A TECHNOLOGY firm behind submarine controls has strengthened its market standing after helping the British Army with tank shell decommissioning.

Applied Integration, based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, secured a contract to support the disposal of munitions.

The business, which previously designed and developed apparatus for submarines, including HMS Audacious and HMS Anson, worked with Nottingham’s McIntyre on what bosses describe as a “rare machine for a unique purpose.”

After McIntyre built the hydraulics, Applied Integration stepped in to provide control and automation systems.

The deal revolved around a process known as disfigurement, whereby munitions classified as free from explosive or free from explosive hazard, are crushed or sectioned to prevent their re-use or sale as a weapon.

Garry Lofthouse, Applied Integration director, said: “The shells are cut or crushed, disfigured in military language, to ensure they can’t be used again.

“These are large, military standard 155mm diameter shells measuring a metre long. The weapons disfigurement system is basically a massive pair of hydraulic shears.”

John Dyson, one of Applied Integration’s lead engineers, led a small team throughout the project’s six-month turnaround, which Mr Lofthouse said was made easier by the firm’s experiences in meeting defence sector targets.

He added: “The safe disposal of munitions was something completely different for us but McIntyre turned to us due to our proven capabilities and experience within the defence arena.

“Our experience of automation and control systems, particularly around military systems, gives us a competitive edge over rivals.

“The quality demands in the defence sector are exceptional but we have the processes in place from years of working on defence-related systems to meet even the very highest of requirements.”

Applied Integration’s submarine work also includes designing software for the HMS Agamemnon and HMS Ajax crafts.