Clyde Sharpe
President of International Sales at Elasto Proxy
Military buyers need rubber components that can withstand electromagnetic interference (EMI), provide waterproofing, and withstand extreme pressures and service temperatures. When designing military systems, however, defense contractors may not consider all of their sealing requirements until the latter stages of the design process.
For example, a shipbuilder may design a hull, then a door, and finally a watertight seal for the door. Similarly, a manufacturer may design all of the doors and windows on a land vehicle before sourcing rubber products that can withstand shock and vibration. Even the thermal and acoustic insulation used in engine compartments and cabs may take a backseat to other design considerations.
Solving Sealing Challenges
In this procurement environment, how can a supplier of sealing solutions identify partners, understand their sealing challenges, and offer the right solutions? CANSEC, Canada’s leading defense and technology tradeshow, provides a platform for getting answers to these and other questions. This year’s event was held at the Ernst & Young Centre in Ottawa on May 29 and 30.
CANSEC 2013 spanned 120,000 square feet of indoor exhibits, included an outdoor display, and featured over 250 exhibitors – including Elasto Proxy in Booth #935. Sponsored by the Canadian Association of Defense and Security Industries (CADSI), this private two-day event offered more than just networking opportunities. CANSEC 2013 provided a way to learn about what the defense community needs.
Meeting Military Needs
Since our founding in 1989, Elasto Proxy has worked closely with defense contractors to identify sealing solutions that meet rigorous requirements for pressure, temperature, shock, and vibration. As a CADSI member and the holder of a Controlled Goods Certificate (CGC), our Boisbriand, Quebec company got its start with Atlantic Defense Industries, which required us to develop strict quality control procedures.
Although Elasto Proxy has attended CANSEC events before, CANSEC 2013 was the first time we had a booth of our own. Jason Beattie, a sealing solutions provider from our Boisbriand headquarters, joined me in staffing Booth #935 and meeting government officials, military personnel, defense contractors, and other Canadian manufacturers.
Technical Design and Custom Fabrication
While answering questions about Elasto Proxy’s technical design and customer fabrication capabilities, Jason and I learned what’s on the minds of members of the defense community. In addition to EMI shielding and high-quality rubber products for extreme conditions, CANSEC attendees expressed a need the type of custom gasketing and niche components that Elasto Proxy provides.
Although some military contracts are being held-up, there are plenty of opportunities for suppliers to the Canadian defense industry. At CANSEC 2013, the attendees that we spoke with were excited about urban shipbuilding, the planned construction of Coast Guard vessels, the Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) program, and the Military Support Vehicle System Project (MSVS).
How Can We Help You?
Are you a military buyer, a procurement officer, or a defense contractor? Would you like to learn more about the sealing solutions that Elasto Proxy provides? If so, I hope you’ll comment on this blog entry or contact Elasto Proxy today. How can we help you?
