Hopkinsville, KY, January 2, 2014: ATS Tactical Gear announced today the acquisition of the Elite line of tactical clothing from Woolrich, Inc. The new division is named ATS Elite Tactical Clothing. Jerry Rinder, who started the line with Woolrich, came over to ATS to head the new division. ATS Tactical Gear and ATS Elite will be exhibiting at the SHOT show in booth number 10321.
Once again, congrats guys!
The Big Guy, Mystery Ranch’s Dana Gleason talks outdoor industry stuff in this piece by Bozeman’s KBZK.com.
(more…)
Magpul announces their move, going wisely with the split location option. Personally, I see Texas as a risky move in the out years with so much pressure to naturalize illegal workers to citizenship. Based on national trends there is good reason to believe that this would strengthen the Democrat base in that State. Traditionally, Democrats support gun legislation, introducing bills to restrict Second Amendment rights. As for the multitude of doubters and armchair MBAs who didn’t believe that Magpul was actually moving shop; eat it. Having said that, 3 huzzahs for Magpul and lovers of Freedom everywhere.
Magpul Industries announced today that it is relocating its operations to Wyoming and Texas.
The company is relocating manufacturing, distribution and shipping operations to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Magpul is leasing a 58,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility during the construction of a 100,000 square foot build-to-suit facility in the Cheyenne Business Parkway. The Wyoming relocation is being completed with support from Governor Matt Mead, the Wyoming Business Council and Cheyenne LEADS.
Magpul is moving its corporate headquarters to Texas. Three North Central Texas sites are under final consideration, and the transition to the Texas headquarters will begin as soon as the facility is selected. The Texas relocation is being accomplished with support from Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Economic Development Corporation.
“Magpul made the decision to relocate in March 2013 and has proceeded on an aggressive but deliberate path” says Doug Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Magpul Industries. “These dual moves will be carried out in a manner that ensures our operations and supply chain will not be interrupted and our loyal customers will not be affected.”
The company began a nationwide search for a new base of operations after legislation was enacted in Colorado that dramatically limits the sale of firearms accessories – the core of Magpul’s business. Magpul plans on initially transitioning 92% of its current workforce outside of Colorado within 12-16 months and will maintain only limited operations in Colorado.
“Moving operations to locations that support our culture of individual liberties and personal responsibility is important,” says Richard Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer for Magpul Industries. “Moving to a true multi state operation will also allow Magpul to utilize the strengths of both Texas and Wyoming as we continue to expand.”
VIRGINIA BEACH, V.A. – DECEMBER 19, 2013 – ARK Defense Group (“ARK”), a manufacturer of weapon accessories and firearm components, has been established as an official OEM for Sig Sauer. ARK Defense is supplying the Enhanced SOPMOD Buttstock Lite (ESBL-MD-BK) to outfit the SIG516 and SIG716 rifles.
“After working through the details to include a specialized design for close to a year, ARK is excited and proud to see our stocks used in conjunction with such a respected brand as Sig Sauer. Our Enhanced SOPMOD Buttstock Lite is the perfect break-out product to show what Ark Defense is all about. With its simplicity, functionality, and durability, the ARK Enhanced SOPMOD stock is in the top of its class.” states Israel M (Izzy) Anzaldua, ARK Chief Operating Officer.
“The ARK Defense stock design is robust, simple to operate and had the features we were looking for. The selection and development process involved extensive testing and high quality requirements. ARK Defense provided exactly what we were looking for,” said Jarrod McDevitt, Rifle Product manager for SIG SAUER. “We believe our customers will be extremely satisfied with the fit and functionality of this stock on our SIG516 and SIG716 rifles
VIRGINIA BEACH, V.A. – DECEMBER 18, 2013 – ARK DEFENSE GROUP (“ARK”), officially announces the acquisition of Osprey Defense LLC, a manufacturer of a self-cleaning piston conversion kits for the AR15/M4/M16 platform. Osprey will continue to operate under the Osprey Defense name but will be a fully owned subsidiary of ARK. With its change in ownership, the Osprey Defense headquarters has been relocated from its offices in Bradenton, Florida to the ARK Defense offices in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The Osprey System is one of a growing line of specially designed products in the ARK Defense portfolio. Israel M (Izzy) Anzaldua (Osprey Defense & Ark Defense Chief Operating Officer) describes the Osprey Defense Piston Drop in Kit as “simple and robust.”
Product Information
The Osprey system is a gas piston upgrade for your AR-15. Switching to a gas piston operating system from a direct gas impingement one leads to a cleaner and cooler operating rifle. This should lead to fewer malfunctions and considerably more time between cleanings. The OPS-416 kit is a true drop-in gas piston conversion, installing easily in a few minutes with a minimum of tools or technical expertise.
(CHICAGO, Illinois, December, 2013) — A7 Helmet Systems, LLC, (“A7HS”), announced today that an independent laboratory has validated the extraordinary blunt-impact performance of the company’s ASH-22 BioRmr padding system for combat helmets. A7HS contracted an accredited third party, Chesapeake Testing Labs, to test the system in Advanced Combat Helmets (ACH) and tested it in accordance with AR/PD 10-02 Rev. A, Change 3, at all specified climate conditions (14oF, 70oF, and 130oF) at impact speeds of 10 ft/sec. and 14.1 ft/sec. The results showed that the average head acceleration for multiple impacts across all temperatures was 80.5G at an impact speed of 10 ft/sec., and 135G at an impact speed of 14.1 ft/sec. For context, the blunt-impact standard for padding systems currently used in the ACH is a maximum peak acceleration of 150G at 10 ft/sec., and the impact speed of 14.1 ft./sec. represents roughly a doubling of the impact energy. Accordingly, the ASH-22 BioRmr system meets the urgent needs of defense and law-enforcement agencies around the world for a practical and cost-effective way to improve the blunt-impact performance of ACHs and thereby help prevent or reduce the severity of blunt-impact induced brain injuries suffered by warfighters. The breakthrough was achieved as the result of an agreement between A7HS and U.K.-based D3O to share proprietary technologies related to impact-attenuation, including the exclusive use of D3O’s lightweight D3O Aero material in A7HS’s one-piece, adjustable ASH-22 design.
“A7 Helmet Systems has always thrived on the challenge of developing the best possible suspension and padding systems for combat helmets and we are proud to be the first and only company to have developed a system that meets and exceeds the 10 and 14.1 ft/sec. design goals,” stated Kerry S. Harris, a former U.S. Marine who is a founder of the company and designs all of the company’s systems. “Warfighters need and deserve the highest level of protection against blunt impact related concussions and other types of brain injuries and the validation of the ASH-22 BioRmr means we are on track to field the system in the first quarter of 2014.”
The ASH-22 BioRmr is an off-the-shelf, direct replacement for the 7-pad systems currently used in ACHs. It can be installed by a warfighter in the field in a matter of minutes without the use of any tools. The one-piece, multiconfigurable design means it can comfortably fit a wide variety of head shapes and helmet sizes while also providing optimum stability and airflow. “In designing a helmet suspension and padding system, there are a number of competing priorities, including blunt-impact protection, comfort, low weight, ease of use, durability, cost, and a small logistical footprint,” Harris said. “Besides providing unprecedented blunt impact performance and comfort for the warfighter, the ASH-22 excels in all of the other areas as well.”
To maximize the blunt-impact performance of the ASH-22 BioRmr, A7HS turned to the experts at D3O Lab and selected the company’s new, lightweight D3O Aero material. D3O Aero is an innovative, shock-absorbing material that is based on non-Newtonian principles. In standard conditions the material’s molecules flow freely, but on impact, the molecules lock together to absorb and dissipate the impact energy. After reducing the force transmitted to the head, it instantly returns to its soft and flexible state. “Because we set out to design and build the most innovative padding system, it made sense for us to research and test the most advanced materials,” Harris added.
“The lightweight D3O Aero proved to be a perfect fit and we look forward to quickly bringing the ASH-22 to warfighters throughout the world.” The agreement between A7HS and D3O Lab covers areas including development, production, marketing, and worldwide sales.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the ASH-22 BioRmr is its consistent performance at high impact speeds and at extreme temperatures. For instance, it is generally accepted that a peak head acceleration below 150G would have a low probability of causing a concussive head injury whereas a peak acceleration of 400G is considered to be the limit for serious head and brain injury. In 2005, the USAARL tested the current 7-pad system at an impact speed of 14.1 ft/sec., after being conditioned at 130o F and recorded a mean peak head acceleration of 411G. By contrast, when tested by Chesapeake Labs under the same conditions and protocol, the ASH-22 BIORMR recorded a mean peak head acceleration of only 126.5G. In fact, the mean peak head acceleration recorded for the ASH-22 BioRmr was below 150G at all impact speeds and conditions and the highest recorded peak acceleration for any one of the eighty-four drops to which the system was subjected was 178G. “Considering how much money taxpayers spend to treat warfighters who suffer TBIs each year, let alone the devastating effects TBIs can have on warfighters and their families, those test numbers have real meaning and the ASH-22 BIORMR should be seen as a game changer,” Harris commented. “We look forward to working with D3O and government agencies throughout the world to provide this protective technology for the men and women who fight our wars and protect our streets.”
Leading Firearms Innovator Changes Name To Create Universal Brand
Salt Lake City, December 17, 2013 – Desert Tactical Arms announced today that they are rebranding their company name to Desert Tech. The name change is essential to provide a universal brand that unites the arms, ammunition , and training divisions. The resulting unity will create synergies that will lead the development of more advanced equipment, munitions, and training for the expanded marketplace. The name change was announced today by Nick Young, President of Desert Tech.
“The name change was essential to align the focus of our firearms, ammunition, and training companies in creating Tomorrows Weapon Technologies,” said Nick Young. “”Operating under our new name creates synergy between the companies which will allow us to seamlessly integrate new technologies and training methodologies with the warfighter, and ultimately, improve mission success.”
New website supports industry organization
Marblehead, MA December 19, 2013 — The Portable Lights American Trade Organization (PLATO), a trade association, has been formed to advance the mutual interests of the portable lighting industry. A primary goal of PLATO is to educate the public about the first industry standard known as “ANSI/NEMA FL-1”, developed to measure flashlight performance. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association approved the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 standard as an American National Standard on August 18, 2009. Many companies in the portable lighting industry now utilize this standard. PLATO has recently updated its website for those seeking further information about ANSI/NEMA FL-1.
The ANSI/NEMA FL-1 standard specifies a methodology for testing, measuring, and rating the basic performance of flashlights, headlamps, spotlights, and portable lighting tools, giving consumers and purchasing managers a uniform system for understanding and comparing product performance.
The organization has a new website — plato-usa.org — which includes lists of voting and associate members, information on industry performance standards, and guidelines for joining the rapidly expanding association. As the first group of its kind to promote the common interests of the portable lighting industry, PLATO serves as an industry advocate to the public and government. PLATO also seeks to (1) publish research studies on the industry, (2) monitor and promote accurate use of the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 rating standard by manufacturers that choose to utilize this voluntary standard, and (3) elevate the public’s understanding of the performance attributes of portable lighting.
Products rated with the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 standard utilize icons on their marketing materials and product packaging to provide easily understood and easily compared levels of light output, runtime, beam distance, peak beam intensity, water penetration resistance, and impact resistance.
“I am excited to be part of an organization that supports a well understood benchmark for our products,” said Matthew Hemenez, Vice-President of Surefire, LLC. “Public safety professionals, military personnel, industry users, sporting enthusiasts and consumers all deserve to know the details about what they are buying. Now, with these standards in place, they will have a better understanding and gauge for the performance of the lighting product.”
“PLATO works to promote the common interests of companies that manufacture portable lighting products, including standards, legislation, litigation, and education,” said PLATO President, Kevin Parsons. “The recent response to these industry standards has been overwhelmingly positive. We are excited by the momentum, support and growing interest in our initiatives and the positive impact our efforts are having on the industry and our customers.”
