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| Welding techniques are the foundation of German company EWK. It's expertise in this area has made it a specialist in the manufacture of amphibious bridging and ferrying systems.
Since its foundation in 1864, EWK Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern GmbH has developed its activities on defence technology, environmental engineering and telescopic excavators. Its experience in handling aluminium alloys also enables EWK to assemble large components for railway cars, all types of aluminium structure, and it is renowned for its expertise in aluminium welding techniques. In defence technology, EWK is closely associated with the development and construction of unique amphibious bridging and ferrying vehicles, and folding float-bridge systems that can be utilised as ferries or floating bridges for trucks and tracked combat vehicles. Amphibious bridging and ferrying systems such as the Gillois-EWK vehicle, the M2 or the French Army EFA vehicle are the results of EWK's unparalleled experience and know-how in the field of mobile military bridging. First-generation inflatable rubber-side pontoons have been super-seded by two aluminium side pontoons that become part of the bridge structure when the vehicle is used as a bridge or ferry. This facilitates the erection of highly efficient floating bridges and ferries in a short time with little manpower, and when travelling on land the side pontoons swing up for ease of mobility. A water drive provides mobility in water and holds the vehicle in strong currents. In total, 264 EWK-Gillois, 385 M2 and 97 M3 vehicles were built, served or still serve in armies around the world. A new generation of MLC70 heavy-combat vehicles required the development of more advanced bridging vehicles and following the introduction of the M3 Amphibian to the German and British armies in October 1996, a new standard in military bridging was set. The 26 tonne M3 is 12.8m long and 3.9m high during road operation and can achieve a road speed of 85km/h. Loaded as a single ferry with two pump-jet drives, it travels at 13km/h in water, its axles retracted to reduce drag. A 100m bridge formed by eight M3s is designed to accommodate vehicles of up to MLC70T/100W. A ferry of two linked M3s carries a MLC70 main battle tank. A 100m bridge can be built by 24 soldiers in less than 15 minutes, at least half the time and personnel required to build the M2. The M3 is in service with the German, British and Taiwan armies. Taiwanese M3s are equipped with an armoured cabin, NBC protection, an air conditioning system and a special tropical kit. An achievement of particular significance for EWK has been the folding float bridge (FSB). To date the company has produced 1,693 bridge bays, more than 11km of bridging lengths for 11 ground forces worldwide, including a steel version similar to the Russian PMP. The aluminium FSB-1 developed for the German army is fully inter-operable with the US SRB standard ribbon bridge. EWK also has developed the FSB-2 or improved ribbon bridge (IRB) as an advanced MLC70 version to meet the requirements of MLC70T/ 100W-capable bridging systems. The FSB-2/lRB maintains inter-operability with FSB-1 elements as well as with the SRB. EWK's IRB has been chosen by the US Army to replace SRB bays and to furnish the newly formed multi-role bridge companies. The first of a total of 211 interior and 82 ramp bays has been delivered recently to the US Army. Aluminium bridges EWK has gained considerable experience in aluminium welding structures and has developed and manufactured a wide range of other well- known bridge systems. The company produced all the aluminium bridges for the AVLB BEAVER, in use by six armies, as well as the aluminium bridge sections for the Dornier foldable bridge (DoFB) in service with the Singaporean, German and Spanish armies. EWK in conjunction with CEFA, an ex-associate company of EWK, also was responsible for the development of the French EFA amphibian. CEFA also manufactured a series of amphibians for the French army with EWK supplying critical welded-aluminium structures. EWK also produced a lightweight infantry bridge and a shortspan bridge for the Hagglunds vehicle, the first a bridge up to 44m in length and in service with the British Army. An aluminium shortspan bridge for the Hagglunds vehicle is designed to help crossing shortspan gaps up to three metres. The setting of both lightweight bridges can be accomplished by few soldiers in minutes without mechanical support. EWK's product range includes aluminium easy-to-assemble reservoirs, portable stainless-steel water and fuel storage tanks. EWK provides a worldwide maintenance and repair service, training courses for operator and maintenance personnel and spare parts and general logistics support. EWK's experience in aluminium manufacturing techniques, and expertise in newly developed automated welding techniques for special aluminium alloys is unmatched. EWK developments/improvements M3 - Standard 22m MLC60 bridge available and in service in six countries (Australia, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands), total 247. - ILS worldwide |
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