RHEINMETALL CANADA HAS put into gear yet another exciting and innovative initiative that falls under its five-pillar mandate. The company has joined forces with Rheinmetall Project Solutions and Calian Group Ltd. to provide comprehensive and rapid healthcare services to deployed military operations. This Expeditionary Healthcare Program will not only change the game in providing a temporary infrastructure, advanced medical equipment and healthcare professionals to military camps, but it will also be able to serve up to 15 000 inhabitants of vulnerable communities subject to the woes of manmade disasters.
A DISTINCTIVE OFFERING
Established in 1986 and previously known as a Swiss-owned air defence company named Oerlikon Aerospace, Rheinmetall Canada set out to blaze the trail of a solution and user-centric approach to defence systems technology. Fast forward to 35 years after its inception, the company has now diversified its portfolio to include all services related to ground control, surveillance and target acquisition, weapon systems, vehicle repair, ground support equipment, and robotics.
INNOVATING INTERNATIONALLY
While Rheinmetall Canada’s business continues to be challenged by the global impact of the Ukraine crisis, the company remains agile and adapts its approach to the ever-evolving priorities called upon by the industry. “The key to continued success is striking the right balance between contracts with the international and domestic markets,” explains Alain Tremblay, Vice President, Business Development and Innovation, Rhein- metall Canada. “We want to be able to maintain a big focus on the international scene without neglecting our domestic market. Canada remains our priority,” says Mr. Tremblay.
The company is currently working in accordance with its second five-year international outreach strategy to diversify service offerings in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. Rheinmetall Canada prides itself on the successes it has secured internationally and looks forward to entering other international markets by 2024/2025, including more saturated markets that require cautious navigation and focused services. Today, the company’s clientele sits at about 50 per cent domestic and 50 per cent international – Mr. Tremblay projects that this ratio will rise to approximately 40 per cent and 60 per cent by 2025.
EXPANDING BEYOND THE BORDERS OF DEFENCE
Research and development is at the core of everything Rheinmetall Canada accomplishes, which has rendered them a top player in the field of robotics and autonomous systems in the United Kingdom. The company hopes to bring this expertise to other Western countries that are exploring autonomous capabilities like unmanned ground vehicles to help shape a defence technology environment driven by innovation and security excellence.
One silver lining that came from the pandemic for Rheinmetall Canada was a window of opportunity to realign and adapt to new demands from clients. Although business has slowed down in some regards, innovation has picked up, and the company is now exploring the possibility of tailoring autonomous capabilities to both underground mining and airport ground support vehicles.
Rheinmetall Canada remains a top player in defence technology, both domestically and internationally by being client-centric and solution-oriented, which work hand-in-hand.
“When we need to readjust, we readjust,” says Mr. Tremblay. “Clients are leading the charge and fixing their priorities as needed, moving forward or delaying programs and acquisitions from time to time, so we need to constantly remain agile and adaptive with our clients.”
