eurosatory 2022: Weaponry industry trade fair in Paris

Eurosatory 2022:

weaPoNrY iNdustrY trade Fair iN Paris

More than 1100 exhibitors from over 50 countries showcased their products in Eurosatory 2022. It provided a platform to interact with companies from other nations to explore the market and collaborate on joint ventures. Over 20 companies from India displayed their products at the biennial event

By SrI krIShNA huge PartiCiPatioN

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he Eurosatory 2022 provided a large platform for those in the weapons industry around the world to showcase their wares over five days from June 13 to 17 in Paris. The biennial event saw over 20 companies from India displaying their products as it gave them an opportunity to not only showcase their wares but also update themselves on the latest in the defence and security industry.

The exhibition was held in the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, with the participation of 24 national pavilions and over 1100 exhibitors from more than 50 countries showcasing their products. It provided a forum wherein they interacted with companies from other nations to explore the market and collaborate on joint ventures. Indian companies were not far behind. “The government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme is very important for us. We are developing products for not only the Indian armed forces but also for sale around the world,” said Alok Shriram, senior managing director of the Shriram group. In the last exhibition held in 2018, over 1800 exhibitors displayed their products and more than 57,000 people visited the exhibition. This prestigious show, which is organised by COGES in partnership with the French Ministry of Defence, provides an opportunity for companies worldwide to display their wares and also have interaction with other companies. The pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 exhibition.

With huge participation by the Defence and Security industries from all over the world, the exhibition provided an opportunity

for visitors to get a glimpse of the high level of equipment and live demonstration of the latest gadgets.

Besides the exhibits of the participants, the daily interaction over the duration of the show through conferences with highlevel decision-makers, technical and operational experts from different countries and international bodies provided an opportunity to know the latest in the industry.

The Eurosatory 2022 is dedicated to the land and airland defence and security sectors and is the world’s number one of its kind. An international and exhaustive exhibition, it presents the vast majority of countries that have a defence and security industry. Eurosatory saw the participation of professionals who represented a high-value network. The fair enabled visitors to see live demonstrations of the units of the armed or security forces, highlighting the control by the operational technologies developed by the industry.

The participants’ satisfaction is an absolute priority for the event’s organisers. They carefully provide the participants with multiple services for their businesses such as networking tools for individuals, business meetings for companies, and business consulting.

eNthusiastiC PartiCiPaNts

There was much enthusiasm among the Indian participants. “Europe is one of the primary areas for the sale of our products and we have partners in the UK, Spain and Germany,” said AR Muthuraman, director of Sales and Marketing in Turbo-India Interconnect Solution, which manufactures Industrial Connectors used by military and police forces worldwide. The Eurosatory provided a major platform for the company to expand its market in Europe, he said.

Another Indian company that participated in the exhibition was the Mumbai-based Entremonde Polycoaters Limited. It manufactures coated and laminated fabrics and also makes Aircraft Emergency Escape Slide, Waterproof Breathable Fabric, Camouflage Products, Reflective Nylon Fabric, Navy Awnings, Truck Covers, Bio Gas Balloons, Fumigation Covers, Shipping Container Covers, Machinery Covers and Sheds. Chief Operating Officer Kiran Joshi said the company also makes textile products for the defence forces and they have about 25 products with many of them developed for the first time in collaboration with DRDO. The Eurosatory 2022 gave the company an opportunity to display their products and also to explore the market for collaboration in this sector.

“This time we are displaying one of our signature management products, which are camouflage jackets, and boots to protect the

army from various threats like radars and thermal cameras,” Joshi said.

teChNologiCal Clusters

The exhibition had six technological clusters allowing exhibitors to gather around common themes such as CBRN, drones and robotics, embedded electronics, training and simulation.

A new 2022 area particularly stood out was the new demonstrator ‘HELPED by COGES Events’ - Humanitarian Emergency Logistic Project and Eco-Development, which highlighted the response to crisis issues. This was presented for the first time with the capability package bringing together industrial systems and highlymature civilian innovations. It sought to demonstrate the ability to provide a complete and rapid solution for assistance and support in the management of multiple crises.

Eurosatory 2022 also gave a significant boost to start-ups by allowing them to present their solutions alongside big companies. An area of more than 1000 sq metres was dedicated to French and International startups in the Eurosatory LAB and the Gicat’s stand.

Another major Indian participant was the DCM Shriram Industries Ltd (DSIL), which has forayed into defence equipment manufacturing with the roll-out of Zebu, a light bulletproof vehicle (LBPV) capable of operating across various terrains. The LBPV had been indigenously designed, tested and developed for use by the defence and para-military forces in their strategic activities against foreign aggressors as well as internal insurgents, the company said.

ARMOuRED VEhIclES

Alok Shriram said, “We found in the Indian armed forces and the police forces, there was a huge requirement for a cost-effective armoured vehicle, which will protect our protectors and that is our motto for armoured vehicles. We have a partnership with Israel and they help us with our design and upgrade.”

His son Rudra Shriram, who is DCM’s Joint President, has been focusing on drones, which is now a growing industry in India and the world. “We have had footfalls in our stall to see our product from various countries ranging from Africa, South America as well as Asia,” he said.

- The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda