Partner Article

North East engineers take on armoured vehicle contract

A DARLINGTON engineering company has supplied more than 1,000 forged parts for 200 patrol vehicles for the British Army and 20 vehicles for US forces in Afghanistan.

Henry Williams Limited has provided more than 1,000 forged parts for 200 light-protected patrol vehicles for the British Army and a further 20 vehicles for the US Army.

The parts – two elements of the wheel hub assembly – are being supplied by Henry Williams Limited to Whiteland Engineering Limited, a sub-contract precision engineering company based in the South-West of England, where they are being assembled as an integral part of the Jackal 1 and 2 and Coyote vehicles.

The Jackal, which entered service in the British Army in late-2009, is a high mobility weapons platform, with a unique air-bag suspension system allowing rapid movement across varying terrain. It is used for reconnaissance, rapid assault, fire support and convoy protection.

The Coyote, a tactical support vehicle, is a larger derivative of the Jackal 2. Its extra two wheels give a heavier vehicle approaching 10,500kg which will act in support of the Jackal and allow transportation of supplies and equipment over similar terrain.

Henry Williams is supplying in the region of 1,130 of the forged wheel hub components, up to six per vehicle.

Andrew Nelson, managing director at Henry Williams, said: “The contract came to us on a short lead time but, thanks to the recent investment to increase production capabilities at our Darlington factory, we have been able to meet the stringent quality and delivery demands you would expect from an assignment of this nature.

“Concerns about the need for greater protection for British soldiers are well documented, so we are very proud to be able to support troops on the frontline.”

Henry Williams supplies a number of sectors, including the Highways Agency, oil and gas industry and the MoD.

In the past 18 months, the company has invested more than £1.5m upgrading production capabilities at its factory in the Albert Hill area of Darlington, installing a German-made Banning air-powered drop hammer capable of shaping steel with four-tonne blows, as well as a new 100 tonne electric press brake, new welding facilities and other associated fabrication equipment.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .