saw the introduction of the Alu-2 and Alu-3 folding
kayaks.
In 2015, NERIS started supplying the R2 & R4 kneeling frameless
catarafts
to the USA market, under a US trade name - ZELGEAR. This
innovative forward facing seating position R2 & R4 kneeling
frameless cataraft is the 1st of its kind in the world.
In 2015, the product line up that were all made in the NERIS
factory by highly trained staff were:-
- 6 folding kayak models (1, 2 and 3 seaters)
- 2 sail rigs for folding kayaks
- 4 inflatable hybrid kayaks (1, 2 and 3 seaters)
- 3 inflatable canoes
(child, 1, 2 and 3 seaters)
- 5 framed catamarans (alu frame between pontoons)
- 5 frameless catamarans (inflatable tubes joining the pontoons)
- 2 are of the kneeling type
- A wide range of hermetic bags (dry bags, back packs, pouches,
duffle bags, etc)
- Spray skirts, inflatable seats, sponsons, carry bags and other
accessories for boating
- Inflatable tents and sleds
In 2016/17, the business was split into two with the inflatable
range of products (inflatable kayaks, tents and rafts / catarafts) moving over to ZELGEAR. Neris retained the folding kayak production and has since developed the new innovative hybrid folding kayak series called the SMART's.
Most of the more experienced factory staff really love white water
rivers (had been paddling long before the business started) so
the products that they work on making, have all been thoroughly tested
and
proven
by
themselves
(and
others)
many
times.
They are
also very
fit and competitive too, entering in various races and marathons
using NERIS folding kayaks,
inflatable kayaks and as well as catarafts, all with notable results. They
care about what they make becuase they actually use them!
|
