MILITARY VEHICLE NEWS
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Web Page sponsored by MILLBROOK
Millbrook, based in Bedfordshire, UK, makes a significant contribution to the quality and performance of military vehicles worldwide. Its specialist expertise is focussed in two distinct areas: test programmes to help armed services and their suppliers ensure that their vehicles and systems work as the specification requires; and design and build work to upgrade new or existing vehicles, evaluate vehicle capability and investigate in-service failures. Complementing these is driver and service training and a hospitality business that allows customers to use selected areas of Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
http://www.millbrook.co.uk/
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28 Jan 09. Winter storms and dismal sentiment are causing retail sales to stall across the map. But auto-part vendors are tuned for a vintage year. Companies such as Autozone Inc. and O’Reilly Automotive are taking advantage of a wave of cost-conscious customers repairing cars instead of buying new ones. And cheaper gas means people are driving more, just as unusually cold weather is causing vehicles to wear out faster. Autozone’s sales growth accelerated through the quarter ending in November, and signals bode well for 2009. Monro Muffler Brake Inc., a repair service company, reported a 15% rise in same-store sales for the first three weeks of January, when many retailers expect declines. (Source: WSJ)
BATTLESPACE Comment: This trend is likely to spread to military vehicle fleets where companies such as Hobson Industries in the U.K. are well placed to benefit from policies from various MoDs to keep their fleets of Land Rovers and other legacy fleets in service through to the next decade and beyond. Hobson’s Asset Managed Parts Programme, which is now in full swing, should be a model of the Green Initiatives which the U.K. Government in particular is trying to impose on the automobile industry. Peter Hobson told BATTLESPACE that MoDs who buy into the Hobson Asset Managed Parts Programme can save billions in carbon offsets.
29 Jan 09. Extended Life Components for WIMIK VIXEN and SNATCH BODY. KAM Differentials Ltd produces a range of replacement parts that increases the strength of all the internal axle components in Land Rovers and Toyota’s. At the same time KAM can offer a system that increases the traction to the wheels giving greater mobility off road. This added reliability and performance is already fitted to over 5200 Spanish MoD vehicles and the Czech MoD has just completed a fleet change over for KAM units.
KAM’s Modular Axle Upgrade System.
The KAM Diff lock system is a modular solution and will fit directly in to all current and past models of the WIMIK, VIXEN and SNATCH Land Rovers. The whole system has been designed so that military end users have a range of modular components that can be fitted individually from strengthened half shafts, CV’s, and crown wheel and pinions to a full diff lock system.
Mobility
Mobility is crucially important for vehicles that are being used in heavy off road applications and being deployed into active service worldwide. To have the ability to double the traction with a KAM diff locker is a valuable tool when fitted. The KAM system not only protects the vehicle from becoming stuck, but also increases the vehicles ability to travel over arduous terrain when fully laden and or towing equipment
Operational Advantage
With the KAM system installed, drive can instantly be doubled. The vehicle may then tackle terrain where it would normally become stuck and therefore is able to take a route where others would not consider, thus offering a real strategic advantage.
Service Life
Often service life is seriously reduced due to the increased loadings. Any logistical delays resulting from component fai