The investments will not only play a leading role in the delivery of critical equipment across most of the UK’s armoured vehicle programmes, but they will also serve a growing number of civilian markets such as rail, renewables, and construction.
In a show of confidence in future programmes, Responsive Engineering’s manufacturing potential will be boosted by a new press brake, with a maximum bending force of 800 tonnes. The investment enhances the companies’ already proven armour manufacturing capability, allowing heavy armour plate to be shaped and formed without the need for welding. This retains the blast and ballistic integrity of the material, increasing survivability for operators.
In addition, the company has commissioned the manufacture of a new gantry milling machine, which will be one of the largest in Europe. The machine will be able to achieve the highest tolerances on major fabrications, up to 11m in length. This investment builds on Responsive Engineering’s already impressive machining capability.
“These equipment investments will help us to deliver projects to our customers of an even greater scale and complexity. They allow us to take on projects that have not previously been possible, but for which we have significant expertise and experience within our workforce. We are working hard to introduce new people to the business to take this incredible capability into the future, and to contribute towards the prosperity of our region.”
Rachel Mansfield, Managing Director at Responsive Engineering
Both companies are investing in the future of their workforce with the recruitment of craftsmen, apprentices, graduates, and senior professionals. An initiative to enhance links with local colleges will be announced this year to further support Responsive Engineering’s talent pipeline, training students in manufacturing skills for some of the world’s most critical industries. The establishment of this future manufacturing academy will build upon the companies’ commitment to developing the next generation of skilled professionals and supports its ESG strategy, which also prioritises support to veterans and service leavers. In the last 6 months, a host of staff initiatives have also been rolled out, including a new healthcare plan and community activities.
Investment in the Armstrong Works building itself will ensure that both companies can continue to support customers effectively, efficiently, and safely. Further initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of the site include the introduction of a cross-company Environment Action Group to find iterative improvements to everyday operations, as well as research into the electrification of our products, to reduce their long-lasting environmental impact.
Armstrong Works, originally built in 1847, has served armed forces in the UK and around the world and continues to make a significant contribution to defence programmes today.
“Investment in improvements to the historic Armstrong Works readies the site for the future and helps us to deliver against our commitment to our customers, across a wide range of sectors. Our customers, whether they are in defence, rail or energy require the highest levels of manufacturing capability, quality, and skill. We are proud of our continued commitment to investing in both our people and manufacturing capabilities, which also creates exciting and varied opportunities at both Pearson Engineering and Responsive Engineering, for generations to come.”
Craig Priday, Managing Director at Pearson Engineering
Our battle proven minefield breaching products provide armoured vehicles with the capability to defeat anti-tank mines. Whether intended for deliberate breaching or to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for fighting vehicles, our blast-resistant ploughs give Commanders the option to move unimpeded and in doing so, maintain a battlefield advantage.
Our earth loading capability delivers a powerful digging and carrying ability, enabling armoured vehicles to transport materials, clear obstacles, dig and fill trenches and to assist in construction tasks. Our loaders can be provided with varying degrees of function and therefore complexity to support different mission sets.
Our interrogation capability is rooted in providing additional capability for Counter-IED and Route Proving operations. To supplement physical detection from ground engaging roller systems, our interrogation arm can be used to further understand the nature of threats and to identify where risks may be present outside of the path of the roller.
Our obstacle and earth moving products include general purpose and multi-purpose dozer blades, designed specifically to meet the needs of different mission sets. Our blades are designed to be tough, robust and lightweight, enabling a wide range of obstacle and earth moving activities whilst minimising the impact on the vehicle’s mobility.
Typically used alongside Pearson Engineering’s Route Opening Mine Plough, Surface Clearance Device or Route Proving rollers, our highly configurable obstacle marking systems support battlefield mobility by quickly and reliably marking safe lanes and the edge of hazardous areas.
Our excavation capability is designed to support combat engineer operations such as digging, demolishing, removing obstacles and filling trenches to support Area Access and Area Denial.
Our approach is often described as a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ in that host vehicles can be adapted to take on various combat engineering roles, or to overcome challenges to mobility. Integration of our products with the vehicle is made via a Pearson Engineering Direct Fit Interface or Pearson Engineering Quick Connect. The most suitable integration method depends on the mission requirements and vehicle capabilities. Our engineers will work closely with end-users and vehicle manufacturers to define the most appropriate route to minimise the impact on the vehicle and to maximise operational capability. Decisions are often based on hydraulic and electrical availability as well as the required role of the vehicle. Our integration kits are used to fit products that are designed to enhance armoured vehicle agility, tactical flexibility and adaptability. They are designed to be configurable and to deliver ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ to operations.
Our recovery capability includes a range of dedicated and multi-purpose blades which are primarily designed to support the recovery of other vehicles and for moving of heavy obstacles. A powerful ground-engaging blade sinks into the earth to hold a vehicle static, acting as the force against which the obstacle can be pulled. The same blade can be articulated to provide some obstacle and earth moving capability.
Surface laid mines represent a rising threat as Armed Forces turn their attention to near peer conflict. Our solutions, each designed to support the missions of dedicated combat engineer vehicles or fighting vehicles, provide a comprehensive detect and displace capability to support deliberate clearance or self-extraction in the face of air delivered scatterable mines.
Our highly configurable rollers have saved countless lives, limbs and assets on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and have succeeded in ensuring ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for soldiers around the world. Provided as either a full-width ‘route proving’ variant to actively check routes for the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices, or as a track-width ‘self-protection’ variant, our rollers are designed specifically to meet the needs of wide-ranging operational requirements. Our continued Research & Development and our approach to customisation provides confidence to those who use them.
Like all of Pearson Engineering’s products, our assault gap crossing solutions are designed to be modular, to be interchangeable with other mobility and counter-mobility equipment and to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ on the battlefield. In a time when units are tasked to ‘march divided and fight united’, independent manoeuvre support is key.
Our range of Mine Clearance platforms and tools provide Armed Forces and other organisations with scalable solutions for mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and the defeat of improvised explosive devices. Our platforms and their tools can also be used to create mobility challenges for adversaries. Proven around the world, these mine clearance platforms and their tools are designed specifically to meet the needs of different operational contexts from large area clearance to support logistics and peace keeping operations through to clearance in complex terrain.