Flensburger Fahrzeugbau
The Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) (Flensburg Vehicle Manufacturing Company) is a medium-sized German Company in the form of a GmbH, which is based in Flensburg. It operates in the Military technology, military vehicle manufacturing, maintenance, and upgrade, business sectors.
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| GmbH | |
| Industry | vehicle, defense, reconditioning |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Norbert Erichsen (CEO) |
| Products | armoured vehicle |
| Revenue | ≈ 47m EUR (2006) |
Number of employees | > 460 |
| Website | www.ffg-flensburg.de |
History
The origin of the FFG goes back to the year 1872. The company was founded in Flensburg because of easy access to the sea through Flensburg Harbour. Initially constructing sailing ships, then steamships, in Kiel. Later, the company was transformed into an equipment yard. In the 1960s, the FFG worked for the West German Army in the repair, equipping, and retrofitting of vehicles. Today, the company is located on the Flensburg Firth in the city of Flensburg. It sells its products in the international civilian transportation, and defense technology markets.
Current Products
In the civilian sector, FFG develops commercial vehicles and industrial trailers.
FFG also manufactures vacuum trucks, which are high pressure sewer flushers and vacuums, under the brand name "Elephant", which are used for duct cleaning.
Aluminum technology
FFG designs, develops, and manufactures comples aluminum assemblies. It produces aluminum body parts for trams, integrated frame and bodies for light commercial vehicles, and structural parts for launchers. The "Flensburg Body, for example, is made in Eggebek, and serves as a courier vehicle body.
Defense Technology
The Dragon Armoured fighting vehicle was conceived by FFG Waran, and is an armored transport. It is able to take withstand heavy rifle fire, and provides mine protection. Its main roles are transport of heavy equipment, or of infantry. It was sold to Denmark and Australia.
The M113 is the armoured personnel carrier with the highest number produced. The FFG developed two technical solutions for effective life extension of the M113, which in the German, Danish, Norwegian, and Australian armies all have purchased. This refit increased mobility, eliminated weak points, and extended service life.
The Leopard 1 is a worldwide common tracked vehicle, manufactured by Krauss-Maffei. Repair, maintenance, and performance improvements are carried out by FFG.
The Marten was sold exclusively to the German Army, which bought 2,100 between, 1971 and 1975. Though not produced by FFG, it performs overhauls, and major repair of main-assemblies, sub-assemblies, and the complete system.
The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is an air defense system. Since the late 1980s FFG has made for the RAM program parts for the launcher, and the loader, both of which were developed by FFG.
KZO (Small aircraft target acquisition / drone) FFG developed the mobile launch container for this UAV. An integrated power supply, and antenna, in the launch container can act completely independently of accompanying systems. The start is controlled via a CAN-bus system, which is equipped with an error detector.
Paveway is the designation for a number of United States laser guided precision bombs. Since 1999, FFG has been a licensed contractor of Raytheons Texas unit. FGG produces parts for the tail assembly, the flight control surfaces, and the movable wings. Paveway customers include Greece, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the German Air Force.
The Minebreaker 2000/2 was developed by FFG as an automatic mine clearing system is support of the German Armys ISAF-Operation in Afghanistan. In addition, it was used by the South Korean Army on the Korean Demilitarized Zone. It was also deployed on the Balkan peninsula.
The Bergepanzer Bison was developed by the FFG Flensburg on the basis of the Bergepanzer 2. It serves as a support vehicle for the Leopard 1 and Leopard 2.[1] The vehicle has a plow blade, lifting and pulling winches, and a crane boom with a 30 t lifting capacity. The successor Wisent 2 uses the Leopard 2 chassis and can be used for recovery of disabled tanks.