News: MTL target US military market

Rotherham project manufacturing specialist, MTL Group, has showcased their new state of the art armour plating system at an exhibition in America as they target the US market.


IMPAS, which stands for Interchangeable Modular Perforated Armour System, is a cost effective alternative light weight solution to composite and ceramic add on armour which has greater flexibility and better multi-hit capabilities.

Simon Hurst, defence sales manager at MTL, said: "IMPAS is an innovative state of the art product which is suitable for both Rolled Homogenous Armour (RHA) and aluminium hulls. One of the key benefits is that the solution is a low cost lightweight armour that can be rapidly fitted to any vehicle platform

"We have identified the USA as a key market in which MTL Group can provide a high quality vehicle protection system at affordable prices."

The Association of the United States Army annual meeting and exhibition in Washington also gave MTL the opportunity to showcase their Design for Manufacture (DFM) service. Lightweight armour that has been manufactured in one piece using the world's largest robotic press at their Brinsworth facility, was tested in front of an audience at the exhibition.

Hurst added: "DFM is a service MTL Group offer where we work with customers to identify the three core objectives which are lower weight, lower manufacturing cost and improved protection."

The service provides the opportunity to select the optimum materials and influence the design for volume production.

In February, MTL were awarded a significant contract from Force Protection Europe to supply a serial production run of fabricated armoured "V" hulls for the prestigious UK Foxhound armoured vehicle project.

Defence is just one sector in which MTL is a global supplier. Others include recycling, construction, rail and offshore and renewable energy.

MTL Group website

Images: mtlgrp.com