WORLD-CLASS PERISCOPE FOR SUBMARINES MANUFACTURED BY LOCAL COMPANY
08 September 2011
South Africa is one of a select few countries in the world with the know-how and advanced manufacturing capacity to produce high-quality periscopes for modern submarines.
Local technology company, Carl Zeiss Optronics today opened its new facility in Centurion where the periscopes will in future be manufactured and assembled. The opening was conducted by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral R W Higgs.
Kobus Viljoen, the CEO of Carl Zeiss Optronics, says the local company has a long history in the development and manufacturing of periscopes. It started in 1990 when the former company Eloptro (Division of Denel (Pty) Ltd), upgraded the periscopes for the South African Navy’s Daphne class submarines. Following this successful project the first export contract was won by Eloptro in 1997, for the upgrade of periscopes of two U209 class submarines for a South American country.
In 2001, Eloptro and Carl Zeiss in Germany signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop and manufacture a new periscope to be fitted to newly build submarines of the German shipyard. This cooperation was a result of the acquisition of new submarines by the South African government and the obligatory industrial participation by foreign companies with the local industry.
With the growing successful cooperation between the two companies, Carl Zeiss Optronics from Germany decided, in May 2007, to acquire a 70% holding of the former Denel company. The company was renamed to Carl Zeiss Optronics (Pty) Ltd.
More than twenty-five periscope assemblies have been successfully delivered to Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH in Germany, which are integrated on submarines sailing all over the world.
Due to the growing business in periscope manufacturing and the closure of the manufacturing plant in Kempton Park (where the former Eloptro was located), CZO decided to invest in a new facility in Irene.
The final assembly of the 12-metre tall periscopes require a specially-designed building that was opened today.
Rear Admiral Higgs says CZO’s ability to maintain and upgrade the local submarines periscopes ensures that the most advanced technology for fast surveillance and observation will remain readily available. This will strengthen the capacity of the SA Navy to protect the country’s coastline against intruders and provides it with the assurance that a local company can deliver on one of the most vital parts of a modern submarine.
With this new facility, CZO is able to manufacture 4 – 6 periscopes per year. The entire production process is now done in one building including a number of “clean rooms” where the highly-polished glass-optics are fitted into the periscope tube in a pristine environment. The periscope is then moved to a tower for final testing and calibration, before being shipped out to international clients.
Viljoen says that the production of the periscope demonstrates the company’s ability to design, develop, manufacture and deliver world-class optronics that can be used by navies across the world.
The business also boosted the South African technology and high-end manufacturing sectors. More than fifteen local companies are involved as suppliers of parts and services in the production process – creating more than 100 skilled jobs at CZO and its suppliers.
Ends
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For further information, contact:
Eurika Barnard
Public Relations & Communications
Carl Zeiss Optronics (Pty) Ltd
Carl Zeiss Group
Phone: +27 (0) 12 67 40 063
Fax: +27 (0) 12 67 40 19 8
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 88 69 87 3
Mailto: e.barnard@optronics.zeiss.com
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