Danish mine-producing companies

After the wars landmines continue to kill. Even about half of the so called "smart" mines are known to forget to self-destruct.

By Tom Vilmer Paamand 27/04-1995

Se temaet
Use Altavista to read this page in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish!

(mine-warning)

Aldrig Mere Krig - VåbenArkivet

The governments try to distinguish between anti-tank mines and anti-personnel mines. The mines don't. They just kill.
Many countries use, produce, sell and export mines. Denmark is not one of the worsts, but has never decided to say no. There is no export for the moment, but it is only due to lack of orders. The companies are just waiting.
Danish companies do not produce or export anti-personnel mines today. No private company has a license to produce parts for such weapons since 1983.
Neither has no private company a license to produce anti-tank mines. But a few companies have a license to produce parts for anti-tank mines.
Denmark has one company owned by the government, Ammunitionsarsenalet, who do not need licenses. They are, for the moment, not producing mines.
This information is confirmed by the Danish Ministry of Justice.
The mines used by the military in Denmark are mostly made in other countries. They are technically very old, the oldest is from 1947, and are planned to be replaced by newer ones from year 2000-2010.
The Danish government discussed November 95 a proposal to ban anti-personnel mines in Denmark. Everybody gave it sweet words - and no support.
The Danish Airforce bought a new mine from Sweden in 1993, Fordonsmina 13 or FFV-013. Since then the export of that mine is stopped while the Swedish government discusses if it is anti-tank or anti-personnel.
The enclosed list of Danish landmine-producing companies is compiled by the Danish peace-organisation "Aldrig Mere Krig".
This list does not distinguish between the producers of anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines since anti-personnel mines have not been produced in Denmark since the 70'ies - but in 1980 some were renovated for the Danish Army. One company produced parts for anti-personnel mines until 1983.
The list is in no way complete, and a number of the names are only suspects. We keep on working to collect new material and the mine-producers keeps on doing their work. Some of the companies are closed now, some have changed name or owners and some have stopped producing mines. Others might have started.

Danish landmine-producing companies

"Danish mine-producing companies" includes companies, who in the last two years are known to have made and exported mines and mineparts.

Suspected landmine-producing companies:

"Suspected mine-producing companies" includes companies, who has made mines before or has a close connection to mine-producing companies. They do not have a license to produce mines.

Suspected landmine-producing companies,
who do not produce landmines (!):

"Suspected mine-producing companies, who do not produce mines". I have enclosed them, because those companies often are exposed in the press under suspicion. The main reason is, that most of their names was in an official list made by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Danish exporters" as:
Manufacturer and dealer of military weapons, other than revolvers, pistols and swords, bayonets and the like - bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines and similar munitions of war and parts thereof; cartridges and other ammunition. Export area: Europe and USA. (DEX 95).

Former Danish landmine-producing companies:

"Former Danish mine-producing companies" are enclosed, because those companies still are exposed in the press - but they are closed now. In the following text the sources are put like this: (DEX 95). There is a special list of sources in the end of the text, where all the abbreviations are translated.

Danish mine-producing companies:


ALUTOP 9000 Aps
Industrivej 6
4241 Vemmelev
Tlf: +45 53 582 900
Fax: +45 53 582 925

(FOLSP) Alutop A/S got a licence dated 08/11-1990 to do surface coating of mechanical parts for anti-tank mine fuze M/15. The license has been repealed when the company was closed 25/11-1992. The new company on the same adress is called ALUTOP 9000 Aps and has 16 employees.

Ammunitionsarsenalet
Tuenvej 120, Elling
9900 Frederikshavn
Tlf: +45 98 481 100
Fax: +45 98 480 425

The last anti-tank mine was produced here in 1992, the "Pansermine M/88". Anti-personnel mines have not been produced since the 50'ies, but in 1980 they renovated the "Personelmine M/47" for the Danish army. They are, for the moment, not producing mines. This information is confirmed by the Danish Ministry of Justice. But they have not given up producing mines and have recently delivered Anti-tank Mine Fuzes to the Swedish Army. The filling plant at the Ammunition Arsenal is now being renovated and they are installing new equipment for filling of bombs and mines.
The above information is confirmed by Søren Hansen fg. produktionschef (acting chief of production) from Ammunitionsarsenalet and the Danish Minister of Defence Hans Hækkerup. The Ammunition Arsenal is owned by the Danish government and does not need a license to produce arms - but for export. It is a part of the Danish Army Material Command. Employees: 270. Further information can be found in (DDPRO 92 and MAY 94), (JANIW 91 and 94), and (JDW 040890).



DEMEX Consulting Engineers A/S
Godthåbsvej 104
2000 Frederiksberg
Tlf: +45 31 108 970
Fax: +45 38 331 317

DEMEX Consulting Engineers A/S is not producing mines, but is developing both anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. The company is also involved in clearance of mines after the Gulf-war. They do not have a license to produce mines.
(DDICM 91) ... Product development of anti-invasion mine and measurement of velocity of detonation. Dimension of booster charge, development of explosives train for landmines, for The Royal Danish Ordnance Factory. ... Design and testing of fuze trains ...
DDICM 94) ... SA Marine AB Sweden (owned by Bofors.). Development of test programme for a combination of NATO and Swedish safety acceptance demands for anti-personnel mine. Safety analysis and risk management of computerised cable sea mines and related safety critical software. ...
The company compromises in 1994 a total of 20 employees, including 15 engineers. The annual turnover was approx. DKK 13 mio. About 25% is export. Further information can be found in (DDICM 91 and 94) and (JDW 061193).

HAI Aluksering Horsens A/S
HAI Aluksering Korsør A/S
Færøvej 2-4
8700 Horsens
Tlf: +45 75 622 288
Fax: +45 75 627 178
(FOLSP) ApS HAI Aluksering got a licence dated 11/01-1991 to do surface coating of mechanical parts for anti-tank mine fuze M/15. The license was prolonged until 25/11-1992 and returned to the Danish Ministry of Justice 2. marts 1995. The company has more than 100 employees.

Korona Plast ApS
Ellegårdsvej 6
6400 Sønderborg
Tlf: +45 74 421 170
Fax: +45 74 421 170

(FOLSP) Korona Plast ApS got a licence dated 31/1-1995 to produce small parts of plastic material for the Danish Army Material Command until 1/2-1997. The product is injection moulded end covers for anti-tank mine fuze M/15. The company has 3 employees.

Lindys Maskinfabrik A/S
(Lindys Maskinfabrik af 1987)
Mejerivej 1, Flemløse
5620 Glamsbjerg
Tlf: +45 64 723 435
Fax: +45 64 723 599

(FOLSP) Lindys Maskinfabrik A/S got a licence dated 4/10-1990 to produce mechanical and electronical parts for anti-tank mine fuze M/15. Later, 14/12-1990, they got a license to produce mechanical and electronical parts for the Danish Defence, and the other license was returned. The company has 14 employees.

Nea-Lindberg A/S
Postbox 226
Industriparken 39-43
2750 Ballerup
Tlf: +45 42 972 200
Fax: +45 44 660 910
Nea-Lindberg A/S has proprietary technology in relation to production of Electronic Mine Fuzes and is the biggest factory of that kind in Denmark. The fusez is also exported, many of them to Germany.
Nea-Lindberg's electronic Anti-tank Mine Fuze M/88 can be fitted to the M19 anti-tank mine, which is license-produced in Turkey by MKEK, in South Korea by the Korea Explosives Company (qv) and the Daewoo Corporation, and in Chile (Industrias Cardoen). It is also in service with the US Army.
The M/88 was developed in cooperation with the Royal Danish Army Material Command. Nea-Lindberg is now developing new demining equipment, again together with the Royal Danish Army Material Command.
(FOLSP) Nea-Lindberg got a license to produce parts for anti-tank mines. 13/1-89 they got a license to produce parts for 150 prototypes of anti-tank mine fuze M/88. Later, 24/5-89, they got a license to produce 21.160 anti-tank mine fuzes M/88. This license was renewed and extended 28/2-1991 and the other license was returned. Nea-Lindberg is using subcontractors, and right now the Danish Ministry of Justice is inspecting those companies, who do not have licenses.
(DDICM 91) Customers (also to the companies other products): Bofors, DMT, Ericsson Radar Electronics, General Dynamics, Hughes Aircraft Co., Kaiser Electronics, McDonnell Douglas, Philips, Raytjeon Company, Royal Ordnance, Short Brothers, Sperry, The Singer Company, Thomson CFS, Thorn EMI Electronic Ltd., Westinghouse Electric Corp., Wegmann & Co. GmbH, Danish Defense Material Commands.
(JANMV 92) ... The electronic Anti-tank Mine Fuze M/88 was developed in co- operation with the Royal Danish Army Material Command. It is offered as a cost-effective alternative retrofit solution for existing non-metallic mines. The fuze is licence-produced by Royal Ordnance as the RO 150. The M/88 can provide most existing non-metallic mines with a full width capability. It can be fitted to the Bar Mine using two plastic straps with snap locks and without using tools. ...
The fuze has an advanced electronic sensor which ensures correct functioning regardless of target speed. The sensors can be preset to disregard light targets and the fuze has a built-in anti-tilt device. It is also protected against electronic mineclearing measures. The 7.8 g transfer charge of TNT/RDX 45:55 is integrated into the fuze bottom and can be fitted without having to open the fuze. ...
The M/88 has a 15 min arming delay and will self-neutralise after 90 days. Burying depth is up to 150 mm in earth. ... Minimum shelf life is 10 years although the battery may have to be changed after 5 years. Weight of the M/88 is 835 g including the battery. Dimensions are 218x97x54 mm... In production. In service with the Royal Danish Army. Licence-produced in the UK by Royal Ordnance.
Nea-Lindberg A/S is a Danish high technology company in the defense sector. The company has about 130 employees, of whom a high percentage are engineers. The annual turnover in 1993 was approx. DKK 53 mio. Nea-Lindberg is 100% owned by FLS Industries. Further information can be found in (DDICM 91 and 94), (DEFPRO), (JANMV 92- 94) and (JDW 040890, 220990 and 020291).

Suspected mine-producing companies:


ABB Scandia A/S
Toldbodgade 39
8900 Randers
Tlf: +45 86 425 300
Fax: +45 86 415 700

(DDICM 88) In recent years the development of the company's train production has ... formed the basis for Ascan Scandia's serious concentration of effort on military production. We have recently manufactured and submitted tenders for carriage body structures, mines...
ABB Scandia does not have a license to produce mines and maybe they never really did - but they would have liked to. Ascan Scandia A/S has changed its name to ABB Scandia A/S, when they were bought by Asea Brown Bowery A/S in 1988. It is a train-factory with more than 500 employees and an annual turnover above 630 mio DKK.

Honeywell A/S
Lyngby Hovedgade 98
2800 Lyngby
Tlf: +45 45 935 656
Fax: +45 45 937 173

Honeywell A/S is owned by Honeywell in USA, who is a defence contractor. In the Danish magazine "Militærteknisk Forenings Meddelelsesbrev nr. 4, 1991" was an advertisement for "Honeywell Sonder Tecknik" and "Honeywell Elau-Nautik GmbH" - both from Germany. They want, among other military equipment, to sell "mine sensors/mine neutralization" and are asking customers to contact B. Rishøj Christensen, who was director for Honeywell A/S in Denmark. The company has 155 employees. Honeywell ELAC A/S shares the address of DEMEX, who is also involved in mines.

Quitzau Industri A/S
Herningvej 1, Karup Air Base
Postbox 53
7470 Karup J
Tlf: +45 99 626 262
Fax: +45 99 626 364

(DDICM 91) Customers (also to the companies other products): United Technologies (Hamilton Standard Div.) F-16, Westland Helicopters Limited., Nea-Lindberg A/S, Racal Defense Electronics (Radar) Limited, The Danish Armed Forces - navy/air force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Aerospatiele S.A. Quitzau Industri Sønderborg A/S has a license to produce weapons, but not mines. They announced in (DDICM 91) with "mine shells" and the mine-company Nea-Lindberg A/S is a customer. They are now both owned by FLS Industries. Quitzau employees between 10-19 persons and the annual turnover in 1993 was approx. 17 mio DKK.and was founded in 1931.

Suspected mine-producing companies,
who do not produce mines:


DISA TECHNOLOGIES
Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
Herlev Hovedgade 17
2730 Herlev
Tlf: +45 44 945 211
Fax: +45 44 945 225

DISA (Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S) is owned by the well-known Danish A.P. Møller Group with a long world-wide military past. DISA was in the 80'ies involved in all big contracts for the Danish Army, but in 1994 the defence division of DISA, Disa System Group, was bought by Nea-Lindberg A/S.
According to a Danish newspaper Disa produced landmines for the Army from 1984-87. DISA did not have a license to produce mines and according to DISA they never produced landmines or parts to them.

Eimepar A/S
Borsholmvej 45
3000 Helsingør

Eimepar A/S was on an official list made by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Danish exporters" as a possible mine-producer. They say themselves, that they don't have anything to do with the defence industry and it is all a mistake. But they do have the Danish agency for Olin Ordnance and tried to sell 25 mm Target Practice Discarding Sabot to the Danish Army (DDPRO 94). There is no evidence of mines.



H. Brüsch Maskinfabrik A/S
Islevdalen 138
2610 Rødovre

H. Brüsch Maskinfabrik A/S was on an official list made by the Danish Ministry of Foreign as a possible mine-producer. They are producing target practice grenades, but here is no evidence of mines.

Niro-Bola A/S
Sydmarken 46
2860 Søborg

Niro Bola A/S was on an official list made by the Danish Ministry of Foreign as a possible mine-producer. They are producing parts for deep-sea naval mines, but here is no evidence of landmines.

A/S Wejra
Anker Egelundsvej 3
9200 Aalborg SV

Wejra A/S was on an official list made by the Danish Ministery of Foreign as a possible mine-producer.
The company is claiming, that they for the last five years not have been involved in the defence industry.
Before that Wejra A/S has an interesting history involving illegal transport of grenades on passenger ferries and selling the company to an Israeli spy. Since Wejra A/S was founded they have done nothing but weapons, but there is no evidence of landmines.

Former Danish mine-producing companies:


Danish Aerotechnology Systems A/S
Ravnsbjergvej, Søsum
3670 Veksø

The company bought in 1983 Jørgen Høyers former factory. Jørgen Høyer A/S was known as a producer of landmines and the new factory is in many sources mentioned as a producer of mines. They were, among other military equipment, producing a cable controlled sea mine system (DDICM 1988). Danish Aerotechnology Systems A/S was closed in 1990.

Jørgen Høyer Enterprise in Machining ApS
Ravnsbjergvej 8, Søsum
3670 Veksø

(FOLSP) Jøgen Høyer A/S got a licence dated 18/3-75 to produce:
Anti Tank Mine Fuze M606 and Electric Cap M4, Wire M4 and Firing Device M57 for M18-mine (CLAYMORE mine/horisontal anti-personnelmine). The license has been repealed when the company was closed in 1983.
In 1975 Jørgen Høyer A/S was selling mines to Iran, who at that time was fighting in Oman against the Dhofar Rebellion. It is illegal for Danish companies to sell arms to countries actually using them in a war. Jørgen Høyers armsexport was discussed in the Danish parliament, and it was said to be of 105.000 Fuze Mines M606 and Firing Devices M57, which should be around 50 tons. According to the Danish Statistic Bureau Denmark exported 241 tons of bombs to Iran and one of the freight companies had moved at least 700 tons. It was never made clear what was right and wrong but it is suspected, that Jørgen Høyer A/S secretly was smuggling mines for another Nordic factory, which was not allowed to do this transport self.

SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS:

(Mostly in Danish)
DDICM
Sørensen, Tom (ed) Danish Aerospace and Defense Industry Capabilities Manual
Udgivet af Industrirådet. 1. udgave 1988, 3. udgave 1991 og 4. udgave
1994.
DDPRO
Forsvarskommandøn i Vedbæk Danish Defence Procurement Bulletin
Udgivet af Forsvarschefen, Material Division i Vedbæk. 1990 - 1994
DEX
Udenrigsministeriet Danish Exporters
Udgivet af Tele Danmark
FOLSP
Question nr. S 2248 by Frank Aaen (Enhedslisten) to the Ministry of Justice 27/10-1995.
HRN512
Landminetjeneste. Bind 2. Tillæg. HRN-4/2
Udgivet af Chefen for Hæren Maj 1977. Opdateret 15/6-1997 til 1992
INTFOR
Et internationalt og nationalt forbud mod anti-personel miner
Udgivet af Folkeretsudvalget & Dansk Røde Kors.
København, okt. 95
JANIW
Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991-1992
Udgivet af Jane's Information Group 1991.
JANMV
Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics 1992-1993 og 94-1995
Udgivet af Jane's Information Group 1992.
JDW
Jane's Defence Weekly
Udgivet af Jane's Information Group.



Send gerne link til mine tekster videre. Kopiering til videre udbredelse bør du først bede om tilladelse til. Tekster bliver nemlig fortsat opdateret og omskrevet, efterhånden som jeg bliver klogere. Ikke mindst fordi jeg tit ændrer mening - og gerne vil have at folk ser min nyeste version af den endegyldige tekst :). Støt gerne via MobilePay: ©pdateret december 1998 - WebHamster@FRED.dk: Tom Vilmer Paamand
FRED.DK
< FRED.dk
Oversigt - Søg >