DEFENCE
Rheinmetall focuses on local growth working with New Zealand partners Rheinmetall has been an active partner to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and a member of the nation’s defence industry since 2013. From its offices at Upper Hutt, the company is now growing its New Zealand footprint by establishing a new regional capability for a range of vehicle platforms, electronic solutions and weapons & munitions on the back of its recent contract awards in the Australian defence sector. This local growth mirrors Rheinmetall’s global activities as an integrated technology group expanding into new regions and markets in the areas of environmentally friendly mobility and threat-appropriate security technology. Rheinmetall Group’s operating activities are split in two corporate sectors - Rheinmetall Defence and Rheinmetall Automotive. In 2018, its 23,000-strong staff generated annual sales of more than $NZD8 billion. Today, the 130-year-old Dusseldorfbased company is growing its New Zealand footprint by delivering capability where the key requirements are mobility, lethality, reconnaissance, protection and sustainment. Recognising the significance of the high mobility logistics vehicle and combat vehicle programs now being delivered to regional users like the Australian Defence Force, Rheinmetall has established its newest global business unit – Vehicle Systems Asia Pacific – to be headquartered in Brisbane and focused on delivering and sustaining military vehicles for the Australian and New Zealand defence forces, and in key nations across the region. Under the leadership of Managing Director Gary Stewart and New Zealand Regional Manager Marty 16
Roelofs, Rheinmetall Defence Australia and New Zealand oversees the activities of all company entities and manages operations in Wellington and Upper Hutt. “Rheinmetall has built a successful export industry for defence products and services from its German base and we are now working towards the same ambition at our Asia Pacific hub in Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Stewart said.
“Our focus is on creating sustainable design, development and manufacturing facilities that deliver world leading products and services to the NZDF, as well as partnering with local New Zealand companies to ensure their products and services are available globally through our company’s Global Supply Chain.” The New Zealand Government’s historic capital investment in the NZDF provides the foundation
Rheinmetall Group
International Partner for Security and Mobility 23,044 employees at 38 German and 75 sites in 29 countries 20,000 defence systems in use with more than 80 Armed Forces u 70 million pistons, 5 million engine blocks, 27 million pumps, 6 million exhaust gas recirculation systems per year u Biggest German Defence Company and one of the Top 15 Automotive Suppliers in Germany u Driver of innovation with more than 250 million EUR in R&D investment plus CAPEX of 250 million EUR per year u u
Line of Defence
