"Reliability and Innovation Are the Keys to Success"

The small arms industry has been an integral part of Israel's defense industry since the late 1940s, when the state was established and the need and desire arose for independence in the defense field. Over the last five decades, EMTAN from Karmiel has become a leader, in the design, production and export of small arms. With an acclaimed reputation and over 50 destination countries for marketing on its resumé, EMTAN has shattered almost every glass ceiling on the way to becoming one of the best-known arms manufacturers in the world, and for its managers, this is just the beginning.

It all started in the late 1970s. Reuven Moshe Zada, currently CEO and owner of EMTAN, began making his way in the defense market with the production of components for the military industries, including main parts for the iconic ‘Galil’, ‘Jericho’ and ‘Uzi’ weapons. Understanding that in order to succeed in the industry he must equip himself with technological skills and invest in development and innovation, Zada and his family dedicated themselves to establishing the largest production plant in the field in Israel. In 2024 they will open a new innovative manufacturing facility with additional manufacturing space, which will provide employment for nearly 300 workers in the north of the country.

"It is a matter of great pride to be an Israeli manufacturing enterprise, and a leader of the field, with signed international agreements,” says Zada. "We provide a range of solutions to many countries around the world, in order to give the authorities, the means to protect and maintain the security of their citizens, and I see this as a mission and a great honor for me personally. We are fundamentally a family business, into which we have brought the finest experts and best talents. It is without a doubt a sensitive business, but the insight and capabilities we have acquired over the years, have brought us to a place where we are seeing more and more demand to our products. We are recommended by many. This is why we are increasing our production capacity in the new facility by over 30%."

EMTAN currently produces a range of firearms, among them the ‘Ramon’ pistol and the MZ-9 submachine gun – both 9 mm caliber, and the MZ-4 5.56 mm caliber family of rifles, all of them operational in Israel and many other countries. These and others are used by snipers and special forces throughout the world. As mentioned, the company has acquired considerable technical expertise regarding production materials, which, combined with the combat experience of the engineers at the plant, enable it to develop highly advantageous weapons where reliability and innovation are the keys to its success. In the past, EMTAN also produced components for the field of aviation, in which each component and raw material was thoroughly tested and measured before integration, and these strict quality control processes extended to the firearms production process as well. "One of the clearest examples is the production process for the ‘Ramon’ pistol,” Zada says. "When there were dozens of models on the market, EMTAN was able to design a 9 mm pistol that incorporated all of its knowledge and capabilities, with the emphasis on the quality of the material, durability, and user interface. When 'Ramon' came onto the market, it was met with high praise and international success that continue to this day."

Shattering the European glass ceiling
Supplying firearms to international markets requires extensive marketing work, along with support from the Ministry of National Security and SIBAT (the Security Export Division in the Ministry of Defense), which also supports EMTAN in everything related to the signing of GTG (government to government) state contracts. "One of the most challenging markets is the European Union, which was considered until recently to be an ironclad wall that was almost impenetrable to foreign industries,” explains Zada. "EMTAN's hard work paid off, because in 2021 together with the Spanish company Guardian, an Israeli-owned company, we were able to sign a contract for the supply of approximately 10,000 Ramon 9 mm pistols made by EMTAN to the Spanish Federal Police. (All now delivered)”

The deal that Zada is talking about is valued at millions of euros, but more importantly – this is the first time that an Israeli company has succeeded in making a small arms deal with a Western European country. "The most important thing for me is that the pistol we designed and made here in Israel achieved the highest technical score against the European competitors, and there are quite a few of these."

"Our success in achieving a deal of this magnitude, with the first entry of an Israeli company into such a closed market, is also symbolic,” notes Dror Zada, the company’s VP for business development. "I think we still have a lot to strive for, but the knowledge that the Europeans have also chosen us to protect their citizens is certainly reward for the hard work we do here."

The success in Europe has radiated to other markets as well. A year later, EMTAN won the tender to supply 6,000 MZ4-P rifles to the same customer (all now delivered), also receiving the highest technical score against the competition. In addition, in the past year EMTAN has won additional contracts to supply rifles and pistols to countries in Central and South America.

"We really work day and night on international agreements and business development,” explains Ron Pollak, director of marketing and sales. "We compete successfully in tenders of many countries, where the quality of our weapons and our short delivery times give us an advantage even against better-known manufacturers. We supply weapons under state contracts,GTG transactions or in direct BTG (private business companies to government ) and BTB. In fact, about 95% of the firearms we sell are to government entities.”

"Today, we are seeing a growing demand for transfer of knowledge and establishment of production capabilities among customers. These are the type of projects with which we have a lot of experience, having established production lines and plants in several countries,” adds Dror Zada. "All of this is possible, of course, thanks to a strong and ongoing relationship with Israeli security entities, among them SIBAT, headed by Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Koles, and the Defense Export Control Agency (DECA), led by Racheli Chen, who have supported our work for many years, for which we thank them."

No room for mistakes
During the 45 years since its establishment, EMTAN has expanded and improved in every possible respect. The new and modern production and development center currently being built on an area of five dunams joins the existing building, and together they will comprise a total of nine dunams intended for production, storage, computerized ranges, and offices. In addition, smart robotic systems will be integrated into the new facility, to increase productivity and improve production processes.

Already today, the most accurate and durable gun barrels in the field are produced by EMTAN’s unique technology at a rate of 14 thousand barrels per month; using over 75 CNC machines, EMTAN produces around 6,000 firearms per month. One of the areas of expertise that the company has entered into is tritium, for special sights that glow in low light conditions and in the dark. The purpose of sights with this component is to allow the user better and more accurate adjustment in all terrain conditions, and they have a lifespan of more than ten years in operational use.

So how do you design a firearm?
"Like any product, first of all we examine the market requirements, where the idea of developing a new weapon comes from a comprehensive examination of the field and a marketing feasibility test. When a decision is made to enter a project, designated managers are appointed who will devote their time to it. EMTAN is one of the few arms manufacturers in the world in this industry where all elements of the planning, engineering and production process, right down to the component level, is done within the company, including all quality testing,” replies Sharon Zada, VP and plant manager. "After creating a prototype, the weapon still has a long way to go until final use and production approval is obtained, including overall safety control and transfer to different units for feedback and control. Any rejection or stoppage will lead back to the drawing board and a repetition of the process until a perfect product is obtained.

"Of course, over the years we also improve the weapons based on experience in the field, and make adjustments to the design and planning according to the customer's requirements,” he adds. "Ultimately, these are weapons that will reach defense and security forces around the world, and therefore there is no room for mistakes. They trust us, and their trust in us and in our products is the key component for us. We always remember that the weapons we manufacture will protect many citizens, maintain public order, and save lives."

Support Israeli manufacturers
EMTAN is considered a success story on a global scale, where Israeli weapons are held by tens of thousands of units and security personnel around the globe. In Israel, many government entities use the company's firearms, including units responsible for the protection of airports and border crossings. EMTAN's rifles have also successfully passed the IDF's tests..

But, the company emphasizes, the situation here in Israel is a little more complex and it’s important to note this. As part of the aid agreement with the US, Israel is committed to defense purchases - including small arms and rifles - from American companies. While these agreements are important, and critical to strengthening Israel's security resilience, they sometimes present an obstacle for Israeli manufacturers who wish to join and deepen cooperation between the local industry and the IDF.

"We call upon the government and the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) to do more in regard to supporting Israeli manufacturers,” declares Reuven Zada. "We invest a great deal in research and development, and there is no greater pride than soldiers of the IDF and the security forces carrying Israeli weapons. A multi-year contract for the supply of rifles to the IDF could increase the number of our employees directly by 30%, with another 20% in our supply chain, for entirely Israeli made products. This means hundreds of jobs that will provide for many families. I am very proud that our firearms are already in use by entities in the Ministry of Defense and among special Israeli units. We receive excellent feedback in every parameter.

"From the very beginning, I have observed and adapted our capabilities according to the changes and the spirit of the different times,” he concludes. "While the security situation is complex and challenging, and the weaponry is becoming more sophisticated, we are constantly looking ahead. We have the best team in the world, and I have been privileged to be part of the defense manufacturing landscape in Israel and to represent us all over the world. When an officer holds an Israeli weapon that we have produced for him, he can be certain that he has the best product in his hands to protect and be used in any scenario."

In collaboration with EMTAN