TYR Tactical

Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

MMI Textiles Announces Strategic Expansion of its Leadership Team with One New Executive Hire and Four Promotions

Tuesday, January 5th, 2021

WESTLAKE, OH – January 4, 2021 – MMI Textiles Inc., a global diversified supplier of industrial and custom fabrics and textile components with military, tactical, medical, commercial and apparel expertise, has announced one new executive hire, Kathleen Stevens as Chief Financial Officer and four promotions, including Debbie Grant to Chief of Staff, Nick Rivera to Chief Operating Officer, Geoffrey Senko to Director of Business Development and Joshua Slack to Supply Chain Manager.

MMI Textiles is at the forefront of customer service and innovation in the textile supply industry, and these new executive moves will help support the company through its next phase of growth as a leading global supplier of advanced materials.

“These executive moves – the new hire and the promotions – are a strategic part of our vision and growth plan,” says Amy Bircher Bruyn, Founder and CEO of MMI Textiles.  “We are ending 2020 with a record year in sales, and are reinvesting back into our industry with people, product development and new facilities. On the heels of adding manufacturing in North Carolina during the 4th quarter of 2020, we are finalizing plans for further growth and expansion in 2021 to increase our distribution needs and meet that evolving needs of the marketplace.”

Prior to joining MMI Textiles as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Kathleen Stevens served as the CFO of Standby Screw Machine Products, as well as the CFO of Ohio Association of Polygraph Examiners. She brings more than 35 years of financial, treasury and accounting experience to the position, and an exemplary record for building teams and growing multi-million dollar global companies. Stevens is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace University.

Nick Rivera, MMI Textiles’ longest tenured employee, brings nearly 15 years of experience in customer service, production and operations to his new position as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Under Rivera’s guidance as Director of Operations since 2014, MMI has experienced consistent, double digit growth and expansion across multiple markets. In his new role as COO, he will continue to be responsible for contributing to the company’s growth and expansion through oversight of day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the company. Rivera is a graduate of Cleveland State University.

Debbie Grant, as Chief of Staff (CoS), will build on her 11-year tenure with MMI Textiles, where she oversees marketing, customer service, human resources, office systems/IT, professional certifications, and works on strategic projects. She brings more than 30 years of corporate experience to the position, including roles with JCPenney, American Greetings and Cole Managed Vision. She will report directly to the CEO and will focus on helping set policies and making time, information and decision processes more efficient and effective. Grant is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Geoffrey Senko has been with MMI for over 10 years as a Sales Representative and successive positions as Regional Sales Manager and National Accounts Manager. In his new position as Director of Business Development, Senko will develop and implement plans designed to build customer relationships and capture new opportunities on a global scale. Senko is a soon to be graduate of Cleveland State University.

As the new Supply Chain Manager, Joshua Slack will build on his five years’ experience with MMI in customer service and production. In his new position, he will oversee and manage the company’s logistics strategy and operations with a focus on process efficiency and productivity. He will also be responsible for continuing to develop and maintain vendor and distributor relationships. Slack is a graduate of Lorain County Community College.

www.mmitextiles.com

OSS Suppressors Announces New Board Member

Monday, January 4th, 2021

DALLAS TX— 1/4/21 OSS Suppressors LLC (OSS) announced the appointment of a new member to its Board of Managers, Richard (Rick) Elder, President of Beyond Clothing. “I am pleased to welcome Rick to the Board of Managers. His experience growing successful performance brands and sales, especially with military procurement, will be a valuable addition to our team as we continue to expand our patented and proven Flow-Through® technology and business with key programs and contracts” said Board Chairman Scott Walker.

In his position as President of Beyond Clothing, Rick led the vision, structure and development of the company and its advanced fabrication technology and gear – used by professionals and enthusiasts to perform and survive in some of the most extreme climatic conditions. Prior to joining Beyond Clothing, Rick was Executive Director of Smith Sport Optics’ Elite military products, Asst. Program Manager for USSOCOM SOF Personnel Equipment Advanced Requirement, and Captain, 1/75 Ranger Regiment, USSOCOM.

“I am excited to assist the team at OSS Suppressors in bringing their Flow-Through technology to a broader audience. I have believed in Flow-Through from its inception, and with its unique ability to dramatically decrease toxic gas blowback, strongly feel it is the only responsibly safe suppressor solution for professionals and enthusiasts alike” said Rick Elder.

osssuppressors.com

INVISIO Acquires Racal Acoustics, a World-Leading UK-based Supplier of Communication and Hearing Protection Solutions

Thursday, December 31st, 2020

INVISIO has signed an agreement to acquire all the shares in Racal Acoustics, a UK-based supplier of communication and hearing protection systems for high noise environments, with annual sales of approximately SEK 130 million.

Racal Acoustics Ltd, a subsidiary of TransDigm Group Inc. prior to INVISIO’s acquisition, is a world-leading brand with a history of more than 100 years in the design, develop­ment and manufacture of communication and hearing protection systems, focused on audio ancillary equipment for the military, first responder and aviation sectors. The London-based business has 55 highly skilled employees and a global footprint.

The acquisition is aligned with INVISIO’s growth strategy and the ambition to further strengthen its global market-leading position within communication and hearing protection systems. 

The acquisition means that INVISIO will broaden its offer with a complementary new product category, consisting of advanced and rugged hearing protection and communications headsets for environments with constant high noise, often found in larger military vehicles and around aircraft.

The acquisition will provide INVISIO with access to customers and prospects in the attractive market niche for communication and hearing protection in vehicles, which is a highly relevant area for the new INVISIO Intercom System.

The purchase price to be paid by INVISIO is approximately SEK 170 million and is expected to be cash and debt-financed. Racal Acoustics has recently completed a successful restructuring. The acquisition is expected to contribute to INVISIO’s revenue for 2021 with more than SEK 130 million and with a positive result. No material integration costs are anticipated.

Under the terms of the acquisition, INVISIO will also acquire Racal Acoustics Inc, a US based sales company through which Racal Acoustics markets and sells its products to the US market. The acquisition, which is expected to close during the first quarter of 2021, is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

“We are very excited to welcome Racal Acoustics into the INVISIO-family. The deal is a perfect fit as the two companies are largely complementary. Over many years Racal Acoustics has built a strong position for communication and hearing protection in high noise environments such as military vehicles, while INVISIO has built a strong position for users in the field. Our combined product offerings and market footprints will strengthen our world leading position as the communication and hearing protection expert for users within military, first responder and aviation markets, whether in the field or in a vehicle,” says Lars Højgård Hansen, CEO of INVISIO.

“Joining INVISIO is the perfect next step to fully explore the potential in Racal Acoustics. As the companies to a large extent share the same business-DNA but target different market segments and sales channels, we have all the elements for a strong growth story and future together,” says James Ewing, Managing Director at Racal Acoustics.

Riton Optics Announces Eric Hickman as Brand Manager

Tuesday, December 29th, 2020

Tucson, AZ (29 December 2020)- Riton Optics is pleased to announce Eric Hickman as the new Brand Manager for Riton Optics. Within this position, Hickman is focusing on marketing programs, such as the ProStaff, brand ambassador and influencer programs, as well as the industry relations.

Hickman commented, “I am truly blessed to have this opportunity to work in an industry that I am really passionate about. To be able to do so with Riton Optics is just icing on the cake. The commitment to customer service and delivery of a quality product that is value driven was immediately evident. Furthermore, to do so right in my hometown of Tucson is a perfect fit for me!”

Hickman came to Riton Optics with 21 years of law enforcement experience having just retired as a Sergeant from the Tucson Police Department. In that time, he served in a variety of assignments to include S.W.A.T. and grenadier with Mobile Field Force bringing skills that translate into the optics industry. He also grew up hunting and shooting with his father from a very young age. He is a Tucson native and received a degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Arizona.

According to Calley Carpenter, Director of Marketing for Riton Optics, “Beyond Eric’s passion and experience with shooting and optics, he has a great ability to connect with people and effectively manage relationships.”  

With the addition of staff and a recent expansion, Riton Optics is continuing to push the market. 

www.ritonoptics.com

Petzl Launches Technical Partner Program and PTI Website

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

Petzl is excited to announce the launch of our Petzl Technical Partner Program and all-new Petzl Solutions Website.

The Petzl Technical Institute, located at our North American headquarters in Salt Lake City, serves as a center for knowledge, discussion, and creating solutions for those who work or play in the vertical world. Our goal is to share our technical expertise to help you reduce the risks involved with moving efficiently at height. For up to date course offerings, click here, or email info@petzlsolutions.com.

Petzl Technical Partners (PTPs) are recognized companies or individuals that provide exceptional, specialized training in vertical environments. You may locate a PTP near you and learn about how Petzl solutions are integrated into their systems and curricula on our website below. For more specific inquiries, contact our PTP Program Manager at ptp@petzl.com.

True Velocity Welcomes Donnie Vincent as Brand Ambassador

Monday, December 21st, 2020

Renowned outdoor sportsman partners with composite ammunition manufacturer

GARLAND, TX (December 21, 2020) – Acclaimed explorer, biologist, conservationist, filmmaker, and sportsman Donnie Vincent has partnered with Texas-based composite-cased ammunition manufacturer True Velocity to help spread the word about the company’s groundbreaking technology and demonstrate how manufacturing and design innovations are shaking up the ammo industry.

“I’m very particular with the gear that I use, and the brands with which I choose to align myself. First and foremost, the brands need to be backed by great people. Not only that, I need to know that their products work, and I need to be sure that they’re the best of the best for me, so that others can trust my recommendation,“ Vincent said. “The benefit of True Velocity’s ammunition is undeniable and has consistently helped me shoot with far more confidence over the last few months. The reduced weight and improved accuracy that come from their proprietary ammunition case design is simply better than brass in every single category. It’s not often that ‘lighter’ and ‘more dependable’ share the same sentence when you’re talking gear, but I’ve found that to be true with this new technology. Any hunter or shooter will benefit greatly from this technology.”

Vincent and his multimedia production company SICMANTA have been working closely with True Velocity over the last year to help bring their story to life.

“Having spent a large part of the last year working closely with True Velocity’s technology and ammunition, we are, in essence, watching history being made before our eyes,” Vincent said. “This is going to change the world of the hunter and the world of the warfighter as we know it today. True Velocity exemplifies best of the best and is, without a doubt, the future.”  

No stranger to larger-than-life exploits in some of the most remote areas of the word, Vincent has established himself as a premier storyteller and advocate for the great outdoors. Through his work as a biologist, he has tracked Bengal Tigers in Nepal and Bangladesh, and has observed the migration of Pacific Salmon in Alaska. In an effort to instill a sense of adventure in more people, Vincent has filmed multiple hunting expeditions that grant an inside look at how true sportsmen engage and experience the wild. His recent full-length documentary, Winds of Adak, was released in August 2020 and can be streamed on YouTube. The film documents Vincent’s expedition to Adak Island, Alaska, where he surveyed the ruins on the island and hunted caribou, ptarmigan and sea ducks.

Vincent recently completed moose and bear hunts in Alaska equipped with a proprietary True Velocity 6.8mm round, as well as a rifle retrofitted with a barrel swap to fire the innovative new ammunition. These adventures are set to be featured in his upcoming documentary and film work.

True Velocity’s 6.8mm civilian round, which will be released to commercial shooters and hunters later this year, is similar in construct to composite-cased ammunition produced by True Velocity and currently being evaluated in the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. NGSW aims to transform the combat equipment used by American forces for decades to come.

“Donnie perfectly exemplifies the type of individual we expect to get the most out of our ammunition,” said True Velocity’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Pat Hogan. “He’s experienced, dedicated to excellence, and has an eye for detail that most shooters aspire to. Even more important for Donnie, we recognized a shared passion with him for taking the path less traveled, as long as it is in the pursuit of perfection. We’re thrilled to have him represent the True Velocity brand.”    

To learn more about True Velocity and Donnie Vincent, follow @donnie_vincent on Instagram and visit TVAmmo.com.

Constellis Company Triple Canopy Wins Position on $15 Billion State Department WPS III IDIQ Contract

Monday, December 21st, 2020

The U.S. Department of State has awarded Constellis company Triple Canopy a position on their Worldwide Protective Services III (WPS III) IDIQ contract beginning February 2021.

Herndon, VA. (December 17, 2020) — Constellis, a leading provider of essential risk management and mission support services to government and commercial clients worldwide, announced today that the Department of State (DOS) awarded the company a 10-year, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) WPS III contract, with a $15 billion IDIQ ordering ceiling, scheduled to start in February 2021.

Under this multiple-award contract, Constellis will provide armed personal protective, static guard, and team-based emergency response security services for the DOS worldwide, focusing primarily on DOS requirements in high-threat overseas locations.

As the premier global provider of high-end security solutions, Constellis company Triple Canopy has been supporting the State Department for over 15 years.

“We are truly honored to be selected by the Department of State to help secure their vital missions overseas for the next decade,” said Tim Reardon, CEO of Constellis. “The State Department performs critically important work in high-threat regions, and we’re extraordinarily proud to be a part of their trusted team.”

www.constellis.com

SB Tactical: Proposed ATF Regulations Nothing More Than Registration Scheme

Thursday, December 17th, 2020

Bradenton, Fla. (December 17, 2020) – SB Tactical® learned on December 16 of the ATF’s plan to publish their proposed ‘Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with Stabilizing Braces’ guidance on www.federalregister.gov/d/2020-27857, which will be open for comment on Friday, December 18, 2020 until January 1, 2021.

Our hope was that ATF would finally take transparent action to provide clear criteria for brace equipped pistols, that would give manufacturers and consumers a way to see if products met ATF’s shifting expectations. Instead, the document is a thinly veiled blueprint for the largest firearm registration–and ultimately potentially confiscation– scheme in U.S. history.

The factors identified by the ATF for its possible use in classification include type, caliber, weight and length, how the gun is marketed, length of pull, sights and scopes, peripheral accessories mounted, and rear surface area of the brace, among others. While the factors listed are arbitrary and open-ended, the truly onerous part of the proposal is that no definitions of the factors are provided.

The grotesque inadequacies of this document render this “guidance” worse than meaningless. By stating that “no single factor or combination of factors is necessarily dispositive,” the regulated public is left guessing. Which calibers are ok? What is the weight or length of pull limit? What accessories can be mounted on a pistol? By failing to define the criteria, the ATF is codifying its holistic “we’ll know it when we see it” approach to determinations that create confusion and serve as little more than a power grab. It does nothing other than create uncertainty and confirm that ATF does not want to be held accountable. It claims limitless power to assess products under a “holistic” approach that gives the agency maximum discretion and Americans minimum protection.

This proposed guidance says that it does not have the effect and force of law . . . yet. SB Tactical®, in conjunction with the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Inc., (FRAC), and the National Rifle Association, will continue to work tirelessly with congressional leadership, the White House, and the Department of Justice to ensure that legal gun owners’ rights and the rights of manufacturers are not in jeopardy. We believe that the White House is considering weighing in on this issue, but they will not do so unless we make our voices heard. The time is now to come together as a community of gun owners, retailers, and manufacturers to demand that President Trump preserve our Second Amendment rights.

This is our last chance to get this administration to intervene. We strongly urge you to contact the White House to demand they take swift action to stop and reverse ATF’s efforts to issue arbitrary and capricious decisions affecting millions of legal gun owners.

One-Click Link to Contact the White House, DOJ, and your Congressional representatives:

o www.fracaction.org/contact-officials

White House Comment Line:

o (202) 456-1111 / Email

Donate to FRAC, the organization that is standing up against the ATF’s arbitrary and capricious determinations:

o secure.fracaction.org/donate

Additionally, once the guidance formally posts to the Federal Register on Friday, December 18, we encourage you to submit commentary to the ATF and express your frustration and confusion. This is important to ensure a full record before the agency and any later court that reviews this issue. But, because the ATF seems to want to limit participation in this proceeding, it has created complicated rules and deadlines. To submit comments in the DOJ proceeding you will need to follow the instructions below. Comments that do not follow the below instructions, will not be considered.

DUE DATE: Written comments must be postmarked by, and electronic comments must be submitted on or before January 1, 2021 by midnight Eastern time.

INSTRUCTIONS: All submissions received must include the agency name (ATF) and docket number (ATP 2020R-10). All properly completed comments received will be posted without change to the Federal eRulemaking portal, www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Comments must have a full name, mailing address, and signature.

Commenters who do not want their name or other personal identifying information posted on the Internet should submit comments by mail or facsimile, along with a separate cover sheet containing their personal identifying information. Both the cover sheet and comment must reference this docket number (ATP 2020R-10).

Comments that contain excessive profanity will not be considered or responded to.

SUBMISSIONS: Starting December 18, you may submit comments in one of three ways:

1. Online-Federal eRulemaking Portal: ATF recommends that you submit your comments to ATF via the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.federalregister.gov/d/2020-27857 and follow the instructions. Please keep the comment tracking number that is provided after you have successfully uploaded your comment.

2. Mail:

Written comments must:

a. Appear in minimum 12-point font size (.17inches)

b. Include the commenter’s first and last name and full mailing address

c. Be signed

Send written comments to the following address:

Office of Regulatory Affairs, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

ATTN: ATF 2020R-J0

Mail Stop 6N- 518

99 New York Ave. NE

Washington, DC 20226

3. Facsimile:

Faxed comments must:

a. Be legible and appear in minimum 12-point font size (.17 inches) b. Be on 81?2″x11″paper

c. Include the commenter’s first and last name and full mailing address

d. Be signed

e. Be no more than five pages long