Saab Underwater Systems

Source: Energy Digital

Date :19/02/2008 09:33:19

A world leader in Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Saab Underwater is constantly looking for new synergies and opportunities to develop its key competencies

Written by Rebecca Waters and produced by Alex Smith

A subsidiary of the Saab Group, one of the world’s leading high-technology companies. Saab Underwater Systems has grown to become a world leader in the area of underwater systems, specialising in the development and production of underwater systems that gather and process data, detect and neutralise mines and destroy naval targets on or under the surface.

Situated in Motala on the shores of Lake Vättern, the second largest lake in Sweden, the company’s location provides an excellent test and experimental range for its products.

Underwater market

Since its founding in 1910, Saab Underwater has continued to strengthen its position in the underwater area and the offshore market through organic growth. This has included the £13 million acquisition of Hampshire-based Seaeye Holdings Ltd and its subsidiary Seaeye Marine in May last year, a deal which complements and reinforces Saab Underwater’s unmanned underwater vehicle product portfolio.

With approximately 50 employees, Seaeye develops and manufactures a complete range of electric powered ROV systems, which extends from the portable Seaeye Falcon to the medium work class Panther Plus. Seaeye has given Saab Underwater more leverage in the maritime defence markets, areas where the company is already strong.

It will also provide possibilities for technical synergies between the two companies, thus building on Saab Underwater’s motto, ‘The Depth of Technology’ - described by the company as meaning that ‘whatever it does, it gives its customers high-performance products that are fully reliable and based on the latest advances in underwater technology.’

Market synergies

Saab Underwater is constantly seeking the right synergies and opportunities in which to develop its product line and key competencies, leveraging this are the company’s partnerships. Saab Underwater has a “long and eminent history” as a supplier of highly sophisticated underwater systems for both Royal Swedish Navy and the export market.

Exports are a large market for the company, accounting for approximately 75 percent of sales. Saab Underwater sells worldwide to governments from Australia to the USA, but of course there are fluctuations, subject to various government budgets.

Most contracts are won via the tendering system, although previous successful relations with a particular customer will assist somewhat in this. Said Bengt Larsson, Sales Director, in an interview with Industry Europe: “We are still looking after some of our earlier stuff from 30 years ago…..in theory we will continue to support equipment forever.”

Double edge

Since delivering the first ROV system to the Royal Swedish Navy in 1981, more than 100 systems have been delivered, for both military and commercial use, to customers throughout the world. With the tremendous success of Saab Underwater’s Double Eagle system, a remotely controlled underwater vehicle designed for the military for MCM applications (Mine Hunting, Mine Disposal), one of the main contracts for 2008 is with the Royal Dutch Navy.

In an agreement worth about SEK 100 million, Saab Underwater Systems will upgrade all of the Royal Danish Navy´s Double Eagle Systems (referred to as “the ROVs Formula 1”) which will be prepared for SAROV configuration, enhancing the capabilities of the Double Eagle family of ROVs, adding autonomous operation - which means it can be operated as an AUV - and underwater docking to the capabilities of the existing systems.

The AUV, an autonomous underwater vehicle, is the latest product that Saab Underwater has introduced onto the market. Torpedo-shaped and completely autonomous, the long-endurance vehicle will be used for operations where the AUV is required to work onsite for a number of days.

As part of the order, Royal Danish Navy and Saab Underwater will also collaborate on future studies, development, tests and operational improvements of the Double Eagle System, the order “confirms the development potential of the system,” said Mikael Grodzinsky, President of Saab Underwater Systems.

Development

Development is a core area of the business and Saab Underwater looks to capitalise on this in the future. In an interview with Venture Magazine last year, Lars Tossman, president for Saab Underwater Systems said that the vision for the next few years is to continue growing by increasing its product range and focusing on the maritime security market. “We have a very long tradition undertaking shallow water operations and have gained a significant amount of knowledge with the company.

“My personal mission is to get every employee within the organization involved with its future and encourage them to contribute their own ideas towards the overall goals of the company.”

Click here to read the corporate brochure on Saab Underwater Systems