SEPTEMBER 2022AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM19With years of experience as a manufacturer of vehicles and vehicle/subsystems, VDL Technologies has emerged as a partner for integration projects for the defence and security sector. The company, since its inception, has been working on supplies for military end-users. Eventually, VDL Defence Technologies' enriched experience in the defence and security sector motivated them to form a central cluster in early 2000. The purpose of this cluster is to represent all of the VDL Groep's firms in the military sector thereby transforming their traditional role as a supplier into supplying (armored) steel parts and subassemblies.VDL Groep is an international industrial company that focuses on the development, production, and sale of semi-finished products, buses, and other finished products and the assembly of passenger cars. Since its foundation in 1953, this family business has grown into a company with 105 operating companies, spreading over 19 countries. In relation to the supply sector, the VDL companies break down into four divisions: Subcontracting, Car Assembly, Buses & Coaches, and Finished products. Within VDL Groep, the Buses division operates under the name VDL Bus & Coach. The core activities of the bus division consist of the development, production, sales, and after-sales service of a wide range of buses, coaches, and chassis modules, the conversion or extension of mini and midi buses, and the purchase and sale of used buses. VDL Bus Chassis BV is a part of this bus division and VDL Defence Technologies, a separate business unit operates from it. Precisely, VDL Defence Technologies specializes in the design and manufacture of mechanical systems, assemblies, and parts for the military such as armored steel processing under military standards, vehicle repair, and the production of track and wheel vehicles.Over time, VDL Defence Technologies has become a significant supplier to several renowned military and security OEMs. The conglomerate has the supply-chain capabilities to produce advanced electro-mechanical systems for the defence industry by combining OEM parts with in-house production. Besides, being a single point of contact for the integration of small, medium, and large integration projects, VDL also supports Defence Technologies during the entire operational lifespan. The company's Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) consists of a unique network and infrastructure to facilitate documentation, training, spare parts, and logistics support.With the required certifications and accreditations VDL Defence Technologies extends reliable partnership for the design and supply of mechanical systems, (sub) assemblies, and components. For instance, VDL delivered a great number of projects for the Dutch Defence (Brandweer ASK/ISK, EODD, and BSB Kmar). The company's first medium-sized project was scored for the Marine Corps in Curaçao, which required supplying 33 logistics trucks. At the end of 2018, the 12KN Air Assault project was added, in which VDL produced approximately 515 army vehicles together with Mercedes for the Dutch defence.Apart from being a reliable supplier to the Defence sector, VDL also adheres to a strict environmental sustainability policy. The company implements energy-saving and waste-prevention measures, as well as raw-material recycling processes. Adhering to climate targets, VDL is also well positioned as a forerunner in the field of electric mobility.VDL Groep innovates through a combination of craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and high-quality machinery. The group of companies combines the clout of a multinational with the flat organization and open, an informal working atmosphere of a family business, where priority is given to growth opportunities and continuity. Standing tall in the Western Europe manufacturing industry, VDL is investing heavily in automation and robotization, adopting ever-growing technological development. A Reliable Project Integration Partner to Defence and Security SectorVDL Defence TechnologiesTOP 10SOLUTIONS PROVIDERS IN EUROPE - 2022Willem van der Leegte, President and CEOVDL Defence Technologies has the supply-chain capabilities to produce advanced electro-mechanical systems for the defence industry by combining OEM parts with in-house production
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