On Monday 1 February, a delegation from the board of Damen Naval paid a successful working visit to Nedinsco, based in Venlo, the Netherlands. This high-tech company specialises in the production of optical systems for defence, diagnostics and the semiconductor industries.

The visit was particularly interesting because Nedinsco has a partnership with German company Hensholdt, an international specialist in sensor technology. Hensholdt, for example, produces periscopes for submarines. “Some Nedinsco products can also be used in submarines,” says Director Naval Sales Support Richard Keulen, who visited Nedinsco together with Managing Director Hein van Ameijden. “There are similarities between the two companies. Cooperation could possibly lead to the reintroduction of periscope technology to the Netherlands. This is interesting for Saab and Damen Naval, since, together with Saab, we are competing for the contract to build the successors to the four Walrus submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy. If we win this order, we naturally want to use Dutch companies and Dutch innovative techniques as much as possible for the construction, if these meet the requirements set by the Ministry of Defence.”

A good, compact, but very high-quality and innovative company that makes specialist products

Richard is pleased with the visit to Venlo. “Our hosts Arno Bouwmeester and Jos Klippert gave us an impressive look behind the scenes and we had good talks with the management. We have both agreed to keep communications open. Nedinsco is a company with long traditions; this year it is celebrating its centenary year. A good, compact, but very high-quality and innovative company that makes specialist products. Given its specialist knowledge, Nedinsco is a member of DUKC (Dutch Underwater Knowledge Centre), a business organisation that represents the Dutch naval construction knowledge in the field of submarines, which definitely exists.

Richard says that Damen Naval and Saab’s tender for the new submarines will begin soon with the so-called Competitive Dialogue. This calls for the three prospective contractors explaining to the Client (the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation, DMO) about the design they are offering. The Client, in turn, specifies which requirements the submarines should meet. “We will continue on this path together with Saab and have full confidence in a favourable outcome of the Competitive Dialogue for us and the Dutch naval construction cluster,” Richard concludes.

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