UK defence manufacturer wins £12m Boxer vehicle contract

This award, which is for the UK and future exports, continues the company's heritage of providing combat mobility solutions in support of British and allied forces

Horstman is part of RENK group, a German headquartered multi-national company, have invested significantly in the UK with the acquisition of Horstman in 2019. RENK have supported our continued growth with recent investments and improvements in our machinery and an expanded apprenticeship programme.

While Horstman is known for its armoured vehicle suspension systems, this Boxer award re-kindles a significant history in producing gearboxes in Bath for battle tank turrets, tactical 4×4’s and combat engineering vehicles.

Notably, RENK has made all production Angular Gearboxes for the Boxer to date and as a parent company, RENK is fully supportive of all required technical support and investment into Horstman to ensure that the identical product is built in the UK at Horstman’s premises in Bath, following identical processes and procedures.

RENK Test Systems are delivering the end of line test equipment to Horstman for the Boxer project. This low risk approach is coupled with Horstman’s AS9100 level quality accreditation.

Horstman’s supply chain and customer base is well established and experienced across multiple countries and vehicles, from Canada to Europe to Australia and everything in between.

As well as strengthening the company's ongoing European collaborations, this award and anticipated follow-on work on the UK Boxer gearbox programme will create or sustain up to 20 skilled roles across Horstman and the wider UK supply chain. In Bath in particular Horstman will expand our inspection, assembly, test and paint teams.

Horstman already successfully supplies the suspension for the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle, so it has established relationships with KMW and Rheinmetall engineering and delivery teams.

Horstman UK www.horstmangroup.com