Portugal's BeyondComposite teams with Grupo Protecta to bring its technology to Brazilian market

BeyondComposite has supplied ballistic protection solutions for the medevac module of the Vamtac ST5 4×4 light tactical armoured ambulances in service with the Portuguese Army. (Victor Barreira)

BeyondComposite, a Portuguese company specialising in composite materials, has signed a partnership agreement with Brazilian ballistic protection specialist Grupo Protecta to make its ballistic protection technology available in Brazil.

Under the agreement, BeyondComposite will supply its CompactShield ballistic protection technology for military vehicles, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and ships. It also provides for the development of ballistic protection plates for ballistic vests, helmets, and shields.

In a statement on 22 April the company said that this partnership “will allow us to accelerate the growth and internationalisation of BeyondComposite, with the possibility of approaching other markets in Latin America”.

For the defence market, BeyondComposite develops and produces lightweight and compact multiscale highly rigid ballistic protection solutions for wheeled armoured vehicles, mission containers, UAVs, helmets, knee and elbow pads, and other protective equipment.

Sonae Capital Industrials holds a majority stake of 62.48% in BeyondComposite. Other owners include Adira Metal Forming Solutions, Surforma, Capwatt, and Tafisa Canada. The Portuguese company currently has 20 employees.

Grupo Protecta (also known as Coplatex Indústria e Comércio de Tecidos), which was founded in 2011 and has a workforce of more than 400, specialises in the development and production of ballistic vests, ballistic protection panels for the automotive industry, and ballistic shields. Grupo Protecta is accredited as a strategic defence company by the Brazilian Ministry of Defense.