Prime Minister opens ales Glasgows vehicle integration facility to mark ales s 5 anniversary

04 April 2013

Thales UK's Glasgow facility yesterday hosted a visit from the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to help celebrate the company's 125th anniversary in the UK. To honour the occasion, MrCameron officially opened a new vehicle integration facility at the site that will primarily upgrade vehicles for the UK armed forces, but also for potential export customers.

It was an incredible piece of equipment and a signal of the brilliance of this company

The visit was hosted by Jean-Bernard Levy, Thales Group's Chairman, Victor Chavez, Chief Executive of Thales UK, and Alex Cresswell, head of the new Land & Air Systems global business unit. These Thales leaders were able to brief Mr Cameron about Thales.

The Prime Minister's visit to Thales followed a trip to the Royal Navy's submarine facility at Faslane, where he had been onboard HMS Victorious.

In his welcoming address Mr Cameron said: It was great to visit Thales and I want to wish the company a very happy 125th birthday. Earlier today I was winched from a helicopter onto HMS Victorious, one of our Trident nuclear submarines. One of the things I did on that submarine was look through the incredible periscope made by Thales to scan the horizon. It was an incredible piece of equipment and a signal of the brilliance of this company and this organisation.

The Prime Minister also expressed his support for the continuation of Anglo-French defence and cooperation, which is welcomed by Thales. Thales is one of only a few companies that have significant defence industrial footprints in both countries, and already uses these to deliver added value through the pull-through and reuse of technology across national boundaries.

Some 700 of Thales UK's 7,500 work force are based at the Glasgow site, which designs and manufactures world-leading electro-optic night vision systems and equipment for all three UK Armed Services. The site is also home to a contingent of transport specialists that work on communications and safety systems.

Victor Chavez, Chief Executive of Thales UK, said: Thales is deeply proud of our heritage and our 125-year contribution to the UK engineering scene, which was born here in Glasgow in 1888 with Barr & Stroud Ltd. Innovation, technology and security were at the heart of the business then, and 125 years later Thales is still providing the cutting-edge technology that keeps UK forces safe in the field of conflict.

Our UK operations have a long history of innovation and partnership with our key customers in our core markets of aerospace, defence, security and transport. We are honoured that the Prime Minister has joined us today to share our celebrations.

Thales is an important source of high-tech, high-skill employment in the region. Some 30% of employees at the Glasgow facility are engineers and scientists. The site also has an active graduate and apprenticeship programme, with disciplines including electrical and mechanical engineering.

In 2011 the Glasgow optronics business was awarded a Queens Award for Enterprise for our achievements in exports. The award underlines our leading role in supporting both the UK's defence industrial capability and the UK's competitive position in the export market.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

First established in Scotland in 1888 when Professor Archibald Barr of the University of Glasgow and Dr William Stroud of Yorkshire College (now Leeds University) set up Barr & Stroud Ltd to make optical range-finders for the British Army, the company has gone on to become a world centre of excellence for electro-optical systems and equipment, principally for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the international export market. In 2001 it became part of the Thales Group.

About Thales and Thales UK

Thales is a global technology leader for the defence & security and the aerospace & transport markets. In 2011 the company generated revenues of £11.4 bn (13 bn), with 67,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.

Thales UK employs 7,500 staff based at 35 locations. In 2011 Thales UK's revenues were around £1.4 bn.

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LINK:	http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/Countries/United_Kingdom/201...
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