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Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

1791 Gunleather Adds Crow Shooting Supply Press

Tuesday, December 10th, 2019

Miami, FL, U.S. –1791 Gunleather®, an innovative manufacturer of premium handcrafted leather and Kydex® gun holsters, increased dealer assistance with the addition of Crow Shooting Supply as a new wholesale partner. Crow Shooting Supply is a nationally-recognized distributor that provides small gun shops and retailers with firearms, ammunition, reloading equipment, and shooting accessories in order for their businesses to flourish and expand.

 

By joining Crow’s Shooting Supply’s members’ only website, shops and retailers can access Crow’s wide variety of products at wholesale pricing. “Crow Shooting Supply will stock our products and provide convenient user-friendly ordering with efficient delivery in order to help retailers achieve success,” 1791 Gunleather CEO, Ramiro M. Romani stated.

 

Retailers interested in obtaining 1791 Gunleather products through Crow Shooting Supply may call 1(800) 264-2493, or visit www.crowshootingsupply.com. For information about stocking 1791 Gunleather, contact 1791 Gunleather National Sales Director, Janette Palmer janette@1791gunleather.com. For more details about 1791 Gunleather visit www.1791gunleather.com

United States Patent & Trademark Office Upholds Validity of FirstSpear Patents

Thursday, December 5th, 2019

FirstSpear, LLC is pleased to announce that on November 22, 2019, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent & Trademark Office rejected Crye Precision, LLC’s petitions challenging the validity of FirstSpear’s U.S. Patents related to FirstSpear’s innovations in laser-cut and laser-fused personal protective equipment (PPE) and load bearing equipment (LBE). FirstSpear’s patented technology is already in use in products purchased by and widely used by US Special Operations, the US Army, the US Marine Corps, the Department of Justice, and many of our NATO allies. The decisions of the PTAB uphold the validity of FirstSpear’s patents and find that Crye’s petitions failed to establish any reasonable likelihood of unpatentability of any of the claims of the FirstSpear patents. The decisions dismiss both of Crye’s inter partes review (IPR) petitions and reject all of Crye’s arguments attacking FirstSpear’s patents. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,974,379 and 9,565,922).

Crye filed the petitions in June 2019, in an apparent attempt to gain leverage over FirstSpear in patent litigation pending in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis in which Crye claimed that some of FirstSpear’s products infringe their U.S. Patent 9,173,436. The recent decisions from the PTAB clearly demonstrate what the industry has understood for years: FirstSpear pioneered and perfected many game-changing products developed around laser cut / laser fused technology, including FirstSpear’s well-established 6/12 line of vest platforms; and FirstSpear’s technology was and is unique and was appropriately and properly granted U.S. patent protection.

“It is unfortunate that Crye has chosen to waste so much time and money threatening the industry, tying up the U.S. courts and patent office, and trying to take credit for the work of others,” said FirstSpear CEO & President Scott Carver. “However, we can now fully move forward assisting the U.S. government and our industry partners in the development and fielding of the next generation of improved lightweight individual equipment to the warfighters and first responders who need it.”

FirstSpear is grateful for the PTAB’s decision upholding the validity of its patents.

www.first-spear.com

www.first-spear.tech

The McRae Industries Story – Part 3, War In The Desert

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

> When war broke out in the Persian Gulf, McRae Footwear shored up its workforce to deliver a new product. The desert boot was designed to stand up to the arid climate and sandy terrain of the Middle East.

Keeping out the heat

BY JULY 1990, times were tough for McRae Industries. The Cold War was over, military spending was down, and Defense Department demand for combat boots had ground to a halt. To weather the financial storm, company founder and CEO Branson McRae laid off nearly half of the company’s 287-person workforce and began to pursue other lines of business. It was the first furlough since McRae Footwear began making military boots in 1967.

“Many in our workforce had been with us for more than two decades,” says Victor Karam, who at that time headed up McRae’s footwear division. “Sending them home was heartbreaking.”

“No one wanted to see the U.S. in another war. But we took great pride in knowing these boots would make life better for our troops.”

— Victor Karam, Director, McRae Industries

Responding to the surge

Just a month later, war broke out in the Persian Gulf.  In response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the U.S. joined 38 other countries in an allied coalition, and laid-off McRae Footwear employees returned to work. Their orders? To produce a new desert combat boot for American troops.

“The government called us up to Philly on a Saturday morning, ” Victor remembers. “We were given a contract to produce 250,000 pairs of boots. Desert Storm came so quickly that our country wasn’t prepared to supply boots suited for the desert sand.”

Desert combat: The Persian Gulf War called for new tactics-and new boots.

As troops were scuttled to the Gulf, McRae Footwear operated at peak capacity, churning out 200 cases of boots a day, 12 pairs a case, until the war ended in February 1991. To meet the demand, McRae Footwear also subcontracted with three other manufacturers and relied on its recently purchased western boot factory to help fill the government’s order.

Following Stormin’ Norman’s specs

The war required ground forces to operate in desert conditions – an environment not encountered by U.S. troops since the North African campaign of World War II. McRae Footwear was one of four companies the government selected to manufacture the new boot, again using vulcanization to attach the outsole to the upper and create a bond of invincible strength.

General Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. commander in the Persian Gulf region, served as a key advisor in developing boot specs. He found that the black, leather, and canvas boot originally crafted for the Vietnam War was not suited to desert conditions. For example, drainage vents designed to keep out jungle moisture were letting sand in, and steel plates in the soles that protected against booby traps were retaining heat.

Along with removal of the vents and steel plates, Schwarzkopf’s specifications for the desert combat boot were many: tan fabric, padded collar, leather ankle reinforcement,10 speed-lace eyelets for easy tying and untying, and a Panama-sole tread pattern on the bottom of the boot, designed to easily shed debris. Boots were also insulated to provide extra protection from ground temperatures that could reach as high as 130 degrees.

Strict specifications: General Schwarzkopf set a high bar for designing the new desert combat boot.

After the war, the government continued to procure desert combat boots from McRae Footwear for ongoing operations in the Persian Gulf, as well as for use in other hot-weather regions. The original boot formed the basis for the hot-weather Army and Marine Corps combat boots of the 2000s. Today, the boot is produced using a rubber Vibram Sierra outsole, providing exceptional shock absorption and durability.

Mutual appreciation: Branson McRae meets President George H.W. Bush, who led the nation through the Persian Gulf War.

mcraefootwear.com

SIG SAUER Forms Defense Product Management Team

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

Through continuous product innovation, and significant investment in research and development SIG SAUER continues to expanded its reach into the military, law enforcement, and defense markets both domestically and abroad.

Recently SIG SAUER formed a dedicated Defense Product Management Team, exclusive to expanding the reach of SIG SAUER within the military, law enforcement, and global defense markets. Made up of existing SIG employees, this new group is headed by Robby Johnson, Vice President, Product Management – Defense.


It’s official, Robby Johnson is a VP.

This team’s focus is exclusively on the advancement of SIG SAUER defense products across all product categories under the SIG SAUER umbrella, with a heightened focus on the Next Generation Squad Weapons and machine gun programs.


Most of the team members are in this photo taken with me during a recent visit to SIG Academy.

SIG SAUER has always been dedicated to the growth and development of defense products which has resulted in the award of several high profile contracts and awards including the US Army MHS Program with the M17 and M18 handguns, the SDMR optic with the TANGO6T optic, and the 716 rifle contract with India.


A peak inside SIG CEO Ron Cohen’s office with me holding his new favorite gun, the 338 Norma Mag machine gun.

The attitude around SIG is a little different than what I’ve seen in past years. For instance, during a recent visit to the company’s New Hampshire Headquarters, CEO Ron Cohen referred to SIG as a defense company. He caveated the statement by pointing out that they didn’t just specialize in military or LE equipment, but that they also concentrated on personal defense. But the point was made; SIG SAUER keeps winning contracts, and rightly so. They not only offer pistols, rifles, and now machine guns, but they also manufacture suppressors, optics and ammunition. No other small arms producer in the US has that much capability and can compete in so many areas.


Indian Army Rifle test ammo manufactured by SIG.

SIG’s Government Product Management Team leverages other parts of the company to make these wins happen. For instance, when they were competing for the Indian Army Rifle Contract, the team turned to SIG Ammo to manufacture cartridges to the same spec used by the customer. That cut out the delay of trying to obtain contract ammo. When SIG’s guns showed up at the trial, they knew the rifles would function. Such interactions occur on a daily basis. During my visit, they were building machine guns for an upcoming evaluation.

I expect to see a lot more from this team as they concentrate on NSGW and the 338 NM machine gun.

Former Parent Company of Revision Military Announces Name Change To Galvion

Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (November 26, 2019) – Following the recent announcement of the sale of its protective eyewear business to ASGARD Partners & Co., the remaining Armor, Soldier Power and Electronics, Vehicle Platform Power and Advanced Concept divisions of Revision Military will move forward under the new corporate name GALVION.

“Eyewear was the foundation on which the company was built and early on, the Revision name became synonymous with our world-class military eye protection. Today, the company’s portfolio has grown to encompass a much wider range of active and integrated systems, and strategically, it made sense for the Revision name to stay with the legacy eyewear business,” said CEO, Jonathan Blanshay. “As Galvion, we move forward with a sharpened focus, and a mission to provide solutions that enhance the overall agility and survivability of the modern military and tactical operator. We exist to empower them to meet both the immediate and future challenges they may face,” added Blanshay.

Galvion will continue to design and manufacture protective head and torso products, develop customized power supply and management solutions for both soldier and vehicle, and invest in the development of advanced concept, integrated systems based on human-centered innovation and deep end-user insights. “Our focus is on active, performance-enhancing equipment – making the soldier faster, lighter and more connected than ever before. For Galvion, it will always be about providing the absolute best solutions for operators, with the ultimate goal for protective gear to be the last line of defense, rather than the first,” said Blanshay.

“As a company, our strength has always been the caliber, passion and ingenuity of our people, and as a team, we are incredibly excited to build the Galvion name and brand while continuing to honor our history as a company,” continued Blanshay. Customers, vendors and partners should expect the same dedicated design, engineering, sales and support team at Galvion, along with an energized commitment to exceed expectation and imagination. Additional information regarding name change and conducting business with the new corporate entity will be shared with partners as available.

www.galvion.com

Helikon-Tex, One of the biggest Manufacturers of Tactical Equipment in Europe is Introducing Its Brand Ambassadors

Friday, November 22nd, 2019

Helikon-tex was founded on a passion for nature and outdoor activities. Over 35 years of experience gave the company a solid ground to become one of the industry leaders in delivering modern clothes and gear for all types of adrenaline junkies. Today, this company from Poland is introducing its brand ambassadors. 

Helikon-tex has asked eight experts from the shooting, sports, military and bushcraft and survival to join their Ambassador program. In the first step of the campaign, two of them were revealed. Naval, polish elite special forces unit GROM operator and Dave Canterbury, one of the best and well-know experts in survival and bushcraft in the world. 

Who are the other Helikon-Tex ambassadors? They are professionals in their fields that have many years of experience and are a huge source of inspiration for the enthusiasts of outdoor and shooting sports. They constantly develop their skill sets. Every one of them will gladly assist you in any matters if you meet them in person and during any type of training. 

From the beginning of November, every two weeks, Helikon-tex will present another pair of their Ambassadors on an especially design page – ambassadors.helikon-tex.com/en

For the needs of the campaign, there was a movie produced and a special photoshoot. In those movies, participants of the Ambassador Program will tell you about their #journeytoperfection. Both the photos and the movies were made at spectacular locations in the USA, Sweden, and Poland. 

Helikon-tex products include a line of modern uniforms, accessories for any type of shooting activity, backpacks, outdoor equipment and a line of urban tactical clothes. The Polish-based company currently has a global reach. It does that by a well establishes a network of distributors in 70 countries in the world and two of their online store, the EU store www.helikon-tex.com and the newly open US store www.helikon-tex.us This is one of the reasons why next to the Polish Ambassadors they are also people from other countries like David Canterbury, a survival and bushcraft expert from the USA. 

Ambassadors Campaign will be conducted using both online and offline communication with a huge push on Social Media platforms. Also, meetings during trade shows like ShotShow 2020 and IWA OutdoorClassics are planned. Furthermore, you can expect more special events including Ambassadors and fans of the brand in Poland and abroad. 

Pictures of ambassadors that can be downloaded from the disc:

cutt.ly/Helikon-Tex-Ambassadors-foto

NFI Corp Celebrates 1,000 Days of Safety – New Record in Manufacturer’s History

Thursday, November 21st, 2019

NEW BEDFORD, MA, ISSUED NOVEMBER 19, 2019…NFI Corp. (www.nficorp.com), the global leader in high performing printed graphic solutions, recently celebrated reaching the 1,000 days of safety mark with a celebration, held at the company on Friday, November 15.


Photo: The NFI Corp. Team

Renaud Megard, president and CEO of NFI Corp., talked about how the company reached this milestone by putting policies in place that stress the importance of safety in every action employees take, and in reminding them to “Think first, then do.”  New standard equipment, including safety glasses and gloves, were provided for everyone, and an employee Safety Commission was formed, to ensure continued communication regarding safety.  Mark Smith, NFI Corp.’s site manager, and Fred Branquinho, plant engineer, spearheaded many of the safety initiatives. 

 

The official 1,000-day-milestone was achieved on November 12, 2019, dating back almost three years since the last safety incident.  Throughout this time, the company has also achieved a great deal of growth.  Just this past summer, NFI Corp. was named to the Inc. 5000 list (#2,442), one of Boston Business Journal’s “Fast 50” (#23), and the fastest-growing company in the $5 million to $25 million category by Providence Business News. 

 

During the celebration, Megard shared stories of employees recounting how their emphasis on safety in the workplace has spilled over to paying more attention to safety at home, especially when working on improvement projects or general home maintenance.  He accepted a citation from New Bedford City Councilors Linda Morad and Brad Markey, who congratulated the employees of NFI Corp. on their accomplishment, as well as one from State Representative Antonio Cabral.  Additionally, members of the New Bedford Police Department were on hand to learn more about the current safety policies in place and make additional safety recommendations.

 

“I am so proud of the NFI team for this accomplishment,” said Megard.  “We couldn’t have done it without everyone committing themselves to this effort.  Each person’s individual actions have kept all of us safe, and we are grateful that the idea of safety is one that all of our employees have embraced.  We look forward to continuing to celebrate more safety milestones over the days and years ahead!”

 

 

About NFI Corp. – Nameplates For Industry

Nameplates For Industry, or NFI Corp., was started in 1975 in England, and eventually established a business base in New Bedford, Mass. (which separated from the England location by 1988).  The business, which specializes in printing on plastic, started as a screen-printing manufacturer, and has since added digital printing and flexographic printing to its services as a producer of custom, high-performing graphic solutions, which include long-lasting barcode labels, serial number labels, domed labels, asset tags, tamper-proof labels, metal nameplates, and electrical membrane switches.

 

NFI Corp. serves the medical, industrial manufacturing, government/military, professional services, technology and communications, transportation and equipment, and distribution industries, and has clients throughout the United States and globally.  NFI Corp. is committed to standards of sustainability and incorporates eco-conscious guidelines and processes whenever possible.  NFI Corp. is located at 213 Theodore Rice Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02745.  For more information about NFI Corp., please visit www.nficorp.com, or call 800-999-8900.

She Finally Said “Yes!”

Tuesday, November 19th, 2019

Drew B got on his knee in a bar in Paris and finally popped the question.

Surrounded by her friends, Angie said “Yes!”