ARTILLERY SHELL BODIES
- 155mm L15, M107, Ext. Range
- 105mm M1, R
- 120mm
Tough Shells is a trademark of Tough Components Srl, an Italian legal entity
Skill-set and capability to lead manufacturing of artillery shell bodies in Europe
- Acquired Castelfranco from Simmel Difesa (now KNDS) in mid ‘90s when demand of ammunitions was low and refocused on industrial applications
- “know-how” remained in the company, including manufacturing capabilities, tooling, some staff and engineering resources.
- Retooled in fall 2022 and successfully requalified with European clients
- Obtained UAMA licenses to export
- Scale-up achieved in 2025
- Samples available on request based on customer specs and drawings
Qualification credentials for 155mm
Qualified products under shooting test conditions as follows (proof):
| Product | Howitzer | Max pressure |
|---|---|---|
| M107 | R52 | 2700bar |
| M107 | R39 | 2000bar |
| L15 | R39 | 3800bar |
| L15 Mod | R39 | 3800bar |
| L15 Mod | R52 | 4300bar |
| Ext. Range | qualification in 2026 | |
Shell Body Manufacturing process
Fully automated manufacturing line
Fully automated manufacturing line
- Billet acceptance
- Billet saw cutting
- Billet cupping and hot-piercing
- Internal and external shot-blasting
- Internal and external lathe-roughing
- Neck-nosing (by pressing by default or by hot-spinning)
- Quenching and Tempering
- Hardness, UT/Pressure, Eddy currents, magnoflux testing
- Shot-blasting
- Internal and external lathe-finishing
- Bottom finishing
- Driving band
- Painting and Packaging
Forging Capability
| Forge 1 | Forge 2 | Forge 3 |
|---|---|---|
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Group Quality and IT System
- ISO 9001: 2015 – Quality management systems since 1994
- ISO 14001: 2015 – Environmental Management Systems since 2002
- ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems since 2015
- IATF 16949:2016 – Quality management system requirements for automotive since 2009
- ISO 50001:2022 – Energy Management since 2022
- ISO 14064:2018 – GHG Emissions Verification since 2023
- IT: ERP: SAP – since 1999
- IT: MES – Manufacturing Execution System since 2021