KNDS UK (formerly WFEL Limited) has awarded a three-year contract to UK-based TFC for the supply of components used in the assembly and integration of the Boxer Armoured Vehicles for the UK MoD which are being manufactured at their Stockport facility. This is an important step to increase capacity for not only the UK MoD Boxer programme, but also the overall international Boxer programme managed by OCCAR, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation. There are four participating nations (Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the UK) and the programme is delivered through the prime industrial partner, ARTEC GmbH, a joint venture between KNDS and Rheinmetall.

TFC will support KNDS from its local operations in the North of England, from where they support British manufacturing throughout the region, helping businesses navigate global supply chains and ensuring they get the best out of global material supply sources.

The contract comprises a Vendor Managed Inventory agreement (VMI) to streamline KNDS’s inventory management, with TFC restocking KNDS’s stock levels based on data delivered by electronic data interchange (EDI). This managed supply solution includes both direct and indirect parts such as fasteners and fixings and various production consumables, with TFC collaborating with the KNDS team to ensure continuous momentum and process efficiencies as part of the supply chain services.

Commenting on this latest contract awarded as part of KNDS’s UK-wide Boxer vehicle supply chain roll-out, KNDS UK’s Managing Director, Ian Anderton, said:

“We are proud to welcome TFC to our growing UK supply chain, as we deliver the Boxer armoured vehicles to the British Army. The partnership demonstrates our commitment to a long-term collaborative approach in supporting UK manufacturing and innovation.”

Morgan Burgoyne, President of TFC, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with KNDS on the UK Boxer programme. TFC is the European arm of AFC Industries, a global provider of VMI solutions with a group turnover in excess of $650M and employing over 1200 people worldwide. For over 60 years, we have provided VMI solutions and technical engineering products, covering both specialist and C-Class components for various industrial applications.”

Further UK job creation and sustainment has been seen throughout the KNDS UK Boxer supply chain which is set to further expand as the Boxer Programme progresses. Marking a significant milestone in the programme, the first two prototypes arrived in Millbrook at the end of last year to commence joint army-industry trials allowing the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to begin their familiarisation training on the state-of-the-art armoured vehicle later this year.