The present thread is devoted to Spain's former leading diving equipment manufacturer Nemrod. I expect everybody here will know the name "Nemrod" and may well have dived using the gear the company produced. I have several items of Nemrod equipment in my collection. I am no expert on Nemrod products and have come to rely heavily on the wisdom and expertise of the owner of Facebook's Nemrod Museum, who already knows everything worth knowing about the firm.
Before embarking on a review of Nemrod masks, snorkels and fins over the years, I intend today to post a potted history of Nemrod written by others.
1.
Nemrod celebrates its golden wedding (translation)
Nemrod cumple sus bodas de oro
All retailers and fans of the world of underwater activities recognize the name of Nemrod as a leading brand in this specialty. Now Nemrod is celebrating no less than 50 years of existence in the sector, since that 1935 when Metzeler Nemrod, S.A. was founded.
The industrial and commercial steps taken have been many since then, consolidating from year to year the image of quality, prestige and specialization that the brand has always had. As a small tribute to this professional work, DIFUSION SPORT joins the celebration of the golden wedding of the firm of Canovellas (Barcelona) and has prepared the following report, which tries to synthesize the progression in our sector of this historic and dynamic Spanish company.
The beginnings
As we said, in 1935 Metzeler Nemrod, S.A. was created, at the request of the firm “Industrias del Caucho y Similares Sagué, S.A.” (or Saqué, S.A.), which specialised in manufacturing surgical, orthopaedic and industrial rubber goods.
Four years later, brothers Pedro and Juan Vilarrubís founded an industry dedicated exclusively to sporting goods, toys and roller skates. Their personal attention to the sea and underwater fishing leads them to start manufacturing underwater hunting and immersion items.
Focused on this last operation, the years pass until the trademark “Nemrod” is officially registered in 1945. According to mythology, Nemrod was a king of Chaldea, in Babylon, to whom the invention of the bow and arrow is attributed, also highlighting his hunting skills. In antique prints he is represented as an armed warrior and pointing with a bow in tension at an invisible target.
In that year of 1945 the first swimming fins of the brand appear. This material is immediately accompanied by regulators, as well as various elements and accessories clearly defined in the world of diving.
In 1953, the merger between the Vilarrubís and Sagué families took place, giving rise to the firm Vilarrubís y Sagué, S.A. This union significantly increases the company’s capacity, developing new product lines, such as masks, respirators and rifles.
José Amengual, advisor and collaborator of Nemrod, is considered the best underwater sportsman in the world.
The great leap of 1966
At the beginning of the aforementioned year of 1953, Nemrod launches its open circuit compressed air based diving equipment, as well as an assorted range of accessories for this activity. This was possible thanks to experiences built up after the World War, when Nemrod first manufactured an autonomous closed-circuit oxygen scuba in Spain.
In 1966 there was a new and important merger of the company, by signing a 50% partnership with the great German firm Metzeler Kautschuk (since 1974 belonging to the Bayer group). This enhances and energises Nemrod’s actions, starting with expanding its facilities, building new and advanced production plants, extending its offerings and ultimately achieving a high level of sales volume. Nemrod produces its first inflatable boats in this period.
During the period from 1970 to 1981, Metzeler A.G. increased its capital share, until it had 100% of the shares of Metzeler Nemrod. S.A.
Today we can say that Nemrod is one of the largest industries, internationally, dedicated to the manufacture of underwater material. It is one of the few with a technological base enabling it to be self-sufficient industrially in several production lines, without requiring the collaboration of auxiliary industries.
In Canovellas (Barcelona), Nemrod has a first-rate industrial plant, where 300 employees produce all kinds of underwater items, from simple children’s fins to sophisticated multi-seat hyperbaric chambers. Its 12,000 m² factory also develops programs with technical rubber parts, autonomous breathing and safety equipment (for industry, fire departments, rescue organisations, etc.).
The ill-fated naturalist Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente. In his expeditions and reports for scientific dissemination, he always used Nemrod equipment.
Technical and commercial progress
Apart from the articles mentioned when we explained the successive growth of the company, the history of Nemrod is marked by innovations and technical achievements. Already in the early stages, with the Vilarrubís brothers, the “Astoria” masks and the first speargun for underwater fishing were launched for the first time in our market.
In 1939, the first gun appears and at the end of the second world conflagration, Nemrod also launches the first mask with a snorkel. Before that, in 1943, Nemrod was the first company to manufacture swimming fins for commercial purposes.
In 1951, the Catalan firm launched the world’s first oleopneumatic rifle, called the “Admiral” and very popular at the time. In 1953, as we have already mentioned, Nemrod produces the open-circuit scuba, which increases the possibilities of marine research (in the mineral, archaeological, biological field etc.).
In 1957, with a Nemrod scuba, man descended for the first time in history to a depth of 100 m. With a block bottle loaded simply with air and a regulator (Shark III-V-2 model) it was shown to the whole world that underwater exploration no longer offered obstacles or danger.
In 1960, the Nemrod teams were chosen for certain psycho-physiological tests by a unit of “paratroopers-scuba divers” of the United States Army. It was about checking a man’s survival conditions after parachuting from a high-altitude plane and diving immediately in the water after contact. The tests provided very valuable data on the effects of pressure.
In 1966, military units of amphibian paratroopers were already operating in different countries. The most popular are undoubtedly the Americans, given their role in the rescue of astronauts after the landing of space capsules in the Ocean.
The missing naturalist Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente was also always equipped with Nemrod suits and equipment. The same as the great world champion in underwater hunting, José Amengual, who continues to use the Nemrod items in high competition. Amengual is also an advisor to the firm and technical and design aspects collaborate. He is universally recognized as the best underwater sportsman in the world (see interview in DIFUSION SPORT No. 4, 1983).
A historical photo from 1957. His footprint and the image of the grouper already say it all.
The new double-chamber hydrostatic vest (Push Lift 2000), with all known advances incorporated).
Worldwide Implementation
Since the beginning, the foreign market has been one of the objectives of the brand. The first exports were made to European countries, later to America, Asia, Africa, Oceania ... Today Nemrod is officially represented in 100 countries on five continents, and its goods are also found in many other nations of the globe.
The technology, quality and industrial capacity of Nemrod, has led the brand to manufacture and supply a varied range of products to the Armed Forces, Navy and various military units. This particular line is fully introduced in the equipment of the international military organization NATO.
With his knowledge and extensive experience in rubber production, as well as articles for diving and spearfishing, Nemrod has significantly expanded its offerings. An example - as detailed above are its technical rubber parts and the development of autonomous breathing and safety equipment for different industrial applications, including rescue bodies.
The Nemrod team and the powerful structure of Metzeler. It makes this brand based in Spain intentionally compete with the elite labels in this professional specialty. Its implementation in all markets, demonstrates the importance of its commercial impact in the sports and professional sector of underwater activities.
For this year, Nemrod has a series of very interesting new articles, following its line of progress and honouring those golden weddings that it now meets. Among the new collection, it is worth highlighting the new Octopus assembly of its regulators, a double-chamber hydrostatic vest (PVC interior and nylon exterior; rapid air evacuation and overpressure safety valve; automatic breathing nozzle; exclusive automatic inflation Push Lift, auxiliary pocket and whistle; plus bottle of 0.5 l.), As well as a robust hyperbaric chamber (a two-seater model) and the remodelling of practically all its lines, wetsuits, snorkels, fins, silicone masks, rubber masks, dry diving suits, inflatable boats of all kinds, knives, control devices, vests, rifles, regulators, fasteners, back-packs, taps and gauges, blocks (bottles) of steel or aluminium, various accessories and accessories.
An offer of the first order, to commemorate half a century of constant dedication.
Hyperbaric chamber, two-seater model, recently developed by Canovellas firm.
