LOCATIONS
31 May 11. Faun Trackway is opening its new United States office in Washington DC at the British Embassy in DC on July 26th. The Office will be managed by ex-Seabee Mike Holdcroft and supported by Specialist PR Consultants Corvis. This comes following further interest in the Faun Trackway products currently in service with 6 countries around the world. Ironically, the U.K. MoD, the first user of the system has yet to place an order for the automated Class 70 DROPS-based system which automatically lays Trackway at a rate of 50 meters in 7 minutes and retrieves at the same rate. Currently the MoD system is laid by hand!! Faun Trackway will be exhibiting products at AUSA this year, including the Helicopter landing Mat system recently ordered by the Colombian Air Force following the demonstration at the Fairford Air Tattoo last year.
26 Apr 11. Astrum’s Middle Eastern customers are enjoying an unparalleled level of service and support. Astrum has established an overseas operation in the United Arab Emirates to better serve the Middle East region, and six months in it is already proving to be a sound decision. Headed up by Keith Atkinson, the Middle East operation is providing an important link between customer and manufacturer. Having worked in the region for several years, Keith Atkinson’s strong network and local knowledge has already secured a number of new contracts and established several key distribution partners. Establishing a Middle Eastern office has already had a positive impact on both customers and Astrum itself. With an improved quality of service and regular contact, Astrum Middle East is realising a new level of customer satisfaction.
JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
12 Apr 11. BAE Systems is cutting 230 jobs and shutting down a factory located in Wolverhampton, England. BAE is closing a vehicle business that employs about 700 people in the U.K. BAE has about 98,200 people worldwide. The vehicle business shutdown will result in 70 terminations. An additional 160 jobs are to be cut at other facilities in the same division, including 100 in Newcastle. After the site at Wolverhampton closes, some work will be transferred to a plant at Telford, according to a company spokesperson. The U.K. business will now focus on supporting U.K. army vehicles, the spokesperson added. (Source: Google)
BATTLESPACE Comment: This plant is the HQ for BAE’s Bridging business. Vickers originally developed BR90 (Bridging for the 90s), a long and costly project using Multidrive vehicles as the transporter. The only other client was Malaysia which is looking to replace its bridges and transporter. BAE was in the frame last year for this Requirement but whether or not it is still bidding is not clear. WFEL is also bidding the Requirement with a new vehicle. Given a sever lack of spares and the fact that Multidrive no longer exists, the MoD will be pencilling in a requirement for new BR90 vehicles which would be bid by IVECO, Oshkosh and MAN.
PERSONNEL
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
04 May 11. To be Middle East Advisor, a new appointment for one year, in May 2011. Lieutenant General S V Mayall CB (Late 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards), currently Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operations).
04 May 11. To be Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operations), in the rank of Lieutenant General, in succession to Lieutenant General S V Mayall CB, in May 2011. Major General R L Barrons CBE (Late Royal Regiment of Artillery), formerly Assistant Chief of the General Staff.
04 May 11. To be Assistant Chief of the General Staff, in succession to Major General R L Barrons CBE, in April 2011. Major General J R Everard CBE (Late Queen’s Royal Lancers), formerly General Officer Commanding 3rd (United Kingdom) Division.
04 May 11. To be General Officer Commanding 3rd (UK) Division, in succession to Major General J R Everard CBE, in June 2011. Major General J G Lorimer DSO MBE (Late Parachute Regiment), currently Ch