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Archive for the ‘Armor’ Category

Armor Express Announces Two Executive Appointments in Support of the Company’s Federal Law Enforcement Market Expansion Initiatives

Thursday, December 1st, 2016

CENTRAL LAKE, Mich., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Central Lake Armor Express, Inc. (“Armor Express”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance body armor solutions, announced today two strategic hires as the Company continues to expand its presence in the Federal Law Enforcement market. These hires follow the Armor Express’ previously announced $94 million Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity contract award with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Joining Armor Express as the new Director of Federal Sales is industry veteran David Jones. He has been brought onboard to lead the Company’s Federal Sales initiatives, which include sales strategy, client management and overall market expansion programs. Mr. Jones joins the Company after a distinguished 20-year career, having most recently served as Sales Director for Saxon Security, Inc. In this position, he was responsible for product marketing and sales, client service and channel management, working with prestigious customers including the U.S. Secret Service, FBI SWAT, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF), Amtrak Police Special Operations, HIDTA (U.S. Federal Drug Task Force), and numerous police departments. Previously, Mr. Jones held the position of Sales Manager, Law Enforcement at Hesco Group, where he oversaw sales of hard armor products to both U.S. and Canadian Law Enforcement. Earlier in his career, he was the Business Development Manager at ALM Tech Corporation, responsible for setting sales and distribution strategies and securing strategic partnerships in support of the Company’s Federal, domestic law enforcement and Special Forces business units. Mr. Jones is a graduate of Penn State University, with a B.S. in Finance.

Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Jake Hayes as Federal Sales Manager. He will be responsible for developing and servicing Federal agency contracts and working with the team to expand the Company’s reach. Before assuming this role, Mr. Hayes served as Sales Specialist for the Federal Government market at Code 3, Inc., where he oversaw Government Services Agency (GSA) contracts and worked with procurement agents from various agencies, including the FBI, CIA, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, DEA, National Park Service, NASA, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Air Force. He also held sales management positions with Blue Eagle Investigations, One Call Care Management and Northstar Alarm Services. Mr. Hayes received his B.S. in Marketing from Eastern Illinois University.
Commenting on these appointments and the Company’s continued growth initiatives, Scott Wyatt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, stated, “On behalf of our team, I would like to welcome both David and Jake to Armor Express. They both bring extensive experience servicing and protecting the Federal law enforcement community and have deep-seated relationships that will serve our Company and our customers well. These hires are especially meaningful given the timing, as we have recently expanded our customer base and are currently developing new body armor systems designed specifically for Federal officers. Knowing agency requirements and being in position to develop solutions that address their specific needs is paramount to our product development initiatives and positions us well for future opportunities.”
As federal agencies across the country seek to advance their capabilities, Armor Express has directed its resources to developing new and enhanced ballistic packages, carrier designs, hard armor plates, and accessories. This incorporates the most innovative technologies and industry best standards to better protect and enable officers to perform their jobs at the most optimal level. Thousands of federal agents nationwide have depended on Armor Express’ solutions, including those from the U.S. Marshals, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sneak Peek – S.E.T. Plate Carrier

Sunday, November 27th, 2016

Snake Eater Tactical’s new Plate Carrier utilizes their patent pending grid system. Rather than using the PALS attachment system, the grid is optimized for use with 550 cord. However, they also plan to incorporate Velcro section for the attachment of panels.

It also includes removable side straps as well as three layers of Mil-Spec elastic for chest expansion.

Pre-orders kicking off soon from www.snakeeatertactical.com.

Armor Express Awarded Prestigious $93.8 Million ID/IQ Contract with the Department of Homeland Security

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016

Thousands of officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, TSA, Federal Protective Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and FEMA to benefit from the most advanced body armor solutions

CENTRAL LAKE, Mich., Nov. 17, 2016/PRNewswire/ — Central Lake Armor Express, Inc. (“Armor Express”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance body armor solutions, is proud to announce that the Company has been awarded a seven-year, $93.8 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the terms of the contract (Solicitation #: HSBP1016R0004), Armor Express will provide its cutting-edge Razor™ Level IIIA ballistic system, along with four carriers specifically designed to support DHS requirements. Over 90,000 officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Protective Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stand to benefit from this latest DHS award.

“This is a major win for Armor Express and we are truly honored to serve one of the finest and most comprehensive federal departments in the world,” stated Matt Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Armor Express. “We have collaborated with a number of federal agencies over the years, providing a range of concealable and tactical armor solutions to officers who require high-performance and flexible coverage to do their jobs effectively and in the safest way. This latest award is another testament to the quality of our products and the DHS’ trust in our industry-proven solutions.”

Created in response to the September 11 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security’s primary responsibility is safeguarding the nation from the many threats it faces. As the third largest Cabinet department, after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the DHS requires the dedication of more than 240,000 officers in roles that range from anti-terrorism to aviation and border security, immigration and customs, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management.

The DHS was looking to outfit its federal officers with customized concealable and tactical carriers, integrated with NIJ 0101.06 certified, Level IIIA ballistics to create the most advanced, comfortable and flexible system to meet agency requirements. Armor Express was selected as one of three body armor suppliers to fulfill the needs of the DHS-specified carrier design. Based on extensive and stringent criteria, the Company was chosen for its ballistic performance, design and engineering specifications, overall reliability, and past performance.

The Razor™ Ballistic System has been tested to the most strenuous requirements, including the NIJ 0101.06 certification, FBI Protocol, DEA Frag Standards, as well as numerous critical special threats. It is designed around revolutionary fiber technology including FMT Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene from DSM Dyneema® and TWARON Microfilament® Aramid from Teijin. The carrier, which is available in both male and female versions, provides the ultimate in concealability and flexibility, offering a lightweight ballistic package for officers and agents who require incredible protection under the most extreme environments.

Thousands of federal law enforcement officers across the country rely on Armor Express’ solutions, many of them from the largest and most prestigious agencies in the world. Federal departments Armor Express has served include the U.S. Marshals, U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others.

Mr. Davis continued, “We are extremely proud to serve the courageous officers and first responders at the Department of Homeland Security, and at large. Our entire team remains committed to advancing protective solutions, whether soft or hard armor, as the products we make, save lives. Our technology partners, including DSM and Teijin have been instrumental in advancing ballistic science and we commend them for their continued commitment to officer safety. As we move forward, we see significant opportunities to continue to drive innovation and further expand our offerings and reach. Providing end-users with peace-of-mind and bringing them home safe to their families remains our #1 priority.”

www.armorexpress.com

Mission Ready’s Protect The Force Announces Initial Shipment of Flex9Armor

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016

VANCOUVER, B.C. – November 23, 2016 – Mission Ready Services Inc. (“Mission Ready” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: MRS) is pleased to announce the initial order and shipment of its Flex9Armor™ Tactical Police Shirt to a US County Sheriff Department SWAT unit. Developed and fulfilled through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Protect The Force Inc. (“PTF”), additional Flex9Armor™ shipments are currently being prepared for a foreign military order while evaluations are underway by a number of European NATO nations.
Flex9Armor™ – jointly developed in cooperation with the U.S. Military – is comprised of a family of protective garments that provide stringent levels of ballistic protection while maintaining exceptionally lightweight and flexible characteristics.

Traditional Armor lacks coverage of the arms, chest and neck region of the body, and current additional protection for these areas adds weight and reduces mobility. Flex9Armor™ incorporates a network of NIJ Level II and IIIA body armor panels into a breathable anti-microbial material that is 30% lighter than conventional armor. Integrating all of these features into one combined garment makes Flex9Armor™ a superior option for first responders that is available in standard and fire retardant configurations. Additionally, PTF this week released a variant of the Flex9Armor™, the Flex9Spike™, designed for use by Federal, State and Local correctional facilities.

In a News Release dated October 27, 2016, Mission Ready announced that PTF had won an award through the US DoD’s Defense to Response (D2R) Technology Program for the provision of USD $110,000 in services from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s Product Development Center (TEEX PDC) to commercialize PTF’s Flex9Armor™ to enhance public safety and homeland security. Protect The Force is currently working with over 70 US federal, state and local law enforcement agencies at various stages of the evaluation and purchasing process. In anticipation of a significant demand for the Flex9Armor™, PTF has streamlined its processes through a state-of-the-art online order fulfillment platform and recently launched a manufacturing division based in Jacksboro, Tennessee in order to efficiently and effectively meet client requests.

More information on the PTF line of products – including the Flex9Armor™ – can be found at: protecttheforce.com

Mission Ready’s Protect The Force Develops the US Marines Next Generation Ballistic Base Layer

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016

VANCOUVER, B.C. – November 22, 2016 – Mission Ready Services Inc. (“Mission Ready” or the “Company”) (TSX-V : MRS) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Marines Next Generation Body Armor development project (the “Project”) for the United States Marine Corps (“USMC”). Following a contract award by the Marine Corps Systems Command (“MARSYSCOM”), the Project was completed on schedule and under budget.

Managed by Francisco Martinez, Chief Technical Officer of Protect The Force (“PTF”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, the two year Project was funded through the Department of the Navy (“DoN”) Office of Naval Research (“ONR”) Rapid Innovation Fund (“RIF”), the revolutionary combat shirt, the Ballistic Base Layer (“BBL”), is now being readied for field deployment in keeping with the RIF objective to accelerate fielding of innovative technologies into military systems.

Mr. Martinez states, “The Marines Next Generation Body Armor is a Marine-unique development that integrates a number of life saving features. The BBL is a First-of-a-Kind protective combat shirt, specifically tailored to the Marine Corps equipment requirements, that addresses deficiencies identified by injuries recorded through Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. PTF is honored to have been selected by ONR and MARCORSYSCOM to develop the Ballistic Base Layer.”

The BBL is a revolutionary armored shirt worn under the Marines Body Armor Vest that integrates modular deltoid, yoke and collar protection into an athletic flame resistant combat shirt. Newly developed breathable fragment protective knits were integrated into the sleeves and lower torso for additional protection against fragments resulting from Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonations.

The Marines Product Manager Clothing Infantry Equipment (“PdM ICE”) was the recipient of 100+ prototypes of the BBL and 6 additional prototypes with integrated micro climate cooling tubes.

Mr. Martinez further states, “The PM-ICE technical staff and all the contracting groups supporting the effort were a delight to work with and we are honored to have received their input and support. We look forward to working with the Marines PdM ICE as the requirements for the BBL are finalized and the item is fielded. Additionally, we wish to thank all of our employees, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers for their support in successfully developing the Marines Next Generation Ballistic Base Layer and look forward to continue working with them.”

www.missionready.ca

Safariland Adopts ULTRAcomp High Performance Laminate

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016

SAVANNAH, GA- November 16, 2016- Blue Force Gear®, announced today that it has reached an agreement with The Safariland Group to license Blue Force Gear’s ULTRAcomp® high-performance laminate as a part of Safariland’s ever growing opportunities to offer customers the best products in the industry, seen in Safariland Armor.


“The Safariland Group shares our passion for helping the good guys make it home safe,” said Ashley Burnsed, founder and CEO of Blue Force Gear. “We are extremely happy to work with them.”

Safariland Armor has begun incorporating ULTRAcomp® into its new line of V1 overt external carriers, which were introduced at the 2016 SHOT Show held in Las Vegas, NV. “ULTRAcomp is the best combination of strength, quality and comfort,” said Tim O’Brien, Category Director of Soft Armor. “It was an easy choice when Safariland was selecting the best material for our armor systems to pair it with ULTRAcomp.”

Blue Force Gear has attained the perfect blend of art and science to create a truly unique material – ULTRAcomp®. ULTRAcomp® combines the properties of a rubber-based laminate – resistance to tear, abrasion, water, bacteria and fungus – with a Cordura® fabric facing for color or pattern and reduced IR signature. This is a case where the sum is greater than its parts. The combined strength of the two materials becoming one allows Blue Force Gear to push the limits on weight savings while exceeding established standards of strength and durability.

Crye Precision – Extendable Structural Kinetic Support System

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016

Crye Precision’s Structural Kinetic Support System (StKSS)™ allows a wearer to selectively transfer some or all of the weight of their armor vest to their hips. Their new EXTENDABLE StKSS™ allows the user some adjustability in ride height fir the vest. Additionally, the wearer’s shoulders and spinal column to be completely isolated from the weight being carried. Instead, the weight is transferred directly to the pelvis (hip bone) and legs.

Compatible with CPC™, Low Profile Blast Belt™, and AVS™ Belt. (Use Chassis™ StKSS™ Adapter for compatibility with Chassis™ and High Back Blast Belt™.)

Made in the US from US materials and offered in Black or Tan.

cryeprecision.com/ProductDetail/blcx2800000_cpc-extendable-stkss

Med-Eng Holdings ULC to Acquire Pacific Safety Products Inc. for $0.21 Per Common Share in All-Cash Transaction

Friday, November 11th, 2016

ARNPRIOR, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Nov. 10, 2016) – Pacific Safety Products Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PSP) (“PSP” or the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into an arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with Med-Eng Holdings ULC (the “Buyer”), a Canadian wholly owned subsidiary of Safariland, LLC (“Safariland”), under which the Buyer will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of PSP for $0.21 per share in cash.

The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 23.5% to the closing price of PSP’s common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on November 9, 2016 and a premium of approximately 25.9% to PSP’s volume weighted average share price for the twenty trading days ending November 9, 2016.

The transaction, which will be completed by way of a plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement”) under the Canada Business Corporations Act, is expected to close in December 2016. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to customary closing conditions, including court approval, TSX Venture Exchange approval, as well as the approval of two-thirds of the votes cast on the Arrangement resolution by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy, voting as a single class (with each PSP shareholder being entitled to one vote for each common share held), at an annual and special meeting of shareholders of PSP (the “PSP Meeting”) scheduled to be held on Monday, December 19, 2016 to, among other things, consider and vote upon the Arrangement.

The Board of Directors of PSP, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, has determined that the Arrangement is fair to the shareholders of PSP and is in the best interest of PSP and accordingly has approved the Arrangement Agreement and the making of a recommendation that shareholders of PSP vote in favour of the Arrangement resolution at the PSP Meeting. Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., financial advisor to the Board of PSP, has provided an opinion to the Board of Directors, based upon and subject to certain assumptions, that the consideration being offered by the Buyer pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of PSP. A copy of Echelon’s opinion will be included in the management information circular to be prepared and mailed in connection with the PSP Meeting.

Shareholders, including the directors and officers of PSP, who in the aggregate beneficially own approximately 21.7% of the outstanding common shares of PSP, have agreed, pursuant to support agreements and subject to certain exceptions, to vote their shares in favour of the Arrangement at the PSP Meeting.

Under the Arrangement, Buyer will also acquire the common shares of PSP issued upon conversion of outstanding convertible debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $749,000, which are convertible at a price of $0.15 per common share. In addition, each stock option of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement will be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment equal to the amount by which the consideration per common share payable pursuant to the Arrangement exceeds the exercise price of such option. Total cash consideration of approximately $15.4 million will be paid for PSP’s common shares, convertible debentures and stock options.

The Arrangement Agreement includes covenants of PSP typical for a transaction of this nature, including with respect to non-solicitation, a right granted to Buyer to match any superior proposal for PSP and a provision entitling PSP to a “fiduciary-out”. In addition, PSP has agreed to pay a termination fee of $780,000 to Buyer upon the occurrence of certain events, including if PSP pursues a superior proposal, as well as an expense reimbursement fee upon a termination of the Arrangement Agreement in certain circumstances. The Arrangement Agreement is subject to customary termination rights, including termination at either party’s option if the Arrangement has not been completed by February 19, 2017.

In connection with the PSP Meeting, a management information circular of PSP providing details of the Arrangement as well as the rationale for the support of the Arrangement by PSP’s Board of Directors will be prepared and mailed to shareholders over the coming weeks. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement, the management information circular and the support agreements will be available on PSP’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. and ZED Financial Partners are acting as financial advisors to the Board of Directors of PSP. Wildeboer Dellelce LLP is acting as counsel to PSP. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as legal counsel to the Buyer.