Thales Nederland
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense, Electronics |
| Predecessor | Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V. |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founder | Hazemeyer and Siemens & Halske |
| Headquarters | Hengelo , Netherlands |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Naval defense technologies, sensors, radar systems, infrared solutions, air defence, communications, optronics, cryogenic cooling technologies, navigation equipment |
| Owner | Thales Group |
Number of employees | 5000+ (late 1980s) |
| Parent | Thales Group |
Thales Nederland B.V., previously known as Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V. or simply Signaal, operates as a subsidiary of the French multinational corporation Thales Group and is headquartered in the Netherlands.
The company was established in 1922 under the name NV Hazemeyer's Fabriek van Signaalapparaten by Hazemeyer in partnership with Siemens & Halske, initially focusing on manufacturing naval fire-control systems. During World War II, its manufacturing plant was taken over and ransacked by the German Army. After the conflict, the Dutch government nationalized its assets and renamed it N.V. Hollandsche Signaalapparaten (commonly known as Signaal). In 1956, electronics giant Philips acquired a controlling interest from the government, broadening Signaal’s portfolio of naval electronics and defense systems throughout the Cold War period for international customers.
In 1990, the French defense firm Thomson-CSF purchased Signaal from Philips and rebranded it as Thomson-CSF Signaal. When Thomson-CSF evolved into Thales Group in 2000, the company adopted the name Thales Nederland. Currently, its primary focus is on naval defense technologies such as sensors, radar systems, and infrared solutions. The firm also operates in sectors including air defence, communications, optronics, cryogenic cooling technologies, and navigation equipment.
History
The origins of the company date back to 1922 in Hengelo, Netherlands, when Hazemeyer and Siemens & Halske founded NV Hazemeyer's Fabriek van Signaalapparaten, concentrating on naval fire-control system production. This venture was partly motivated by efforts to bypass the military manufacturing restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. Its initial significant contract involved supplying fire control systems for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Java-class light cruiser vessels HNLMS Sumatra and HNLMS Java. Throughout the interwar years, the business expanded rapidly, securing contracts with nations such as Sweden, Spain, and Greece.
In May 1940, amid World War II, German forces captured the factory. Numerous employees fled to Britain, where they contributed their expertise to Allied advancements in radar and fire control technology. Following the war’s end, most returned to restore the heavily damaged facility.
Afterward, the Dutch government took ownership of the enterprise, renaming it N.V. Hollandsche Signaalapparaten ("Signaal") and investing in modern infrastructure and workforce development. The company pioneered advancements in radar, fire control systems, computing technology, and air traffic management.
Philips acquired a majority shareholding in 1956, driving diversification of Signaal’s product range. By 1975, Signaal had begun developing the autonomous short-range defense system known as the Goalkeeper, which remained in production for over fifty years. In the late 1980s, Philips’ defense division Usfa merged partially with Signaal to form Signaal USFA.
At Cold War’s conclusion, Signaal operated several manufacturing sites within the Netherlands, served clients across 35 countries, and employed more than 5,000 personnel. However, following reductions in defense spending after this period, it underwent restructuring including workforce downsizing.
In 1990, Philips divested from defense by selling Signaal to French contractor Thomson-CSF, which then renamed it Thomson-CSF Signaal. The company maintained its emphasis on integrated naval command and control systems, sensors, communications solutions, ground-based air defense platforms, telecommunications hardware, and training services on a global scale. When Thomson-CSF rebranded as Thales in 2000, Signaal was renamed Thales Nederland.
Since that time, Thales Nederland has grown its market footprint and forged strategic partnerships. In May 2001, it entered into a joint venture with EADS Germany (now Airbus Group) called ET Marinesysteme, aimed at developing naval combat systems based in Wilhelmshaven. The company has since engaged in multiple collaborative projects with Airbus Group.
In 2014, Thales Nederland formalized a cooperation agreement with the Royal Netherlands Navy to improve maintenance collaboration efforts.
By February 2024, Thales Nederland had increased its radar output threefold over recent years as a result of heightened demand and expanded production capabilities.
- TACTICOS - Integrated Combat Management Platform
- NS50 - sophisticated radar designed for mine countermeasure ships
- NS100 - 4D naval air and surface surveillance utilizing 3D AESA radar technology
- SMART-L-EWC - long-range, 3D multibeam surveillance radar
- I-Mast - combined housing solution for radars, sensors, and antennas on naval vessels
- Goalkeeper CIWS - self-operating close-in weapon system for defense
- Gatekeeper - electro-optical security monitoring system
- Smart-S MK2 - radar featuring multi-beam capabilities
Land Defence & C4I
- Sotas Solutions - communication systems tailored for vehicles
- SQUIRE Ground Surveillance Radar - portable radar system for medium-range ground surveillance
Transportation
- OV-chipkaart - the Netherlands’ national smart card system for public transportation