“We have high professional personnel and unique technology in our company and therefore we have achieved success also on export market. Our products have been supplied for instance to Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, German, Czech, Slovak, Greece and French armies”, said Mr. Asko Kylkilahti, Export Manager of FY-Composites Oy in an exclusive interview given to Epicos. 

Could you please describe the current place of FY-Composites Oy in the national and international market?

FY-Composites Oy has been the main supplier of reinforced plastic products for the Finnish Army and Navy last twenty years. Our successful co-operation with the Finnish Defence Forces started late 80’s when they selected FY-Composites as their partner for developing modern composite combat helmet for Finnish soldiers. After those days we have developed and supplied several other innovative ballistic protection products for the Finnish Army. Our company’s other business area is structural composite products and components. Most challenging projects in this area have been development, design and manufacturing of full composite multifunctional superstructures for the Finnish Navy new Hovercraft and four Hamina-class Fast Attack Crafts.

As Finnish market is rather small it is also necessary to find other business opportunities abroad. We have high professional personnel and unique technology in our company and therefore we have achieved success also on export market. Our products have been supplied for instance to Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, German, Czech, Slovak, Greek and French armies. Naval composite structures we have supplied even to the US Navy. Export sale is 30-60 % of our annual turnover.

What are the main business areas in which FY-Composites Oy is activated?

Main business areas are lightweight ballistic protection equipments and solutions, load carrying structural components and after sales service. Research and development is essential part of our business activities to provide new innovative solutions for our customers.

What are the main products that FY-Composites Oy is manufacturing?

Personal protection equipments such like ballistic helmets, visors, bullet proof shields, Rapid Armor Shelter System and ballistic blankets. Customized light weight armoring solutions for cars, military trucks, armored personal carriers and containers. Structural composite components for Navy and industrial applications.

What are the main technological advantages of FY-Composites Oy products?

Our solutions are much lighter compared to traditional materials and it is desirable issue nowadays in mobile military systems.

What are the next steps and priorities of the company?

Our strategy is to improve our products cost efficiency and that way to increase use of our lightweight solutions in new applications. We are also continuing to develop export market intensively to find new customers for our high quality products.

Currently the company started a new collaboration with the German company MWB Fahrzeugtechnik. Could you please tell us a few things about this collaboration?

We have excellent win-win situation with MWB Fahrzeugtechnik offering new PTV Armadillo vehicles for the customers. MWB Fahrzeugtechnik has a long term experience of maintenance and repair of military vehicles and we are armoring expert. We really see future promising for our new cost effective PTV Armadillo vehicle, which provide armies excellent technical performance in reasonable costs compared to corresponding brand new vehicle. Our target has been that we are able to offer armored vehicle in same price as brand new soft cabin vehicle costs.

What are the parts of this vehicle that FY-Composites Oy is producing?

FY-Composites lightweight solutions are used in the components to provide best performance and mobility for the vehicle. In practice our Lightweight Armored Structure Solution technology is used in vehicle’s doors, walls and roof parts. Inner spall liners are also made of lightweight and high performance composite materials.

FY-Composites Oy is steadily trying to promote its products through international exhibitions and events. In a few days one of the most important exhibitions in Europe, Eurosatory, will take place in Paris. Will you be there?

Yes certainly. FY-Composites is exhibiting at the Finnish Pavilion Hall 6 Stand E410 in Eurosatory. We are inviting all the visitors who are looking for innovative and lightweight armoring solutions to visit us. Especially additional information of PTV Armadillo is available during the show. I am looking forward to see you in Paris!