Florian Hohenwarter, who became CEO of armored vehicle manufacturer KNDS in Germany at the beginning of the year, announced in an interview with the FAZ that the company plans to build two additional production sites in Germany. He did not name specific locations but referred to ongoing talks with companies and the evaluation of potential sites. No decisions have been made yet.
Lessons from the Ukraine war and German-French synergies
Hohenwarter drew lessons from the Ukraine war in the interview but emphasized that the starting point is different. KNDS is already a German-French group with an intrinsic interest in effective cooperation. As an example, he cited the bridging solution Capint for France, which is based on the Leopard 2 chassis from KNDS Germany and a turret from KNDS France. The new artillery system Loras also combines technology from both countries.
From the French colleagues, the company learned about ramping up production, such as switching to flow production and robotic welding of aluminum cells. The cooperation increases interoperability and accelerates procurement, Hohenwarter said.
Production ramp-up and search for skilled workers
KNDS plans to significantly increase production: in the medium term, it aims to produce four times as many Boxer vehicles and artillery pieces, three times as many Leopards, and twice as many Pumas. Interest in the defense industry has risen sharply: the number of applications climbed from 6,000 four years ago to 60,000 last year. Nevertheless, organic growth is not sufficient, which is why partnerships such as with automotive supplier Dräxlmaier for a new Boxer production line have been established. Additionally, KNDS is converting a former Alstom railway plant in Görlitz into a defense technology site for welded structures.
Source: www.faz.net
