September 10, 2023

NFM Group and FAMAE announce strategic co-manufacturing agreement

Source: NFM Group

NFM Group, a leading International defence company, and FAMAE, a prominent Chilean defence manufacturer, announced a strategic co-manufacturing agreement to bolster their presence in the global defence market.

Signed in July 2022, the partnership converges the expertise of two defence titans, allowing them to jointly deliver high-quality protective equipment to defence and police forces in Chile. FAMAE, with its rich 200-year history serving government and defence institutions, and NFM Group, renowned for its innovative protective equipment, together form a powerful alliance.

In August 2023, the newly established Ballistic Protection Plant (PPB), welcomed local Armed Forces and Law Enforcement, marking the first in a series of visits by end-users and Military and Police attachés from accredited Embassies in Santiago – Chile. After an introductory staff training at NFM’s facilities in Poland, FAMAE’s personnel returned to Chile, training its first employees.

NFM’s partner in LATAM, Alvaro Peñaloza adds that; “This synergy will allow end users, both in Chile and in the region, to access manufacturing capabilities with the highest levels of protection available in the market, co-manufactured by FAMAE, under license and logistical support from NFM Group, and with a quality support and after-sales service never seen before in the region.”

Boosting Accessibility and Innovation

This partnership aims to make NFM’s products more accessible in Chile through FAMAE, offer-ing a local showroom and production centre for end-users to learn about the products and con-duct tests. This paves the way for end-users to have access to new developments and innovations in Chile.

Mr. Walter Øverland, CEO of NFM Group, sees this partnership as a continuation of providing innovative personal protection solutions.
“As a long-standing supplier of Chilean Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense entities, we see cooperation with FAMAE as a natural continuation of supplying high-quality and innovative per-sonal protection solutions that will allow Chilean forces to benefit from the latest technological advances,” comments Øverland.

Expanding Product Portfolio and Technological Capabilities

With an exclusivity agreement in place, FAMAE will have access to NFM’s latest developments, enabling it to offer a wider range of products and share more technological information with end users.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Chile, Jostein Leiro, sees this alliance as a steppingstone towards further bilateral cooperation between Norway and Chile.
“The news of the collaboration between NFM and FAMAE is very gratifying. I am convinced that this collaboration between two central actors will be of great importance and benefit to both. It represents yet another example of the positive development of cooperation between Norwegian and Chilean companies in sectors important to both countries,” he said.

Thomas Nordahl, President of the Chilean-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (CCCN), also welcomes this new alliance, expressing hope that it will stimulate cooperation between Norway and Chile across multiple sectors.

“The Norwegian-Chilean Chamber is happy about the agreement between FAMAE and NFM Group, and we hope that this will stimulate cooperation between Norway and Chile. Both coun-tries are renowned producers of salmon and supplies for the aquaculture industry, however, at CCCN we believe that there are many other industries in which we can establish fruitful coopera-tion and of common interest, of which this manufacturing agreement is proof,” says Nordahl.

Continuing Tradition of Excellence

NFM has been selling products to defence and law enforcement in Chile since 2012. The Chilean Police are currently equipped with NFM THOR vests. With this new cooperation with FAMAE, the NFM premium quality will be maintained and available for all end-users within the defence, law enforcement, and security sector in Chile.

NFM Group’s expert ballistic department designs and develops a wide range of ballistic protec-tion, from soft ballistic panels and hard ballistic plates to stab, spike, and blunt force trauma protection. NFM’s advanced technology and materials ensure optimal solutions with the right balance between protection, thickness, weight, and price, are continuous innovations which will be available for end-users in Chile through FAMAE going forward.