25 Aug 2020

AUSTRALIAN SMEs SIGN MoU TO DELIVER INCREASED SOVEREIGN CAPABILITIES IN DEFENCE

Bisalloy Steels, Australia’s only manufacturer of specialised high strength and high hardness quenched and tempered armour steel, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shoalhaven based SME and family owned SMETEC Services. This enables the delivery of highly specialised waterjet cutting services to support sovereign capabilities within the Australian defence sector.

Working with Bisalloy Steels and Rheinmetall delegates from Germany and Australia, SMETEC recently achieved certification from the German government to cut armour steel for Rheinmetall’s Boxer 8×8 combat reconnaissance vehicle as part of the LAND400 Phase 2 program. This certification makes SMETEC the first Australian company to achieve such approval from the German Army – known as Bundeswehr WTD91 qualified – for cutting of armour grade steel to the German Army’s TL2350-0000 standards.

Bisalloy and SMETEC, already collaborating for over two years, extended their relationship by signing an MoU, further strengthening the work being undertaken by the two SMEs.

“The teams from Rheinmetall and Bundeswehr have made the TL certification process as smooth as possible with great guidance and support as well as continued support from Bisalloy”, Tim Smeets said.

“The Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions are on the global defence map. Bisalloy produces a world-class armour grade steel, and SMETEC has the capabilities to process it. We are now well-positioned to support Australia’s sovereign defence capability requirements, while also looking to expand into global supply chains”, Louise Smeets said.

Justin Suwart, Business Manager – Armour & Protection, said of the signing “Bisalloy continues to build on its long history of collaborating with key partners to develop innovative solutions in steels. Global defence prime contractors, like Rheinmetall, know Bisalloy’s capabilities extend far beyond product supply, technical support and product development assistance”.

BISALLOY® Armour steel has become a leading product for defence applications in Australia and abroad and is specified for hulls in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV), Collins Class submarines and the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles in Australia, along with many APCs, LAVs and defence platforms worldwide.