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| Dec 2008 | Nov 2008 | Oct 2008 | Sep 2008 | Aug 2008 | Jul 2008 | Jun 2008 | May 2008 | Apr 2008 | Mar 2008 | Feb 2008 | Jan 2008 | Dec 2007 | Nov 2007 | Oct 2007 | Aug 2007 | Jul 2007 |Fri, 1 Aug 08
WEW - GSV-IPT's Responsive and Flexible Partner
http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/logistics/wew/press2.html
WEW has recently been awarded a contract for the supply of 25 fuel tank containers for the British Army. The units will be deployed with the new Support Vehicle (SV) Enhanced Load Pallet System (ELPS) MAN trucks to enhance the Army's fuel logistics capability and the contract is being managed through GSV-IPT.
Tight Lead-Times
"I was most impressed with the way you (WEW) and your team dealt with our changes and proposals to an already good piece of equipment," said Staff Sergeant Smudge Smith after working with
WEW to ensure the MoD SME approval. WEW worked closely with various staff in the MoD to ensure they got the right product (in this case,
a 10m7#179; fuel tank container with integral twin-head
pumping set) in what is, by any standards, a very short lead-time UOR for bespoke equipment.
WEW obtained two fuel units from the German Army in order to provide a very rapid 'prototype' testing programme; the test units were on site in Aldershot within a week of contract signature.
There followed a series of static and dynamic tests of the system and function tests of the Alfons Haar KPA 400 twin-head pump integral pump systems.
The first production units are scheduled for
delivery in October, 2008 and the total contract is for 25 units.
The new units will provide the British Army with a significant improvement in fuel delivery capability. After unloading the container the system can be
operated independently using its autarkic dieseldriven
pump.
WEW - Hazardous Cargoes Expertise
WEW pioneered the development of specialist containerised pressure-vessels, or tank containers, for civilian supply-chains in the 1970s. From origination, the basic WEW tank container design
had to transport and store some of the most hazardous
and toxic chemicals and gases known to man. Therefore failure (i.e. load leakage of any form), even under the most extreme stress/shock loads such as road-traffic accidents, cannot be an option.
WEW and the Military
About ten years ago, WEW applied its core design
capabilities to water and fuel logistics for the German
Bundeswehr (BW) and units underwent extensive
testing including operation to -40°C in the BW's
testing laboratories.
Six years ago, WEW was invited by the US Army to develop a water tank for their 'Hippo' program. WEW's design solution underwent a $3M testing programme lasting 18 months, which simulated the
most arduous climatic and operating conditions that
the tank would ever encounter in operation. DoD's
choice and continuing belief in containerised water
and fuel solutions was completely vindicated, as
WEW's design passed every test with very few modifications to the original design. Hundreds of
Hippo tanks are now in service without a single
reportable operational defect.
A modernized version of the Hippo is currently
being built as a prototype for later testing at
Tacom's facility in Warren, Detroit. This unit will
be exclusively assembled in WEW's newest facility
which includes latest series CNC bending, cutting
and welding equipment. The factory has also been
extended by 2,600m² to increase production
efficiency and therefore further reduce lead-times.
Apart from this, WEW has delivered around 500
tank containers to various Nato militaries, British
and European Civil Defence forces. For Nato, these
include the German, Belgian, Lithuanian and
Slovenian armed forces in Nato, as well as other
friendly armies such as the Irish (these tanks are
used in peacekeeping duties in Chad). This MoD
contract is particularly important, since the British
Army have the reputation of being a tough and
demanding customer.
Operational Advantages
WEW's tank container concept has a substantial
number of operational advantages compared with
other systems, particularly in fuel storage; most
notably, immediate deployment without the need
for any prior ground preparation and total intermodal
flexibility (road, rail, ship, aircraft, DROPS primemover).
Equally, a WEW tank container can be
collected full, empty or even half-full and simply
placed into any civilian supply chain at very low
cost.
Most WEW military designs incorporate a number
of innovative features which are patented. WEW is
now in full production with the Hippo, German Army
water tanks and has recently delivered combined
systems to the Slovenian, Lithuanian and Belgian
Armies.
WEW - a Focused Supplier
WEW applies two main competencies to the
development of military tank container solutions.
Firstly, WEW has a deep understanding of the ISO
and IMDG regulatory environment surrounding the
transport of products considered hazardous and
toxic, including diesel fuel. This allows WEW to offer
bespoke solutions which conform with all national
and international regulations, whilst accommodating
the special military operational requirements in the
field.
Secondly, WEW are welding and fabrication
experts with exotic materials and are truly flexible
in manufacturing tailored solutions to military (and
civilian) requirements. The whole production area is
configured with 'customerisation' in mind and WEW
have over 30 years' experience in this field. Typical
production runs are anything from a single unit, with
a typical batch order numbering 10-15 units.
This winning combination gives WEW the
benefit of being able to respond quickly to military
technical challenges and leverage their already
well-developed experience in military fuel and water
logistics solutions.
Fri, 1 Aug 08
Winkelmann protects Benin summit
http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/camouflage/winkelmann/press3.html
Held in the West African city of Cotonou, in the Republic of Benin, the 10th summit of the Community of Sahelo-Saharan states, known as CEN-SAD, was preceded by a round table food summit attended by the 28 Heads of State and governments that make up the organisation. The summit addressed the current acute crisis and the repercussions on the economies of CEN-SAD countries and their populations, particularly on the most vulnerable rural populations, women and children. The recommendations from the Cotonou meeting concentrated on the development of initiatives at national and regional level to increase the agricultural performance and productivity in member countries.
With so many Heads of State and Prime Ministers attending, safety and security were of the highest importance for the Benin Government. Following an initial meeting in late 2007 at the Milipol exhibition in Paris, Winkelmann UK, the specialist UK manufacturer of counter-surveillance and anti-terrorist equipment, supplied a number of HAWK XDi Electronic Device Detectors for use by the security forces. The HAWK XDi uses advanced techniques, technology and embedded intelligence to detect mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and counter terrorist applications. It detects explosive devices containing electronic components such as remote control receivers, mobile phones, electronic timers, clocks, transceivers, electronic fuses and delayed-action units, whether they are powered or unpowered at the time of the sweep.
Any potential threat to the Benin summit was seen to be from dissident groups and terrorist organizations; as the result of the vigilance and professionalism of the Benin security forces and the high technology equipment supplied by Winkelmann, the three-day event was successfully concluded without a security alert of any sort.
Fri, 1 Aug 08
ESS Introduces Profile NVGTM Goggles with
http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/personal/ess/press14.html
Eye Safety Systems (ESS) announced that its industry-leading Profile NVGTM goggles will include OpFoam face padding as a standard feature beginning in July 2008. The introduction of ESS OpFoamTM face padding will significantly improve the contoured fit, comfort, and seal of Profile NVGTM goggles against the face. OpFoamTM was initially released on the premium ESS Profile TurboFanTM goggles in early 2007 and achieved high customer satisfaction.
“The introduction of OpFoam is a game-changing upgrade for the most popular combat goggles in the world,” said John Dondero, ESS President. “We are excited to make the Profile NVG goggles more comfortable for all our customers who could use fewer distractions from their important duties. I'm confident that we've delivered a padding system that works better than anything else currently on the market.”
ESS' military and law enforcement customers operate in harsh environments, and they require goggles that can do the same. OpFoamTM face padding is constructed with proprietary tear-resistant materials designed for exceptional performance under the worst conditions. The pebbled texture of the padding adds friction to keep the goggles from slipping on the face, while the sealed skin surface prevents sand, dust, sunscreen, and oils from contaminating the foam. With gap-sealing properties in an 1/8” thickness, the face conforming design optimizes fit in a low profile package. It is also flame resistant, contains anti-fungal properties for dermal hygiene, and is easy to clean.
Listed on the US Army's Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL) and authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, ESS Profile NVGTM goggles are the most widely-issued ballistic goggles worldwide. Profile NVGTM goggles with OpFoam meet the most rigorous test standards for ballistic goggles and are designed for maximum compatibility with helmet-mounted night vision devices. The Profile NVGTM is supported by several prescription lens carriers and is also available in an Asian Fit model.