ACMAT

ACMAT
Industry Manufacturing
Founded 1948
Headquarters 1954 to 1964:
Meaux, France
1964 to present:
Saint-Nazaire, France
Key people
 François Bouvier (CEO)
Serge Perez (VP)
Moun Bourjij (GM)
Products Trucks
Owner Volvo Trucks
Website www.acmat.fr

ACMAT (Ateliers de Construction Mécanique de L'Atlantique, also known as ALM-ACMAT), (since 22 May 2006, ACMAT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Trucks)[1] is a French producer of cross-country and tactical military vehicles since 1958. Known for their reliability, simplicity, ruggedness and their 80% (over 3,500) commonality of parts across the entire product line, these vehicles were originally targeted at African and Asian countries who could not afford more expensive vehicles. The ACMAT company built their vehicles based on standardisation, commonality of parts and components, and on interchangeability; parts are interchangeable with vehicles built 30 years ago. Parts commonality includes cabs, structural components, engines and drive trains. ACMAT uses many of the same parts for all of its line of vehicles. They even produce an armoured variant of both the 4x4 and 6x6 versions of the VLRA.

Many French fire brigades also use ACMAT vehicles due to their lower cost and 4WD ability. Several thousand are in use by 42 countries including France and the Irish Defence Forces. ACMAT also designs, manufactures and builds trailers, shelters and generators. ACMAT has exported over 85 percent of the 12,000 plus vehicles it produced into 50 different countries.[2]

History

ACMAT was founded as The ALM SA (Ateliers Legueu Meaux) in 1954 by René Legueu as a Meaux-based manufacturer of wheeled military vehicles.[3] Some of their heavy trucks and commercial vehicles are also available in civilian versions. For commercial use, there are also vehicles for protection of persons and the use of public-sector units of authorities such as the police and the fire brigade. Since the start of production, the company has produced over 12,000 vehicles that are marketed in over 50 countries.[3] In 1964, the company moved its headquarters to Saint-Nazaire .[3]

The company started as a developer and producer of vehicle parts, including transfer case and front axles for large-scale built trucks. The company holds patents for many of its in-house parts and technologies. This also gave rise to all-terrain trucks designed for agricultural uses. However, it remained only a concept and never made it to market but was then developed for the oil industry. So a four-wheel and all-terrain version was included in the geophysical industry for use in the oil developments in the Sahara. With a range of just over 1,000 km on a single tank and operational capabilities in desert terrain, the vehicle offered an increased viability in a hostile region, which appealed to the military.

From August 1961, production of the (now) ALM VCOM (Vehicle of de Combat d'Outre-Mer) began, with improvements to the vehicle under the direction of the Foreign Legion under testing in the Fennec Mission (Desert Fox). These tests were conducted during various missions in Mauritania and during the Chadian liberation war. A total of 193 units had been made by the completion of testing by the 13 Demi-brigade of the Foreign Legion in Djibouti.

To be close to his father, Paul Legueu, the company moved headquarters to Saint-Nazaire in 1964 and created a foundation, ACMAT SA (Ateliers de Constructions Mécaniques de l'Atlantique).

The company began the development of components. These were the front and rear axles, transmission and transfer case . This led to the company being awarded a further 12 patents. During 1967, the company launched its latest model, the ACMAT VLRA (Véhicules de liaison de reconnaissance et d'appui). This was characterised by its robustness above all. It could transport 2.5 tonnes of payload, a maximum range of 1,600 km and a water tank with a capacity of 200lt.

In May 2006, ACMAT was acquired by Renault Trucks Defense SA, the majority shareholder of the company. ACMAT has been a subsidiary brand of the Volvo Group to which Renault Trucks belongs. [4] Under the guidance of the new board Moun Bourjij created in collaboration with Renault Trucks the ACMAT VLRA 2 (Vehicle of de Liaison et de Reconnaissance Blindé ), which launched in 2009. Based on the Toyota Hi-lux it is the seventh generation ACMAT ALTV (Airtransportable Vehicle of Tactique Léger). This model has been primarily been used in Afghanistan.

Current Vehicles

ALTV

The Acmat Light Tactical Vehicle

ALTV (Acmat Light Tactical Vehicle) - Light 4x4 vehicle

ALTV Versions

VLRA2

VLRA(Liaison, Reconnaissance and Support Vehicle)

4x4 Versions

ACMAT VLRA2 fire appliance

6x6 vehicles

BASTION

Armoured variant

BASTION Versions

Past Vehicles

VLA

The VLA (Véhicules logistiques de l'avant) is a cab-over design, available in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, with a carrying capacity of 4,000 kg to 8,000 kg. It is primarily designed to carry pallets. Produced from 1991 to 2004[3] the VLA is no longer offered by ACMAT since 2006 when ACMAT became a subsidiary of Renault Trucks.[4]

VLRA

VLRA TPK 4.25 Pamela carrying the Mistral Surface-to-Air Missile system
VLRA TPK 4 20 STL 001 FR

VLRA,(Véhicules de liaison, de reconnaissance et d'appui) - for reconnaissance, escort and support variant. Available in 4x4 and 6x6 versions.

4x4 Versions

Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of the French Republic and General Jean-Louis Georgelin, Chief of the Defence Staff reviewing the troops in an ACMAT command car.

Available in several sizes:

Short Chassis: 3.3 m, 3.6m, and 3.9 m; 1,500 kg to 2,500 kg
Long chassis: 4.2 m and 4.3 m; 2,500 kg to 3,500 kg

6x6 vehicles

VLRA TPK 6.50 SH 009 FR
VLRA TPK 6.40 SM3 NBC 005 FR

VLRB

VLRB (Véhicule de Liaison et de Reconnaissance Blindé) - The TCM 420 BL 6 is powered by a four-cylinder Cummins turbo-diesel Euro 3 which has 167 horsepower (125 kW) at 2,500 rpm. It has a five speed automatic transmission and a two speed transfer case. One can be carried in a C-160 Transall and two can be carried in a C-130 Hercules. The armoured version can be armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, or a 20 mm or 30 mm automatic cannon.

Variants

ACMAT VLRA fire appliance

ACMAT offers over 70 variants including the following: command car, commando vehicle, police vehicles, personnel carriers, cargo carriers, ambulances, mortar carrier, weapons carriers, communications vehicles, cross country bus, wireless vehicle, workshops vehicles, vehicles with cranes, fire fighting vehicles, fluid carriers (water and/or petroleum products), Semi-trucks, multiple rocket launcher carriers, dump trucks and more.

Options include: two or four doors, soft or hard top, manual or power steering, manual or automatic transmission, left or right hand drive, heater, air conditioning, armoured or unarmoured, and NBC defence system. Military users include: France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Morocco, Kenya, Cyprus, Zimbabwe, Chile, Chad, Mali and Botswana.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2007-03-02.
  2. ↑
  3. 1 2 3 Archived February 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ http://www.military-today.com/trucks/acmat_vla.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27880:acmat-strengthening-african-presence&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105
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