Development, testing and series production of passive and reactive ballistic protection elements for military vehicles
GEKE Schutztechnik GmbH
Lichtenau (Leihbühl industrial estate)New on Amplifa
About GEKE Schutztechnik
GEKE Schutztechnik GmbH, headquartered in Lichtenau (Westphalia), develops, tests and produces passive and reactive protection elements for all-round protection of air, naval and land forces. The product range includes roof protection against artillery fragments and bomblets, passive and reactive side protection against KE, EFP and hollow-charge threats to STANAG 4569, mine protection against blast and explosively formed projectile mines, as well as interior liners based on aramid or UHMWPE. Materials processed include steel, aluminium, ceramics, aramid, Dyneema (UHMWPE) and elastomers; a patented autoclave vulcanization process (EP 1 882 573 B1) enables the production of protection panels in dimensions up to 5 × 2 meters. The entire value chain, from protection design through prototyping and ballistic testing to series production, maintenance and repair, is carried out in-house on 4,800 m² of production and office space. Protection modules are in service, among others, on the SPz Puma, KPz Leopard 2, PzH 2000 and GTK Boxer. Since 2020, FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH has held 51% of the company's shares.
- Site
- Lichtenau
- Processes
- Development and production of passive and reactive protection elements (protection panels), Roof protection (RoofProtect, IGEL disruptor) against artillery fragments, bomblets, AP/APDS, Side protection passive and reactive against KE, EFP and hollow charges (STANAG 4569), Mine protection against blast and explosively formed projectile mines (SPz PUMA, series production), Interior liners against fragments (aramid-based / UHMWPE), Prototyping / manufacture of prototypes and test samples, Ballistic Tests (ballistic testing), CNC machining (contract manufacturing)
- Materials
- Aramid, Dyneema (UHMWPE), Ceramics, Steel, Aluminium, Elastomers
- Certificates
- Ballistic testing (STANAG 4569, VPAM)
- Founded
- 2008
- Employees
- 25
- Industries
- Defense/Military technology, Military vehicles (air, naval and land forces), Defense/Military technology (armaments)
- 01
Protection Design / Dimensioning
- 02
Prototyping / Sample Production
- 03
Ballistic Testing
- 04
Series Production (CNC, Waterjet, Ceramic Machining, Bonding, Vulcanization)
- 05
Painting & Coating
- 06
Assembly
- 07
Maintenance & Repair / After-Sales Support
Materials & Processes
Aramid
Lightweight material for liners and protection build-ups with high fragment resistance at low area density.
Dyneema (UHMWPE)
Fiber composite material for interior liners and lightweight protection applications.
Ceramics
Material component of ballistic protection panels, also configurable via ceramic machining.
Steel
Base material of passive and reactive protection elements against KE and hollow-charge threats.
Aluminium
Light-metal material for protection build-ups on medium and light military vehicles.
Elastomers
Material basis of autoclave vulcanization for absorbing severe shock loads (EP 1 882 573 B1).
Sites
Lichtenau
DEHeadquarters, manufacturing and office site
- Part weight / size
- Protection panels up to 5 × 2 m
- Lot size
- Prototype to series
- Materials
- Steel, aluminium, ceramics, aramid, Dyneema, elastomers
- Autoclave (vulcanization)
- CNC machining machines
- Waterjet cutting system
Protection Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development and production of passive and reactive protection elements (protection panels)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Steel, Aluminium, Ceramics, Aramid, UHMWPE (Dyneema), Elastomers |
| Roof protection (RoofProtect, IGEL disruptor) against artillery fragments, bomblets, AP/APDSAssembly | – | – | – | – | Aramid, Dyneema, Ceramics, Steel, Aluminium |
| Side protection passive and reactive against KE, EFP and hollow charges (STANAG 4569)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Steel, Aluminium, Ceramics, Aramid |
| Mine protection against blast and explosively formed projectile mines (SPz PUMA, series production)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Interior liners against fragments (aramid-based / UHMWPE)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Aramid, UHMWPE (Dyneema) |
| Prototyping / manufacture of prototypes and test samplesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ballistic Tests (ballistic testing)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| CNC machining (contract manufacturing)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Waterjet cuttingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ceramic machiningMachining | – | – | – | – | Ceramics |
| Bonding techniquesJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sandblasting techniquesSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Painting & coatingsSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vulcanization (autoclave vulcanization, patented manufacturing process EP 1 882 573 B1)Plastics | – | 5 m (protection panels in large × 2 m | – | – | Elastomers |
| Production of protection panels in large dimensions (5×2 m)Joining | – | 5 m × 2 m | – | – | Steel, Aluminium, Ceramics, Aramid, Dyneema, Elastomers |
| Maintenance & repair of protection componentsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoclave (vulcanization) | – | – | – | – | Lichtenau |
| CNC machining machines | – | – | – | – | Lichtenau |
| Waterjet cutting system | – | – | – | – | Lichtenau |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Protection systems are designed for the STANAG 4569 and VPAM domains as well as independently of standards against impact and blast threats, and are verified in ballistic tests.
| Evidence | Lichtenau |
|---|---|
| Ballistic testing (STANAG 4569, VPAM) |
History
- 1988
Founding of the GEKE engineering office by Dr.-Ing. Gerd Kellner
- 1999
Founding of GEKE Technologie GmbH headquartered in Freiburg
- 2001
Branch office for sample production on the IABG premises in Lichtenau (protection competence center)
- 2008
Founding of GEKE Schutztechnik GmbH; RUAG Land Systems AG acquires a 26% stake
- 2009
RUAG Land Systems AG acquires the majority with 51%; R&D, testing and production with a focus on the SPz PUMA
- 2012
Construction of a new production facility for mine and roof protection for the SPz Puma in the Leihbühl industrial estate in Lichtenau
- 2020
RUAG AG sells its 51% shares to FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH