We talk to Felipe Arrighi, Director of Business Development, about the importance of bringing Agon's CBRNe training solutions to Asia and Australasia.
How would you describe Argon Electronics’ presence in Australasia and Asia?
Argon Electronics currently operates in both Australia and Asia, taking part in several specialist training and simulation projects across the region. Starting with Australia, we have supplied specialist equipment and integrated simulation platforms to the Australian army. Thanks to our strong relationship with them, we have expanded our training simulation systems to them to support and enhance their short- and long-term CBRN training capabilities.
In Asia, Argon has supplied equipment directly to military organisations in India, where we are also working on joint initiatives with a newly appointed local reseller. To strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia, we have appointed a specialist reseller covering the Philippines and Malaysia. Alongside this, we continue to collaborate with partners in Japan, and with specialist resellers in Vietnam and Singapore, to support defence and public safety organisations and global bodies preparing for CBRN emergencies.
In South Korea, our simulation equipment is enhancing CBRN training across the fire services. We continue to build on this foundation by participating in major trade events and engaging directly with end users and key decision-makers to support future requirements.
While we have not yet undertaken large volumes of business in China, we are pleased to have an established footprint there through a long-standing reseller who has worked with us for many years.
Which sectors does Argon Electronics work with in Australasia and Asia?
Primarily, we work with the defence sector in Asia, where we have several military customers that use our technology. However, while the military sector is key for us, we’re also looking at non-military opportunities across Asia- Pacific. These include firefighters, police, counter-terrorism units and civil defence agencies, as well as private-sector organisations requiring training in confined space management.
At the same time as securing new business, we are working on upgrading and expanding some of our existing contracts. One area of interest for Argon Electronics right now is nuclear safety, especially in areas such as South Korea, where both the conflict and tension with North Korea show no signs of stopping. The significant presence of the nuclear industry in the region makes training in radiological emergencies a major priority.
Asia has huge potential for us, especially given our significant footprint in the rest of the world.
How do you plan to grow Argon Electronics team and presence across Asia?
Expanding our existing customer networks and working with our resellers on the ground are all definite parts of Argon Electronics’ strategy for building on our presence in the region. There are also still several countries in which Argon Electronics has not yet established a presence. These are high on the list of places that we have identified for pursuing commercial opportunities in the future.
Asia has huge potential for us, especially given our significant footprint in the rest of the world. Extrapolating similar results in Asia could deliver substantial growth for Argon Electronics. However, expanding our regional presence also comes with its own challenges, such as cultural and language barriers, protective tax policies and a preference in some areas for awarding contracts to indigenous companies as part of a drive to support local economies.
Why are Argon Electronics’ products in such demand in Asia?
First of all, there are many tensions that exist in Asia, for example between China and Taiwan, and North and South Korea. Therefore, preparing for the worst has to be a priority not only for the countries directly involved, but for the entire region. Should a CBRN emergency happen, the potential scale of it – and the consequences of any fall-out demand that everyone must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to mitigate against the damage.
While preparedness is often associated with acquiring the right equipment, that equipment is of little value if the personnel operating it are not properly trained in how to use it. Prioritising the human factor — through rigorous, ongoing training — is essential, and nations in proximity to geopolitical flashpoints must be ready to invest in the right equipment for training support.
This is not just for military reasons. Our MultiGAS simulator is gaining traction in a lot of Asian countries right now, as there are little to no equivalent training solutions to be found elsewhere when it comes for Multi-gas Detection training, especially in confined space areas. We have already provided our CBRN and Hazmat simulation systems to several non-military customers in the region and are looking forward to expanding our reach even further with our newly released products, the Generic and Dräger X-am 2x00/5x00 multi-gas simulators.
Our Multi-GAS simulator is gaining traction in a lot of Asian countries right now.
Which defence or nuclear industry conferences in Asia will the Argon Electronics team be present at over the coming months?
Argon Electronics attends a number of important conferences and events in Australasia and Asia, both directly with our own teams and through our local partners. This year, we have attended key exhibitions for the nuclear, firefighting and military through our reseller network. We will be exhibiting at the NCT event this December in South Korea, where I look forward to expanding our networks and speaking to potential new customers in the region.
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