Different motivations are driving companies Civilian Suppliers Turn to the Defence Parket

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A growing number of companies that have previously operated exclusively or predominantly in civilian markets are turning to military applications. The expansion of production capacity is also playing a role. This was evident at this year’s Storytelling Days in Nierstein on the Rhine.

Lee Hydraulische Miniaturkomponenten GmbH has particularly concrete plans. The German company is part of US-based The Lee Company, which specialises in miniature fluid-control components such as valves, pumps, filters and nozzles. The company has supplied the aviation industry for decades and also offers components for defence and space applications. In the space sector, solenoid valves are used, among other things, to control fluid flows in rockets, spacecraft and satellites. The US family-owned company is now considering establishing its first manufacturing operation in Europe. One major reason is the growing European space market, says Jürgen Prochno, Managing Director of Lee Hydraulische Miniaturkomponenten GmbH. “The successful launch of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket was a clear signal for us. And there are other German companies building satellites, for example. This is where we can contribute our hydraulic control components.” The company has also recently acquired new production facilities in the US states of Connecticut and South Carolina.

Satellite market offers opportunity for expansion

Prochno sees potential, for example, in satellite propulsion control: “Control nozzles on satellites are usually opened pyrotechnically after launch. But that always involves a certain degree of risk. We can replace these pyrotechnic elements with our solenoid valves.” Lee is also active in damping systems for military land vehicles. According to Prochno, European production would offer another advantage: “If we establish manufacturing in Europe, we can avoid US export restrictions because the individual parts of our systems are not subject to restrictions.” At the same time, lead times have increased as a result of strong demand from the defence and space sectors. “We could offset that by manufacturing in Europe”, Prochno expects.

STW to actively target the defence market

An even clearer strategic shift is emerging at Sensor-Technik Wiedemann (STW). The family-owned company based in Kaufbeuren develops electronics, sensors, control systems and software for the digitalisation and automation of mobile machinery. Its technology extends to highly automated and autonomous functions as well as AI-based object recognition – capabilities that can in principle also be transferred to unmanned military ground vehicles. “Until now, we have been a civilian-focused company, but very soon we will also actively offer our solutions for military systems such as UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles),” says Strategy Director Stefan Lang. The company has already worked on initial projects. “In previous cases, customers approached us. In future, we will specifically market our solutions in the defence sector and actively approach companies ourselves.”

Europe’s security challenges prompt a rethink

The change in direction is part of a broader development, he said. “There is currently a fundamental rethink within our company when it comes to defence. This rethink is taking place across the German corporate landscape,” Lang says. “We see applications for our products in the UGV sector, and optical detection is one of our strengths. Our compact systems can cover a wide range of applications. They provide UGVs with information that enables them to initiate the appropriate response”, he adds. STW develops solutions for autonomous mobile machinery in which sensor and control technology can be combined with AI and object recognition.

Camera technology for military vehicles

The situation is similar at Motec. The company, which belongs to US technology group AMETEK, develops rugged camera and assistance systems for mobile machinery and commercial vehicles. The systems are designed for operation in demanding environments and now also include digital image processing and AI-based person detection. Motec already lists military vehicles as a dedicated application area. “We have already implemented defence projects using our camera systems, which are designed for heavy land vehicles and construction machinery,” says Marketing Manager Andreas Schroeter. One possible application is monitoring the area around a vehicle: “In certain operational scenarios, it is important for the vehicle crew to know whether people are in the immediate vicinity.” Motec illustrates how small the technological gap between civilian and military applications can sometimes be. Cameras originally developed for construction machinery or other commercial vehicles are already designed to withstand vibration, dirt and extreme temperatures.

Europe’s security landscape is changing rapidly

As defence budgets rise and EU programmes expand, civil technology providers are becoming vital contributors to Europe’s strategic autonomy. The event will act as a neutral platform for dialogue between technology suppliers, integrators, and decision-makers shaping the next generation of European defence capabilities and aims to open doors between civil industry and defence procurement, providing practical insights.

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The trend is also becoming apparent in products that at first glance have little to do with defence technology. Ulm-based Hermann Bantleon GmbH develops lubricants, cleaning agents and corrosion-protection products, among other things. “We are receiving a growing number of orders from the military sector and are developing oils and lubricants that will receive NATO certification in future,” says Ralf Schrempp, Team Leader Heavy Machinery at Bantleon. According to Schrempp, demand is not coming only from traditional defence companies: “There are also construction-equipment manufacturers that are increasingly asking us for NATO and MIL certification.”