As the defence industry gears up for the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, Millennium Coupling Company (MCC) is showcasing its partnership with Raycon Industries to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Leveraging Raycon’s experience as a supplier to the U.S. defence sector, MCC plans to present its strategy for enhancing logistical supply lines to forward-deployed troops, emphasising sustained maritime and land based operations through ship resupply and ship-to-ship support. MCC also aims to gain insights from the Army regarding its future littoral operational capabilities.
The strategic partnership with Raycon allows MCC to participate in ground-based refueling applications, marking a natural extension of its capabilities. MCC has recently completed a significant project developing refueling-at-sea couplings for the Japanese Navy, demonstrating its ability to meet military specifications and adapt to specific customer requirements.
One-stop-shop for all industry needs
“In our industry, it is crucial to have a broad range of industrial hose and hose fittings, as not every application is the same. It depends on what is being transferred,” explains Simon Tape, MCC’s Managing Director. “At MCC, we understand this diversity and strive to be a one-stop shop for all various applications across various industries such as mining, agriculture, civil and defence. We offer a range of high-quality commodity hose fittings under our exclusive MCC brand, while also partnering with leading global brands like Raycon for specialised equipment to ensure we meet all of our clients' needs with the best solutions available. This comprehensive range of products and applications underscores our commitment to meeting the unique needs of our clients.”
"One of the main features of the Raycon product range is that the majority of the componentry is manufactured in-house, said MCC’s Managing Director Simon Tape. “Thanks to this partnership, we are not reliant on third-party or subcontract manufacturers for the production of critical products and we can offer an even broader portfolio."
Focus on efficiency to support ADF’s rigorous needs
Operational efficiency is one of our core strengths, said Simon, emphasizing, "We pride ourselves on our delivery in-full on-time (DIFOT) metric. In the last 6 months, we have improved our DIFOT metric by 19% as a result of a significant, nearly 40% increase in inventory.” This commitment to timely delivery is crucial in the defence sector, where reliability is paramount.
MCC is also aware of the specific Defence requirements and needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Tape stated, "That's why we've adopted a lean, Six Sigma approach to build efficiencies into our processes, as has Raycon. They’re a lean business, and they inspired us to go down the lean path." This focus on efficiency and adaptability ensures that MCC can meet the rigorous demands of defence projects.
In addition to their logistical capabilities, Tape highlighted the importance of technical expertise: "We are experts in the fluid transfer industry. We really know what we're talking about. We have good technical knowledge about the products that we sell and that is something that our customers value the most." This deep understanding of their offerings positions MCC as a trusted partner in the defence supply chain.
Millennium Couplings meeting ADF’s needs
Given the archipelagic nature of Australia's operating environment, the Army must be capable of projecting force in the littoral space. This entails moving assets between shores, patrolling coastlines, and maintaining logistical supply lines to forward-deployed troops, all while under threat. Sustained maritime Army operations, such as ship resupply and ship-to-ship support, are essential in this context. The Army will see dismounted combatants conducting distributed littoral operations, requiring enhanced operational endurance in austere and complex environments.
How can MCC assist the Army?
A practical question arises: How can industry, MCC including, assist the Army in increasing dismounted combatants' operational endurance while conducting Distributed Littoral Operations?
The littoral ships being acquired by Defence will eventually be complemented by amphibious vehicles and close support craft to deploy and sustain land forces at beach landing sites or ports, in conjunction with other ADF air and maritime assets.
Sustainability at sea and in support of shore operations is fundamental to successful littoral landings, and Millenium Coupling Company is focused on supporting the Army's future littoral capability.