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News News by industry Defence Landmines crusader expands Cambs factory | Landmines crusader expands Cambs factory |
| Written by Tony Quested | |
| Wednesday, 12 March 2008 | |
 Explosive business: Armtrac’s de-mining machines are clearing landmines from global war zones Armtrac has finally ploughed through Highways Agency red tape to win approval for a £700,000 factory on five acres in Burwell. With military chiefs from around the world beating a path to its door, Armtrac realised it could no longer expect to swell exports from its existing farm base. Armtrac has adapted agricultural engineering to produce its armoured tractors for use in de-mining operations in Albania, Angola, Bosnia, Croatia, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mozambique, Northern Iraq and North Africa. They are also utilised to clear Ministry of Defence firing ranges in the UK. The Armtrac machines offer the complete land and route clearance toolbox. The company also provides a design-manufacturing service for specialist and one-off machine requirements. Armtrac handles every aspect of production from initial R & D to manufacture and ongoing development, according to managing director Stephen Brown. He said: “We get high-ranking military coming to see us. “When Brigadier Generals from Arab countries take the trouble to visit you to vet your technology you don’t want them seeing you in cramped farm buildings, which is the situation at the moment. “We have been conscious for some time that we have outgrown our humble roots at Brown’s Farm. “While East Cambridgeshire District Council has been fantastic with its support, we had problems with one particular lady at the Highways Agency and this considerably delayed the project – despite the vital role we are playing in war zones. “Thankfully this has been resolved and the building work is underway. Hopefully the new factory will be finished in two months.” Besides the new factory, there will be an adjacent test area on set-aside farmland. Armtrac has good reason to fast-track the new facility. Since bringing out its new generation Armtrac 400 model the company has generated 17 orders in just two months – all for North Africa. The company is aiming to double production to keep pace with demand and will be adding between five and 10 new staff when the new facility comes online. Brown, an engineer, has masterminded the growth of the business over the past 20 years or so. He said the new 400 model and the orders it has generated had put the business back on track for an export bonanza. He said: “We work with the UN but there is an inherent difficulty supplying them because they want the machines up front. If they then don’t confirm the contract under tender you are left with the machines. “This happened to us last year and we were left with £1m of machines on our hands.” Armtrac has developed a clear market edge despite intense global competition. Its machines sell for £400k compared to £1.4 million charged by one German rival and the standard of the company’s engineering is winning increasingly widespread approval. • It is estimated that there are up to 70 million landmines in more than 90 countries, killing or injuring a civilian every 30 minutes – or 18,000 people a year.
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