Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Marshall Specialist Vehicles (MSV) the Cambridge based specialist vehicle and shelter designer, developer and manufacturer has launched a bold programme to upgrade its specialist facilities at its Cambridge headquarters.

Called Specialist Upgrade, the substantial investment includes work on improved RFI measurement, metal working and provision of additional facilities to improve the development workshops and laboratories.

As part of Specialist Upgrade MSV has established an in house EMC test capability for radiated and conducted emissions pre-compliance measurement to Def Stan 59-411 Land Class B requirements.

The facility includes a dismantleable screened room with anechoic lining, measuring 6 x 5 x 3m high.  This facility will allow MSV to test its shelters and shelter based systems for leakage of electromagnetic interference (EMI). This is a particular problem in the military and medical worlds where one system e.g. a radio or pager system can cause others to malfunction.

The EMI facility, which will be managed and operated by Marshall Systems Design Group (MSDG), can be deployed to any customer or MSV sites as required including in the field.

Recent contract wins in systems and electronic integration as well as demands for rapid prototyping and equipment development has led to MSV establishing a FRES (Future Raid Effects System) and prototyping development centre. 

This 600 sq m facility has already been used in the development of armoured panels to protect deployable shelters and a number of UAV developments, especially for the Storm Shadow loitering munition.

Simultaneously two new high tech machines, a laser metal cutter and a metal bending machine have been brought into service. Established in a dedicated metal work shop along with other machines, these have allowed MSV to reorganise its’ production area to allow a single continuous flow through it manufacturing facility. 

The new machines have already shown considerable cost and quality improvements.  The reorganisation has also allowed better productivity to be obtained in the shelter manufacturing area.

Tim Otter, Marshall SV Future business director said: “The Specialist Upgrade programme is already showing good results. We are bearing down on costs, increasing our agility and responding to customer needs more quickly. 

“Nowhere is this more important than in the delivery of urgent requirements to customers – especially troops in the front line. The in-house teams that came forward with and developed these ideas and capabilities have done a really good job of managing these programmes to time and cost as well as improving capability.”