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Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

Halo International Limited Agrees on the Purchase of Shares of tactical Equipment Provider, Helix Operations Limited

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

Halo International Limited is set to acquire shares of tactical equipment provider, Helix Operations Limited, through an agreement with Excalibur Ltd, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing its product portfolio and market presence.

Halo, owner of Brigantes Consulting Ltd, has recently confirmed an agreement for the acquisition of shares of Helix. 

Halo is the parent company of on-the-soldier equipment provider, Brigantes Consulting Ltd. Combining decades of military experience with keen technical expertise and advanced industry awareness, Brigantes are the go-to specialist for on-the-soldier equipment. With a product range that spans apparel, footwear, vertical movement, signature management, technology, mobility, and sustainment. Founded in 2014 by ex-military personnel, Brigantes unites decades of military experience with advanced technical expertise, cementing itself as a trusted international supplier to NATO military, government, and elite police units. Through unique alliances with world-leading brands, Brigantes pioneers the latest, bleeding-edge equipment solutions in state-of-the-art soldier systems for every conceivable operational environment.

Tactical equipment and training provider, Helix is a Wales-based company that specialises in the provision of tactical mountaineering and climbing equipment. Helix provides the complete capability for vertical access and rescue in mountain, maritime and urban environments. With headquarters in the north Welsh mountains, Helix has over 30 years of experience in the supply of tactical climbing solutions. Their customer base includes the UK MOD and several NATO forces. In addition to the provision of expert equipment, Helix also provides externally accredited training programmes that incorporate best practices from industry and operational environments. Helix cooperates closely with teams to develop bespoke systems that are fit for purpose for tactical use – deploying quickly and discreetly and can work with incumbent military equipment.

Having worked together for several years, Brigantes and Helix are closely aligned in terms of product focus and customer base. This latest development represents a natural continuation of the longstanding partnership and a significant opportunity for expansion into global markets. Brigantes’ first-hand experience of military operations and on-the-soldier equipment solutions unite seamlessly with Helix’s acute understanding of tactical mobility systems, particularly in the context of vertical movement, rescue and mountaineering equipment. 

Matt Williams, Halo International CEO, commented:

“Brigantes has worked very closely with Helix for many years on the provision of tactical equipment solutions and training for mountaineering and vertical access. Their expertise in this realm is unparalleled and so this agreement made complete sense and will enable us to move up a gear, enhancing our existing specialisms with even more bespoke knowledge and expanding our offering to worldwide markets.”

This acquisition represents a continuation of Halo’s strategic vision. By leveraging the international potential and unique tactical equipment and training expertise supplied by Helix, Halo will drive innovation and value for Brigantes’ military customers, further solidifying its position as an industry leader in the provision of on-the-soldier equipment. 

The combined strengths of the Halo Group and Helix will result in a stronger, more diversified market presence, delivering exceptional procurement knowledge, robust testing capabilities and quality training opportunities for their customer base. This acquisition sparks huge potential for further growth and development for both entities, uniting specialised expertise and industry experience across adjacent sectors to deliver an enhanced offering for military customers across the globe. 

Wyndham Weaponry to Close

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

Visitors to the Wyndham Weaponry site are met with this message:

It is with deep regret that we announce the closing of Windham Weaponry. Our website/online retail ordering system will remain active through Tuesday night, Sept 12. We will do our best to ship all orders this week and early next week. No credit card will be charged until the order is shipped.

Twelve years ago, when we started Windham Weaponry, our shareholders and longtime employees were excited to continue the traditions and spirit of Bushmaster Firearms, after the new owners decided to leave Maine.

We built WW into a company we could be proud of providing outstanding customer service, high quality products, as well as a great place for our dedicated employees to work.

The last few years have been a very challenging time for the firearms industry, and we have struggled to keep the WW dream alive for as long as possible. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet our loan obligations with the bank after they worked with us as much as they could.

There was a glimmer of hope when we were negotiating with an investor to help keep WW alive and healthy, but that just fell through.

We have begun discussions with Keenan Auction Company to determine the best course of action for a full liquidation which should happen within the next month or so.

Our shareholders and employees truly appreciate your loyal support all of these years.

The company was created in 2012 using the old Bushmaster factory in Wyndham, Maine. Bushmaster was sold to Freedom Group (Cerberus Capital Management) in 2006 and had closed the plant a few years later. Bushmaster Firearms Industries, Inc is currently in business, headquartered in Carson City, Nevada.

MATBOCK and Wankel SuperTec Announce Partnership

Friday, September 8th, 2023

Virginia Beach, Va (05 September 2023) MATBOCK, LLC of Virginia Beach, VA and Wankel SuperTec of Germany are excited to announce a partnership in developing a new state of the art genset through one of MATBOCK’s subsidiaries Kratos Power Systems, LLC. Kratos was formed in 2023 to address the technological gap in commercially available power systems. The Kratos T-REX™ Tactical Range Extender™ can produce over 40kWs of energy.

Over the past year, MATBOCK has been fully engaged in expanding their organic engineering and research and development teams, located in Virginia Beach, VA. This comes as their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Hybrid Electric Vehicle (JLTV HEV) contract is set to deliver in late 2023. Kratos’ generators will be tested and deployed in austere locations where power demands are high.

“The Wankel engines are proven to minimize weight, fuel consumption, noise, and exhaust emissions while producing a tremendous amount of power,” stated Zach Steinbock, MATBOCK’s President.

The T-REX™ line will be available in both on board range extender and stand-alone power generation configurations.  Kratos will begin accepting pre-orders later this year and start small scale production by the end of Q1 2024.  Kratos is also developing other novel power management systems to support the needs of the modern warfighter.

This video demonstrates the T-REX™ on a test bench in May 2023.

No RCCTO objection to release. This determination does not imply Army endorsement nor constitute assumption of liability for the contents of the release.

DARC Selects L9 Mfg. as the Official Tactical Rifle of DARC

Thursday, September 7th, 2023

L9 Manufacturing (L9 Mfg.) and Direct Action Resource Center (DARC) are Pleased to Announce an Unmatched Brand Partnership for the Training and Firearms Industry. DARC has Selected L9 Mfg. as the Official Tactical Rifle of DARC.

L9 Mfg., aims to be the trusted choice for the professional end-user and the community they serve, by producing safe, reliable and superior rifles tailored to meet their operational needs. Since 2014, L9 Mfg., the parent company of SOLGW, have been dedicated to providing high-quality, American-made M4 and MK10 firearm platforms and accessories that have proven craftsmanship and performance. As a leader in the firearms industry, L9 Mfg. instills confidence and trust in their clients through innovative design, extensive data collection, rigorous product testing and accuracy. L9 Mfg. stands with the professional end-user by offering a lifetime warranty and a service promise to support and replace, any issued firearm platform that has been used in the line of duty.

DARC was founded in 1996 as a private research lab for leadership, tactics, and technology integration. For 27 years, DARC has been committed to professionalism, discretion, mission specific training experiences, and the accompanying equipment research and development. By specializing and focusing on the peer/near-peer conflict, DARC is always anticipating and searching for unconventional and effective solutions to current and emerging threats. DARC is committed to finding positive outcomes for clients through their tailored training programs and applicable technology solutions. Collectively, with carefully selected cadre, real-world experiences, training methodologies, facilities, and service culture, DARC has created an environment for innovation that is inimitable in the training industry.

L9 Mfg. and DARC believe in the importance of well trained and equipped professionals. This brand partnership will enhance DARC training programs for clients by incorporating L9 Mfg.’s firearm platforms. Providing clients the opportunity to use the L9 Mfg. rifles during training at DARC offers a unique test and evaluation lab in a high- stress environment.

“Both L9 and DARC use a data and results driven approach to solve real world problems. This alliance accelerates our efforts to increase both the reliability of the platform and the operator by rapidly fielding concepts into a demanding environment that either validates or refines the solution. There’s no participation trophy. It either works, or it doesn’t. And our job is to sort that out in training and testing rather than a real world encounter.”

Mike Mihalski, L9 Mfg

The complementary capabilities of L9 Mfg. and DARC will authentically identify emerging operational demands through training and evaluation. This holistic approach will generate innovative solutions streamlined for the professional user. DARC and L9 Mfg.’s commitment to continuous improvement and pursuit of excellence, ensures this brand partnership will be the flagship of mission-specific advancements in firearms production and training resources for the benefit of the professional end-users.

“For the past 49 years, I have professionally and personally carried and used, an AR15 in variety of environments and configurations. I have experienced the trends and witnessed the evolution of the platform first-hand. Since 2020 I have personally been evaluating the L9 Mfg. rifle. When an off the shelf rifle performs at a custom built level, it gets my attention. Several things are important to me when it comes to selecting a platform to use. Number one is quality- it must be built with quality components, at spec tolerances and maintain functionality. Second is reliability, third is accuracy and fourth is who is manufacturing it. There are a lot of great AR15’s on the market now – it wasn’t always so. What solidified the selection of L9 Mfg. as the official DARC platform was the opportunity to meet the armorers building the rifles- they are the difference. Observing firsthand their attention to detail and tenacity, is hard to express in words but it’s tangible. Some call it grit, others character. I know that when I am running an L9 rifle, that the armorers who assembled it as if it was for themselves and that the company stands 100% behind their product. It is reassuring to deal with a person instead of a corporation and then also experiencing personable customer care as an individual. I think their platform is one of the best I’ve handled to date and the armorers are incredible. Bottom line is— people and performance; L9 is both and it is rare.”

Richard Mason, DARC

For more information on L9 Mfg. please visit www.L9mfg.com

For more information on Direct Action Resource Center (DARC) please visit www.darc-usa.com.

 

Amer Sports, Owner of Arc’teryx and Salomon Files for US IPO

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

According to a report by Bloomberg, Amer Sports has confidentially filed for a US initial public offering which could value the business somewhere around $10 billion. With plans to offer stock by early next year, they are said to be seeking somewhere between $1 billion and $3 billion.

Currently, the majority share of Amer Sports is owned by China’s Anta Sports Products Ltd which purchased the company from a Finnish group in 2019 for $5.2 billion. Other members of the Amer Sports ownership group include Tencent Holdings Ltd and Canadian Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon Athletica Inc. Interestingly, there is currently more Canadian ownership now of Arc’teryx than there was before the Anta Sports group purchased the brand.

The report states that “Representatives for Anta and Amer Sports declined to comment.

Integris Is New Company Name for TenCate Advanced Armour

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

Expanding the Market for Survivability Engineering and Composite Solutions
Tysons Corner, Virginia Sept. 5, 2023 — The company that has provided the world’s military and law enforcement with protective armor for 25 years has changed its name and broadened its mission. “TenCate Advanced Armour becomes Integris Composites,” said CEO John W. Mercer.

For decades the firm has been a trusted partner in the design, engineering and manufacturing of survivability solutions for the world’s most demanding defense contractors, including Boeing, Airbus, General Dynamics and BAE Systems as well as major police agencies. Specifically, the company provides body armor plates for military and law enforcement personnel, as well as ballistic and blast protection for land vehicles, aircraft and naval vessels and antiballistic composites that also serve as structural housings for sensitive technologies such as optronics.

Presenting Integris: CEO John W. Mercer and Managing Director Helle Specht last week introducing employees at the Vissenbjerg, Denmark facility to the company’s new name Integris Composites. The new brand replaces TenCate Advanced Armour. For 25 years the business has provided the world’s military and law enforcement with protective armor designed, engineered and manufactured here as well as in France and the United States. “In 2020 we reestablished the company as a stand-alone business. Now, I am delighted to announce we have a stand-alone identity,” said Mercer, who was Executive Chairman of the Steering Committee until being named CEO in July. Permission is granted for publication. Credit: Holy Cow Media, Denmark

“In 2020 we reestablished the company as a stand-alone business. Now, I am delighted to announce we have a stand-alone identity,” said Mercer, who was Executive Chairman of the Steering Committee until being named CEO in July. “Our name has changed, but not our company, nor our dedication to customers and innovation, nor our commitment to creating cutting-edge composite solutions,” he added.

Integris maintains the ability to develop, test and manufacture armor solutions in its Danish, French and U.S. facilities. “We stand apart because of our ability to collaborate with and supply major contractors virtually anywhere in the world,” said Jonas Holck, group vice president for strategy.

Beyond Armor

“Our goal is to engineer and manufacture cutting-edge composite solutions, in high-performance applications or high-risk environments, that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations of quality, performance and value,” explained D. Andrew Bonham, president of Integris Composites, Inc., the U.S. company.

Stopping Power: Testing ballistic resistance at the shooting range in Primarette, France, home to one of the engineering and manufacturing facilities of Integris Composites. The others are in Denmark and the United States. The new Integris brand replaces TenCate Advanced Armour, which has provided the world’s military and law enforcement with protective armor for 25 years. “Integris stands apart because we design, engineer and produce the full range of ballistic armor and survivability solutions for personal protection; air, land and sea vehicles; and tactical technologies used by defense authorities and leading police agencies worldwide. Other firms support one or two of these needs. Integris supports all segments,” said CEO John W. Mercer. Permission is granted for publication. Credit: Holy Cow Media, Denmark

“Going forward, Integris is expanding its market into other sectors where lightweight, high-performance, innovative, fit-for-purpose composite solutions can be an advantage,” Bonham said.

Value Proposition

With its new name comes a recentering of the company’s mission. “Integris” evokes the reasons for longstanding customer loyalty, according to Mercer. “Reliability, integrity, innovation, design-engineering, research and development. All of that is packed into our new name.”

Integrity, Trust, Doing What You Say You Will Do

The name Integris was developed following a survey of employees that asked what characteristics most accurately define the business. “The answers were integrity, honesty, trust — delivering what you say you will deliver,” Holck said.

Integris provides composite solutions that enhance the value of the customer’s offering. “Customers know they have a partner for life. As a technical company, specialized in engineering, design, and manufacturing of high-quality composite solutions, we have a reputation for supporting long life-cycle programs — on time, on price, on quality — while creating new-generation composite solutions,” explained Mercer.

John W. Mercer: CEO of Integris Composites, the new name for TenCate Advanced Armour, the company that has provided the world’s military and law enforcement with protective armor for 25 years. Mercer served as Executive Chairman of the Steering Committee until being named CEO in July. “In 2020 we reestablished the company as a stand-alone business. Now, I am delighted to announce we have a stand-alone identity,” said Mercer. “Our name has changed, but not our company, nor our dedication to customers and innovation, nor our commitment to creating cutting-edge composite solutions.” Permission is granted for publication. Credit: Holy Cow Media, Denmark

“Integris stands apart because we design, engineer and produce the full range of ballistic armor and survivability solutions for personal protection; air, land and sea vehicles; and tactical technologies used by defense authorities and leading police agencies worldwide. Other firms support one or two of these needs. Integris supports all segments.”

Agilite Appoints Michael Litwin as Business Development Director of Government Sales

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Agilite USA has announced the appointment of Michael Litwin as Business Development Director of Government Sales.

Michael previously served on the senior team at Noble, having risen through the ranks of TSSi where he won and managed multiple federal government contracts, managed TSSi’s largest customer accounts and developed custom TACOPS products and kits for many of his customers. Within his last two years he had the unique experience of going through two mergers, NOBLE and Federal Resources, where he participated in the development and management of a variety of business development and sales teams, assisted in process improvement, and strategy planning. During Michael’s tenure he developed lasting relationships within the DoD, Federal Government, State and Local, and Education spaces with clients, but also developed lifelong friendships within the industry as he worked to take the best products to the right customers over his almost eight years with TSSi/NOBLE.

“I’m honored to join the freight train that is Agilite.” said Litwin. “Anyone who’s ever done business with Agilite knows that both the products and the people are extraordinary and it’s exciting to join this industry-leading team.”

Michael’s role is part of the expansion of the team at Agilite USA in order to meet demand from US Forces and other North American clients.

Contact Michael at Michael.L@agilitegear.com

TNVC Welcomes Ian Gilchrist to the TNVC Team

Monday, September 4th, 2023

Redlands, California

TNVC is proud to announce that Ian Gilchrist has joined the TNVC Team as our newest Training & Sales Associate! Ian is joining TNVC after a thirteen-year career in the U.S. Navy, including twelve years as a member of Naval Special Warfare (NSW).

As a Training and Sales Associate, Ian will join TNVC’s expert Mobile Training Team, adding to their already considerable real-world experience, as well as being an integral member of TNVC’s Business Development and Government Sales Teams.

After joining the Navy in 2009, Ian attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) in 2010 as well as attending the demanding Special Operations Combat Medic course (SOCM) before being assigned to SEAL Team 7 in 2012. During his time at SEAL Team 7, Ian has deployed multiple times to Middle East, and was most recently assigned to Naval Special Warfare Training Detachment Group One from 2017 to 2022 as an Assault Cell and Close Quarters Combat (CQC) Instructor.

“We’re extremely excited to have Ian on board at TNVC. Our mobile training team is one of the best in the industry, with decades of experience in both the military as well as SWAT and domestic law enforcement,” said Victor DiCosola, President, CEO, and founder of TNVC, adding: “TNVC has always been an end-user focused company, so it’s important for us to have people on the team with relevant, recent, real-world experience using night vision and thermal equipment and understand that what’s important is not cost, social media clout, or what looks cool, but that the equipment meets the needs of guys on the ground and providing them with the best capabilities available to do their jobs. We expect Ian to be a huge asset not only to us, but more importantly to our customers as an integral member of our team at TNVC.”

Please join us in welcoming Ian to the team and to the TNVC Family!