Latest news with #RomanShimonov
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadian defence firm to make ballistic steel through Swedish partnership
OTTAWA — Canadian defence manufacturer Roshel is partnering with a Swedish steel company so it can produce ballistic-protection steel domestically for the first time. Roshel, which manufactures vehicles, will now be able to use Swebor's intellectual property to produce ballistic steel in Canada. The agreement comes as Canada is looking to boost domestic steel consumption and build up Canada's defence sector to be less reliant on the United States amid the ongoing trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ballistic steel is a special type of relatively lightweight, hardened steel that protects against blasts or bullets. Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov said despite Canada producing vast quantities of steel, there isn't currently a domestic facility that firms like his can turn to for sourcing the ballistic shielding needed for armoured vehicles or drones. "It's mind blowing," Shimonov said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "This is pretty similar to the oil industry, where we have the sources of oil but we are not refining." Shimonov said the current lack of Canadian-sourced ballistic-grade steel causes headaches for domestic defence firms, who have to import the special steel for their vehicles and ships from the United States, Europe and Australia. "We have this bottleneck of the ballistic steel, where every time, (even) when we need to address an immediate need, we have to secure it over a year ahead of schedule," he said. "Our government and many other governments, they don't plan in years. You never know how many vehicles and how many products will be ordered in the following year." He said this move would not just address his company's own needs, but also more broadly provide a product that can be used in defence, mining and even agriculture. Roshel has facilities located in Brampton and Mississauga, Ont., where the first part of the steel production will take place. The firm specializes in design and manufacture of armoured vehicles, largely for G7 countries like Canada. Some 2,000 of its units are deployed in Ukraine. David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the new partnership will bring an "injection of foreign expertise and knowledge transfer" to Canada. Canadian steel markets have the potential to supply these kind of armour products but haven't done it because they focus on other customers, largely in the U.S. market, that had different production requirements, Perry explained. "Steel that goes into commercial buildings doesn't have to have the same kind of tolerances that a ballistic product has to have," Perry said. "It needs ingrained level of protection to be able to stop a bullet. It's a different end-product. You use a different process, different capital-intensive machinery to make it, you don't have the same kind of training." Perry also said this is one of a small but growing number of initiatives to increase defence ties with Europe, which comes as Ottawa eyes expanding defence partnerships abroad amid turbulence with the U.S. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly attended the signing of the agreement in Sweden on Monday. Joly is currently on a week-long trip to Stockholm and Helsinki with Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr, as they look for ways to expand ties with Europe in the defence space. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
5 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
CANADA'S ROSHEL AND SWEDEN'S SWEBOR TO ESTABLISH FIRST DEDICATED BALLISTIC-GRADE STEEL PRODUCTION IN CANADA
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 19, 2025 /CNW/ - Today in Stockholm, Roshel, one of the world's leading manufacturers of advanced armoured vehicles, and Swedish steel producer Swebor, internationally recognized for its expertise in advanced alloyed and ballistic steels, signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish Canada's first facility dedicated to production of ballistic-grade steel. "We are delighted to be bringing advanced manufacturing in Canada, which will leverage Canadian mined iron ore, and our domestic steel production to produce ballistic steel," stated Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel. "This is an excellent, new collaboration between Sweden and Canada. We are keen to advance bilateral cooperation, such as this project," added Hans Bergman, Chairman of the Board of Swebor. The signing took place in the presence of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, underscoring the Government of Canada's strong support for this partnership, which will leverage Swedish expertise and Canadian natural resources and production capacity to address a significant production gap in terms of strategic industrial capability, sovereignty, and national defence readiness. The project will create high-value, skilled jobs, introduce advanced manufacturing technologies, and provide significant economic benefits to Canada's industrial sector. By establishing a new segment within the steel manufacturing industry, it will foster long-term employment, support supplier networks, and encourage innovation across related industries. Although other forms of steel manufacturing exist in Canada, this project will be the first fully dedicated to ballistic-grade production. It combines advanced technologies, strict quality standards, and strategic importance for the national defence industrial base. Intellectual property for the new facility will be jointly held by Roshel and Swebor, ensuring shared innovation and long-term collaboration. Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel, said: This project goes beyond steel – it is about establishing industrial sovereignty. By bringing ballistic steel production to Canada, we are reducing a critical dependency, protecting our supply chain, and laying the groundwork for long-term resilience in the defence and manufacturing sectors. Roshel is actively engaged in several programs within the armoured vehicle industry, including domestic initiatives like the Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) program and Defence Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) program, as well as various international contracts, all of which require substantial volumes of ballistic steel. With this new capability, we will be able to increase Canadian content in our platforms and generate additional value in meeting Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitments for our clients. Hans Bergman, Chairman of the Board of Swebor, said: Our partnership with Roshel demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and self-reliance. This facility will not only meet Canada's strategic needs but also exemplify how allied nations can collaborate to enhance their industrial capabilities. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, said: This new partnership between Roshel and Swebor to produce ballistic-grade steel showcases Canada's world-renowned capabilities—from mined iron ore to domestic steel production to advanced manufacturing. It's creating good-paying jobs and reinforcing our economic security. At this pivotal moment of global transformation, we're working hand-in-hand with industry and European partners to build a stronger, more resilient economy. The Honourable Stephen Fuhr, secretary of State (Defence Procurement), said: As Canada looks to reinvigorate our domestic defence industry, this landmark international partnership will allow Canadian steel to be used as a key component in advanced defence manufacturing. By combining Canadian natural resources with Swedish expertise, this initiative will secure our supply chains, create good-paying jobs for Canadians, and drive innovation across the broader defence and industrial sectors. A Global First for Complete In-House Production This capability will position Roshel as the first armoured vehicle manufacturer in the world to control the entire production cycle in-house, from the creation of ballistic-grade steel through design and engineering to manufacturing, metal fabrication, final assembly, and delivery. Full ownership of every stage ensures unmatched quality control, rapid production scaling, and complete independence from vulnerable supply chains. In a sector where precision, durability, and timeliness are critical, this vertical integration provides Roshel with a strategic advantage and the agility to respond to urgent operational demands. Technical Excellence and Market Reach The facility will be constructed as a state-of-the-art ballistic steel production plant, capable of manufacturing a wide variety of steel grades with different thicknesses, hardness levels, and ballistic resistance properties, including quenched and tempered plates, high-hardness armour steel, and specialised alloys for extreme performance. Production will incorporate advanced heat treatment cycles, precise rolling and forming, and rigorous quality assurance testing in accordance with NATO STANAG and other international standards. Both companies will contribute their technical expertise, proprietary processes, and resources to develop a versatile manufacturing capability that can cater to both domestic and international markets. Output will target not only the defence sector but also key industries such as agriculture, mining, and heavy equipment manufacturing, ensuring broad strategic and commercial impact. Roshel is a Canadian manufacturer of advanced armoured vehicles, supplying Canada, allied nations, and NATO partners. Its platforms operate in some of the world's most challenging environments, consistently meeting the highest standards of protection and performance. Swebor is a Swedish manufacturer specializing in high-quality alloyed and ballistic steel, trusted by defence, mining, and agricultural sectors worldwide.
National Observer
8 hours ago
- Business
- National Observer
Canadian defence firm will make ballistic steel through Swedish partnership
Canadian defence manufacturer Roshel is partnering with a Swedish steel company so it can produce ballistic-protection steel domestically for the first time. Roshel, which makes armoured vehicles, and will now be able to use Swebor's intellectual property to produce ballistic steel in Canada. The agreement comes as Canada is looking to boost domestic steel consumption and build up Canada's defence sector to be less reliant on the United States amid the ongoing trade war with US President Donald Trump. Ballistic steel is a special type of lightweight, hardened steel that protects against blasts or bullets. Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov tells The Canadian Press Canada produces and exports vast quantities of steel and iron but hasn't been able to fully produce ballistic steel for armoured vehicles or drones domestically. He says that causes supply chain bottlenecks for domestic defence firms, who have to import the steel armour for their vehicles and ships from the United States, Europe and Australia.
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian defence firm to make ballistic steel through Swedish partnership
OTTAWA – Canadian defence manufacturer Roshel is partnering with a Swedish steel company so it can produce ballistic-protection steel domestically for the first time. Roshel, which makes armoured vehicles, and will now be able to use Swebor's intellectual property to produce ballistic steel in Canada. The agreement comes as Canada is looking to boost domestic steel consumption and build up Canada's defence sector to be less reliant on the United States amid the ongoing trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ballistic steel is a special type of lightweight, hardened steel that protects against blasts or bullets. Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov tells The Canadian Press Canada produces and exports vast quantities of steel and iron but hasn't been able to fully produce ballistic steel for armoured vehicles or drones domestically. He says that causes supply chain bottlenecks for domestic defence firms, who have to import the steel armour for their vehicles and ships from the United States, Europe and Australia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025.
