OVIK
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OVIK[1][2] is a British company that designs and manufactures specialist and armoured vehicles and chassis systems. Established in 2008, and based in Dorset, OVIK designs and develops specialist vehicles (and other equipment) for defence, security, emergency services and commercial customers.
History[]
Formed by brothers Jez and Duncan Hermer in 2008, OVIK has been both a specialist vehicle manufacturer and an engineering consultancy offering support for the design, prototype and test of all manner of land-based and amphibious special vehicles. OVIK was involved in the transformation of the Singapore Technologies Kinetics Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier vehicle into the UK MOD's WARTHOG vehicle, a vehicle developed as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for Operation Herrick in Afghanistan.
OVIK is based in Dorset, and close to the British Army's Armour Centre at Bovington - the 'Heart of Armour' and the birthplace of the tank. The name OVIK is derived from the name of the Swedish town Örnsköldsvik often shortened to OVIK, a town Jez Hermer is associated with through his work with Hagglunds, a company headquartered in the town.
The company went in liquidation in April 2020.[3]
Future[]
Whilst OVIK continues to produce a range of specialist, vehicle related equipment, it now concentrates primarily on development of specialist vehicle platforms.[4]
Crossway and Centaur Chassis[]
- Crossway 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles. A range of specialist armoured and non-armoured vehicles.[1][4] Customers so far include the United Kingdom Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Thames Valley Police and Dorset Police.[5]
- Current customers for Crossway include the UK Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Dorset Police, Thames Valley Police, Kent Police and Essex Police.
- Other OVIK customers include various UK police forces.
- Centaur Chassis - A range of specialist, all terrain chassis and chassis cowls.
Other OVIK Products[]
- The Pangolin Armoured Public Order Vehicle, now in its third generation. There are currently 193 in service with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Merseyside Police.[6][7]
- Meerkat Super Light Tracked Vehicle (SLTV).
- OVIK Cameleon IV440 Modular Mission Vehicle
References[]
- ^ a b "OVIK: CROSSWAY Armoured and Special Role Vehicles and Chassis". oviks.com.
- ^ "OVIK: CROSSWAY Armoured and Special Role Vehicles and Chassis". ovik-crossway.com.
- ^ Liquidation
- ^ a b "Back off: our other armoured car is a tank - The Sunday Times". thesundaytimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Dorset Magazine Single Issues - February 2015 digital edition". pagesuite-professional.co.uk.
- ^ "OVIK: CROSSWAY Armoured and Special Role Vehicles and Chassis". oviks.com.
- ^ "Pangolin Home". pangolin-armour.com.
External links[]
- Armoured vehicles
- British companies established in 2008
- Companies based in Dorset