Barnstaple and Aberdeen based engineering firm J+S recently returned from exhibiting at the biennial Defence Security Association exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is the second time J+S have demonstrated their capabilities in the Far East following their successful attendance at Oil & Gas Asia last year.
On this occasion the focus was on their Defence business with J+S exhibiting the ground breaking Low Profile Array as well as their new Echo Sounder – the ES800, which is now being fitted fleet wide across both the surface and the submarine fleets of the Royal Navy. The ES800 has already been sold to the Saudi navy for their Minehunter fleet and other export opportunities were explored at the show.
The first order for the Low Profile Array has now been received from the Singaporean Defence Scientific Organization and significant interest in the technology was expressed by a number of visitors to the J+S stand.
Amongst the visitors to the J+S stand, was the Right Honourable Gerald Howarth MP the Minister for International Security Strategy within the Ministry of Defence. David Jeffries, the Managing Director of J+S, took the opportunity to explain J+S’ capability and aspirations in the export markets to the Minister who was enthusiastic in his support of Defence based SMEs (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) like J+S and their attempts to grow internationally.
Commenting later David Jeffries observed:
“We regularly update our local MP Nick Harvey on progress in developing our Defence business and Nick is of course the Minister for Armed Forces within the MoD. On this occasion it was really useful to be able to demonstrate to Gerald our commitment to the export markets. We are all aware of the continuing pressures on spending in the UK Defence markets and companies such as J+S have to get out and win business internationally if we are to continue to grow our Defence operations.
Our Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy businesses are delivering strong performances in tough markets but Defence remains our largest sector and exporting is the key to success in this area.”
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Naval Today Staff , May 14, 2012; Image J+S