KOBLENZ (dpa-AFX) - Automotive and industrial supplier Stabilus is responding to the ongoing slump in car sales by expanding its business with the defense industry. For military applications, the SDax-listed company expects at least a tripling of sales by 2030, as it announced on Tuesday during a trade fair appearance. The company considers it possible to secure orders and call-offs totaling around 200 million euros within five years, which could be achieved through purely military as well as so-called dual-use applications—those suitable for both defense and civilian sectors.
Stabilus is already seeing significantly increased demand, particularly in its business for damping solutions and technologies for precise motion control (actuation) for safety-critical applications, the company added. In recent months, the company has managed to win over several prominent international manufacturers as customers, though it did not disclose names. Such technologies are likely to "become increasingly important in safety-relevant environments," said CEO Michael Büchsner.
Stabilus has been struggling for some time due to the sluggish economy and weakness in the automotive industry. Looking at the defense sector, the company now aims to position itself as a technology partner for energy absorption, vibration isolation, and secure motion processes in complex systems.
The company’s portfolio includes, among other things, vibration, recoil, and motion control technologies, which it presented on Tuesday at the Enforce Tac trade fair. These could be used, for example, in armored vehicles and military utility vehicles, but also in certain ballistic systems and sensor and optics platforms. Ergonomic seating and access solutions are also potential areas of application./tav/mne/mis
