Eurosatory
2012 will see the unveiling of Streit Group's latest prototype armoured
vehicle: the Jaguar. Chairman Guerman Goutorov explains how the company
is driving ahead with its R&D capability, in order that the company
meets an ambitious expansion programme.
This year, one company that is making its presence felt in the highly
competitive up-armoured and, armoured vehicle scene this year is undoubtedly
Streit Group. Streit has already revealed ambitious plans to expand into
new markets. These plans include a major focus on military-related contracts
which come to us on the back of its unprecedented multimillion dollar
production and R&D investment programme. In addition Streit are rolling
out new armoured personnel carriers (APCs), each of which have been designed
and manufactured in-house.
When it comes to APCs in particular, Streit Group chairman Guerman Goutorov
confirms that the company will be showcasing its ever-expanding capabilities
at June’s Eurosatory 2012 in Paris. According to Goutorov, the focal
point of the five-day event is set to be the official launch of the company's
revolutionary Jaguar. The Jaguar will be showcased on-stand alongside
its Cobra, Cougar, Spartan and Typhoon APC counterparts.
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| Pushing
ahead: R&D and new markets
The result of an intensive R&D effort, the Streit-designed and manufactured
mine-resistant and ambush- protected (IVIRAP) Jaguar, is being promoted
as a fast-moving, agile and flexible command vehicle ideally suited to
military applications. To maximise protection and survivability, Goutorov
explains that the vehicle features a distinctive modular design with a
monocoque V-hull armoured compartment and, crucially, an engine and suspension
system that is independently fixed from that of the crew cabin.
Streit Group, the world's largest privately owned vehicle armouring company,
now has an impressive global reach thanks to nine production and assembly
plants in strategic locations that stretch all the way from Canada -where
it was founded two decades ago- to the UAE. The company's vehicle portfolio
includes personnel protection, cash- in-transit, law enforcement and tactical
military vehicles. Armouring solutions are also provided for existing
civilian platforms such as custom-built luxury sedans and SUVs.
Underlining the serious intent that the company has to further extend
its market share, April 2012 saw the bringing online of a huge new armoured
vehicle factory at Ras AI Khaimah in the UAE. This advanced production
facility represents a step change in capability for Streit and, follows
a large-scale investment of $218 million for phase one of a three-phase
project. At 14 million square feet the factory ranks as the biggest facility
of its type and, has more than doubled Streit's existing production capacity.
The final two phases of the project… estimated at a cost of $32.7
million, are scheduled for completion in 2014.
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| A
landmark year
Goutorov believes that 2012 has already been a landmark year for the business.
"We have dramatically ramped up our cumulative production capacity
to 520 vehicles a month, which means that we are well placed to meet rising
demand from customers in over 100 countries." he says "The new
facility at Ras AI Khaimah has taken our business to the next level by
allowing us to support 40 vehicle types from one site at all stages of
their design. Manufacturing and testing"
The company's extensive manufacturing base is also supplemented by a network
of nine satellite offices; the latest of which Goutorov confirms has just
opened in London to service prospective customers in the UK and mainland
Europe. "We see this as an important stepping stone giving us an
invaluable presence on the ground in the region." he adds.
Goutorov attributes the company's wider success to the lessons it has
learnt over the past 20 years- which have been spent deploying thousands
of customised security and civilian armoured vehicles in conflict zones-
and the hundreds of lives that have been saved as a result. "The
knowledge we have built up over the years has proved invaluable,"
he declares. "We are now able to tailor our vehicle solutions in
line with the real challenges that customers face on the ground by carefully
balancing the pressing need for a high level of protection with other
considerations such as mobility".
Meet the Streit Group in Hall6 C441 at Eurosatory 2012.
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