Sustaining operational readiness of mechanical clearance assets requires reliable service capacity, predictable turnaround times and close alignment with customer needs. In 2020, despite global restrictions and operational disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) saw continued demand for service and maintenance support across military, humanitarian and commercial customers.

As several long-term service contracts were extended, the utilisation of GCS's production and service site in Stockach, Germany reached full capacity. To ensure continuity of support and maintain service quality, GCS established an additional service and maintenance facility in close proximity to the existing production site.

Increasing capacity for lifecycle support

The new facility was set up during the autumn of 2020 and is equipped to support a wide range of mechanical clearance assets. It includes dedicated lifting capability and workspace designed to accommodate inspection, servicing, repair and overhaul activities alongside ongoing production work.

The expansion allows GCS to separate production and service workflows more effectively, improving flexibility and throughput while maintaining quality and safety standards.

As Fabian Klauser, Head of Services at GCS, explains:

"Mechanical assets must be maintained regularly to ensure they remain operational and available when needed. Expanding our service capacity allows us to respond more reliably to customer requirements, even under constrained conditions."

Supporting long-term readiness

GCS has supported military customers through service and maintenance contracts for many years, including structured overhaul programmes designed to extend the operational life of deployed assets. These services are also available to humanitarian and commercial operators and can be delivered either at GCS facilities in Germany or at customer locations, depending on operational needs.

Recent activities include the completion of a further milestone in a multi-year overhaul programme for a military customer. Such programmes focus on restoring reliability, addressing component ageing and ensuring compatibility with current operational and safety requirements.

A scalable service model

The additional facility strengthens GCS's ability to deliver lifecycle support as part of an integrated explosive threat mitigation offering. Service and maintenance are treated as a core capacity, supporting deployment, sustained operations and long-term asset availability rather than as a standalone technical function.

With the new facility fully operational alongside its existing infrastructure and specialist teams, GCS enters 2021 with increased capacity to support customers across multiple contexts, ensuring that critical clearance assets remain reliable, compliant and mission ready.