Ministry of Defence Vehicle Covers : Case Study

Summary

Stuart Canvas was approached by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to help design a range of covers for more than ten different styles of military vehicles including; armoured ‘Foxhounds’, ‘Mastiffs’ and ‘Ridgback’ vehicles as well as Caterpillar diggers in preparation for UK forces being withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Challenges

The MoD set a brief that required the 400 bespoke vehicle covers to meet the following criteria:

• Weigh less than 30kg each
• Be fireproof, breathable and protect the vehicles from corrosion
• Protect vehicles from environmental damage
• Be easily applied to the vehicle in less than 15 minutes and by no more than two people.

Stuart Canvas Solution

The team at Stuart Canvas took detailed measurements of each of the ten vehicles that were to be covered and developed bespoke covers that were tailored to the dimensions of each of the vehicles.  The covers were tested in the UK to ensure they met the brief, specifications and could be deployed by two people or less in less than 15 minutes.

The covers were then manufactured using specialist lightweight materials that would allow the vehicles to be transported long distance and stored without damage.  As the covers were lightweight, breathable and tailored to the vehicle’s specific dimensions they protected the vehicles from environmental damage, whether rain, sand and even fire and could be applied to the vehicles with ease.

Outcomes

The outcomes of the exercise were that all 400 vehicles were safely and carefully withdrawn from Afghanistan without damage.  The cover solution also helps keep the vehicles in good working condition so that they can be taken out of storage in perfect working condition and redeployed as or when required.

“Stuart Canvas delivered on their promises and produced all 400 covers, on time, on brief and on budget.  The quality of the covers met our brief and fulfilled our specific demands and allowed us to protect the vehicles as they were withdrawn from operations and stored until they are next needed.” Ministry of Defence.