Among the vineyards and olive groves of Herencia, a municipality of just over seven thousand inhabitants in Ciudad Real, some of the armored vehicles that today circulate through NATO barracks, Spanish police stations and roads in several countries in Africa are manufactured. The company in charge of this type of projects It’s called TSDand the most interesting of all is that it was not always a vehicle manufacturer. In fact, he started selling safes.
How it all started. Antonio Ramírez founded the company in 2000 as a family business that had nothing to do with the military industry. “We began by focusing our work on the transportation of funds, on the development of vaults or safes for banking ATMs,” explained Ramírez. in the report from El Español.
Over time, the firm expanded its activity into the security and defense sector until it became a manufacturer of tactical and armored vehicles. Today TSD invoice around 130 million euros per year and employs more than 600 people in its rural surroundings.
In detail. The firm’s star product is the Íbero, a multipurpose 4×4 tactical vehicle with a modular design that can become an assault vehicle, border surveillance vehicle, riot control vehicle, command post or even a mortar launcher, as detailed by the company.
There are three versions depending on weight and capacity: the lightest (LTV) is around 5 tons and carries up to 6 occupants, while the heaviest (HTV) reaches 15 tons and can carry up to 12 people. The vehicle was officially presented in 2020 after a decade of development, and there are already around 70 examples manufactured.
Between the lines. TSD does not build chassis from scratch. The company works as a “second phase” manufacturer. And it is that part from brand platforms such as Mercedes-BenzRenault or Iveco and on them it mounts the armor, communication systems and the specific configurations of each mission. It is a model that allows you to adapt practically any commercial chassis to military or police use.
The NATO seal. As an official supplier of the Atlantic Alliance, TSD vehicles have the organization’s own certifications and approvals. According to what they saythe entire process is governed by STANAG regulations, the international standard that sets the armor levels required by NATO. Vehicles destined for the Alliance are painted dark green, the official color of NATO, while those sent to desert areas, such as the Middle East, wear a cream tone.
Beyond Europe. The Íbero has crossed borders, since nearly a hundred units have already been sold, most outside of Spainwith presence in African countries such as Senegal or Ivory Coast, where the vehicles operate in real scenarios and have been tested in combat. The company is now studying making the leap to South America, with Chile and Argentina as markets in its sights.
Not just military vehicles. Along with the tactical range, TSD maintains a less visible but equally important line of business, with armored vans for transporting funds, destined for central banks and security companies. They incorporate remote locking systems and patented technologies, such as foam that solidifies in seconds to protect cargo from an attempted assault.
Added to this is the manufacturing of police vehicles, with a production volume that exceeds the 5,000 units per yearof which about 1,500 are personalized to order. In Spain, bodies such as the Civil Guard already use their vehicles.
And now what. The context in which we live is helping the company, since Europe is increasing its defense spending and seeks to reinforce its strategic autonomy against dependence on external suppliers. In this scenario, family businesses like TSD gain weight as an agile and flexible alternative.
Cover image | TSD
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