Eurometaal

Eurometaal was a Dutch defense and metal-processing company headquartered in Zaandam. Its industrial origins dated to the establishment of a military-industrial complex in the city around 1900, while the Eurometaal name was adopted in 1973. The company became one of the Netherlands' notable ammunition producers and supplied equipment and munitions for the Royal Netherlands Army. Its defense activities covered a broad range of products. The company developed weaponry including NR20 C1 hand grenades and was involved in the production of artillery projectiles such as the M864 and M483A1. It also held a license to produce American dual-purpose improved conventional munitions, or DPICMs. Production of these munitions took place at Zaandam from 1989 and, through a partnership with Turkey's MKEK, in Turkey from 1994. That production ended in 2002. Eurometaal's history also included a serious controversy connected with its German operations. In the 1990s, an employee at its hand-grenade factory in Liebenau disclosed that grenades made there had been used in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. The controversy became a major public-relations problem. The grenades had moved through the Netherlands before being supplied to Turkey, despite a German prohibition on arms trade with Turkey. The German factory was shut down in 1993. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Eurometaal participated in a European defense-conversion process intended to reduce reliance on military production and develop civilian business. The conversion involved substantial workforce reductions and the acquisition of existing civilian companies. One such subsidiary was Intergas, a manufacturer of furnaces and boilers. Rheinmetall increased its ownership of Eurometaal to 66% in 1999. In 2002, Rheinmetall sold Intergas and closed Eurometaal, bringing the company's operations to an end. Eurometaal is therefore best understood as a historical Dutch defense-industrial enterprise rather than an active consumer-facing brand. Its significance lies in the development of the Dutch military-industrial base, its production of ammunition and weapon systems, its cross-border manufacturing relationships, and the difficult transition from defense production toward civilian industry. No current website, operating business, public listing, or successor brand is identified in the supplied reference material.

Eurometaal developed from a military-industrial complex established in Zaandam around 1900. The organization formed part of the industrial infrastructure supporting Dutch military procurement and later became associated with the production of ammunition and other defense equipment. In 1973, it adopted the Eurometaal name. The company's defense portfolio included weapons developed for the Royal Netherlands Army, including NR20 C1 hand grenades, as well as artillery ammunition. Eurometaal produced M864 and M483A1 projectiles and held a license for American DPICMs. It produced those munitions at its Zaandam facilities beginning in 1989. From 1994, it also produced DPICMs in Turkey through a partnership with MKEK. Eurometaal's German hand-grenade operations became the focus of controversy in the 1990s. An employee at the Liebenau factory revealed that grenades made there had been used in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. The weapons had passed through the Netherlands before being supplied to Turkey, despite a German ban on arms trading with Turkey. The disclosure produced a substantial public-relations crisis and resulted in the closure of the German factory in 1993. As European defense industries faced pressure to reduce military dependence, Eurometaal entered a defense-conversion program. The company attempted to diversify toward civilian activities, including through acquisitions of existing civil companies. This transition was accompanied by the dismissal of hundreds of employees. One civilian business associated with the group was Intergas, which manufactured furnaces and boilers. Rheinmetall became increasingly influential in the company and raised its stake to 66 percent in 1999. Eurometaal's licensed DPICM production ended in 2002. In the same year, Rheinmetall sold Intergas and closed Eurometaal altogether. The company consequently became a defunct historical defense manufacturer rather than an ongoing industrial brand.

• 2002

  Operations end

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  DPICM production stopped, Rheinmetall sold Intergas, and Eurometaal was closed.

• 1999

  Rheinmetall reaches a 66 percent stake

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  Rheinmetall increased its ownership of Eurometaal to 66 percent.

• 1994

  DPICM production starts in Turkey

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  Production of licensed DPICMs began in Turkey through a partnership with MKEK.

• 1993

  Liebenau factory closed

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  The German hand-grenade factory was shut down after controversy over the use and transfer of its grenades in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict.

• 1989

  DPICM production begins in Zaandam

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  Eurometaal began producing licensed American DPICMs at its Zaandam facilities.

• 1973

  Eurometaal name adopted

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted the Eurometaal name.

• 1900

  Military-industrial complex established in Zaandam

  [1]Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org

  An industrial military complex was established in Zaandam, forming the historical basis of the later Eurometaal enterprise.

Dutch defense-industrial manufacturer and ammunition producer that later pursued defense conversion into civilian metal-related and heating-equipment activities.

• Hand grenades

  NR20 C1 hand grenade

  A hand grenade developed by Eurometaal for the Royal Netherlands Army. It represents the company's role as a supplier and developer of military equipment for Dutch defense requirements.

• Artillery ammunition

  M864 projectile

  An artillery projectile produced by Eurometaal as part of its ammunition manufacturing activities. The available reference identifies the product as part of the company's defense portfolio but does not provide further technical or commercial specifications.

• Artillery ammunition

  M483A1 projectile

  An artillery projectile manufactured by Eurometaal. It was among the company's identified ammunition products before the company's defense operations ended.

• Cluster-munition artillery ammunition · 1989

  DPICM

  Eurometaal held a license to produce American DPICMs. Manufacturing took place in Zaandam from 1989 and in Turkey through the MKEK partnership from 1994. The reference material states that this production stopped in 2002.

• Civilian heating equipment

  Intergas furnaces and boilers

  Furnaces and boilers manufactured by Intergas, a civilian company associated with Eurometaal during its defense-conversion period. Rheinmetall sold the Intergas subsidiary in 2002 before closing Eurometaal.

• 1993

  Liebenau grenade-transfer controversy

  An employee at Eurometaal's Liebenau hand-grenade factory disclosed that grenades produced there had been used in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. The grenades had transited through the Netherlands before being supplied to Turkey, despite a German ban on arms trade with Turkey. The disclosure caused a public-relations crisis and was followed by closure of the German factory.

  Source

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• 2002

  Closure of EurometaalStrategy

  Background

  Eurometaal's DPICM production had ended, and its defense-conversion activities had not established a continuing business under the Eurometaal name.

  Action taken

  Rheinmetall sold the Intergas subsidiary and closed Eurometaal.

  Aftermath

  Eurometaal ceased operating as a company and its brand became historical.

  Source

• 1999

  Rheinmetall increases ownershipM&A

  Background

  Rheinmetall had become a significant shareholder in Eurometaal.

  Action taken

  Rheinmetall increased its stake to 66 percent.

  Aftermath

  Rheinmetall subsequently sold Intergas and closed Eurometaal in 2002.

  Source

• 1990

  Pursuit of European defense conversionStrategy

  Background

  Eurometaal faced the broader European defense-industry shift toward conversion and reduced dependence on military production.

  Action taken

  The company diversified toward civilian activities, acquired existing civil companies, and reduced its workforce by hundreds of employees.

  Aftermath

  The conversion effort included involvement with Intergas, a furnace and boiler manufacturer, but did not prevent the eventual closure of Eurometaal in 2002.

  Source

1. 1Eurometaalen.wikipedia.org