Denel Mechem supplies strengthened cabs to protect against landmines

The strengthened cab provides improved protection to crews driving most makes of military and civilian trucks.

Ashley Williams, the GM of Denel Mechem said that the new cab systems are primarily aimed at clients in Africa who render humanitarian assistance in post-conflict zones.

Such trucks, carrying life-saving loads of medicines, food, tents and fuel, are vulnerable to the scourge of landmines and roadside bombs.

Denel Mechem also designs and manufactures mine-protected vehicles such as the Casspir range of personnel carriers that is in wide use across the world.

Williams said that Mechem identified a clear need for a strengthened cab that can be fitted on all makes and models of 4x4 or 6x6 supply trucks. The new cab was designed and developed at Denel Mechem and the conversions are done at its facilities in Lyttelton.

A complete multi-purpose truck

Mechem offers potential clients a complete multi-purpose truck based on a Powerstar drive train and fitted with the strengthened mine-protected cab. Williams said that he expects the new trucks will be in great demand in high-risk environments where supplies are transported on dangerous road conditions. Denel Mechem already provides demining and logistical support to United Nations and African Union-sponsored peacekeeping operations in 10 countries on the continent.

Jack Geldenhuys, Mechem's manager for vehicle systems said that the armoured protection on the new cabs have been significantly upgraded to Stannec Level 4A. It now provides enhanced protection to crews against landmines, roadside bombs and 7.62 X 51 mm automatic rifle fire.

Denel Mechem has the capacity to upgrade the level of protection of the cab according to the requirements of the client. The standard versions can be modified into fuel and water trucks or for medical support. This provides a client with a versatile range of trucks based on the same drive train resulting in substantial savings on logistics, maintenance and spare parts.

In addition to the Powerstar version the cabs can also be modified to fit most others makes and models of trucks and heavy duty vehicles.

Williams said that the new truck and cab design can also be an ideal future replacement for the South African Defence Force's range of SAMIL trucks that are now reaching the end of their working lives.