Primary Arms

Posts Tagged ‘XPX Armor & Equipment’

PPE Purchases Paraclete

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Protective Products Enterprises, Inc. (PPE) has completed the purchase of Paraclete from Mine Safety Appliances (MSA). MSA purchased the company from Tim D’Anunzio in 2006. D’Anunzio himself has recently come back to the industry, launching XPX Armor & Equipment last month.

“This sale of our ballistic vest business is something we have seriously considered for some time,” said Joseph A. Bigler, President of MSA North America in a press release. “The decision to move in this direction came down to two factors: alignment with MSA’s long-term business strategy to focus on those products that provide us with the greatest growth opportunities; and pursuing a course of action that we believe provides Paraclete Armor with the best opportunity for future success.”

It is important to note that the sale does not include MSA’s lucrative helmet business purchased from CGF Gallet in 2001.

Paraclete Founder Starts New Company

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Looks like Tim D’Annunzio’s noncompete is up after selling Paraclete to MSA five years ago. He has just announced the formation of XPX Armor & Equipment based at 925 Doc Brown Road near Ft Bragg in Raeford, NC.

Over the last five years, D’Annunzio has hardly been sitting on his laurels. He went back to his roots with heavy involvement in the skydiving industry. One venture was Paraclete XP SkyVenture, a 60-foot vertical wind tunnel near Ft Bragg that is used for training. Additionally, he launched an unsuccessful bid for Congress.

In getting XPX going, D’Annunzio says he plans to initially employ 20 people but that number could eventually climb to 100. Additionally, XPX already claims to have $1 million in contracts lined up.

XPX Armor & Equipment. That’s a name to keep an eye on.

xpxarmor.com