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Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

Finally, Someone Is Buying Freedom Group

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

CNN reports via PR Newswire that Global Digital Solutions has filed a Form 8-K and announced an Unsolicited Letter of Intent to Acquire Remington Outdoor Company (aka Freedom Group) for $1.082 Billion.

Richard J. Sullivan, GDSI’s Chairman and CEO, commented on this move as well as two additional acquisitions.

“The GDSI team is extremely excited and confident about all three of these proposed acquisitions. There are powerful synergies between Freedom and the two other companies that will fuel our future growth along with the transformation of the cyber arms industry. Cyber-based technologies, coupled with enhanced digital product development and distribution, will be key factors in achieving results that could match – and probably even exceed – what we were able to produce at Digital Angel Corp and Applied Digital Solutions (“Applied”). At Applied, we saw our market capitalization reach $2.5 billion, roughly five times revenue and nearly 25 times EBITDA.”

GDSI is an interesting company to say the least, specializing in “cyber arms” and tracking. For instance, they patented the first-ever FDA-approved, human-implantable RFID tags that continue to be used by several foreign militaries as well as an implantable GPS tracking system for sheep and Gatekeeper, a small arms safety system. It offers, “Encrypted, password-protected, digital, trigger-locking capability;Secure, real-time online tracking; and Encrypted, cloud-enabled databases.” Are you rolling your eyes as much as I am yet?

CEO Sullivan discusses Gatekeeper in this quote:

“Our team plans to drive unprecedented consolidation and convergence in the cyber arms arena at least in part through the acquisition strategy outlined in our Form 8-K filing and elsewhere. We’ll also do this by leveraging technologies like GDSI Gatekeeper, which we announced on January 23, 2014. Gatekeeper represents a revolutionary suite of technology-enhanced services that offer personalized, digital small arms safety and security solutions in commercial and military-related markets.

I can already see the headlines on the tinfoil hat sites.

TSSi Awarded Second Consecutive Five-Year, Multi-Million Dollar Contract From Defense Logistics Agency

Tuesday, March 11th, 2014

This is the first of what I expect will be many announcements of the winners of the Special Operational Equipment Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Program. Now, there are two additional companies under contract bringing the total to six. They are TSSi, ADS Inc, Darley Defense and Source One along with new vendors Quantico Tactical and Federal Resources Supply.

I’ve known TSSi owner Bill Strang for over 20 years. During all that time he’s run a great company that offers service at a value. I know this is something dear to him based on his years of military service. Congrats!

Harrisonburg, Virginia, March 10, 2014 – The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support, Philadelphia, announced on March 7, 2014 that TSSi (Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc.), of Harrisonburg, Virginia has again been awarded the Special Operational Equipment Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Program contract. The TLS contract is a five-year contract (two-year base period and three one-year options) that provides logistical support to military commands, federal agencies, and other authorized customers worldwide. TSSi was awarded their original TLS contract in 2009. In addition to TSSi, DLA awarded contracts to five other government contractors. The total estimated contract value to all awardees is four billion dollars over the potential five year contract period.

In order to best serve the end-user, TSSi expanded its workforce and created a department solely dedicated to managing the TLS contract following the initial contract award in February 2009. TSSi’s President/CEO, Bill Strang, commented, “We are proud of the support we have provided the Defense Logistics Agency over the past five years on the TLS contract. DLA has an extremely important mission of providing support to the nation’s warfighters, and they require industry partners who understand the daily challenges faced by the DLA team as well as the needs of their customers. These are the same customers TSSi has been supporting since we were founded nearly 35 years ago. Award of this follow-on contract confirms that we have continued to make improvements to our customer service over the past five years. We have placed an emphasis on going the extra mile to meet the equipment needs and delivery requirements of DLA and our military customers.”

The TLS Program contract expands the procurement options available to federal agencies and military units, streamlines the procurement process, reduces the Government’s warehousing and logistics requirements, and provides rapid response to urgent military requirements. Rebecca Curry, TSSi’s Director of Contract Management for the TLS contract, said, “DLA looks for industry partners who can deliver a quality product, at the best value to the warfighter, on time, every time. With those goals in mind, TSSi has focused on continuous improvement in the service provided to DLA and its customers. This new iteration of the TLS contract will receive the same high level of dedication from the TSSi staff.”

In 2011, TSSi was awarded the DLA Outstanding Readiness Support Award. According to the citation from DLA, TSSi was presented this award for the “…personalized service and specialty products that meet the fulfillment of the day-to-day needs of our customers. They utilize creative sourcing on difficult to obtain products and they accomplish the tasks with a ‘try harder’ attitude.” The TSSi staff is pleased to have the opportunity to continue serving the special operations community with exceptional customer service and dependability through the TLS Program.

Harrisonburg, Virginia, March 10, 2014. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support, Philadelphia, announced on March 7, 2014 that TSSi (Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc.), of Harrisonburg, Virginia has again been awarded the Special Operational Equipment Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Program contract. The TLS contract is a five-year contract (two-year base period and three one-year options) that provides logistical support to military commands, federal agencies, and other authorized customers worldwide. TSSi was awarded their original TLS contract in 2009. In addition to TSSi, DLA awarded contracts to five other government contractors. The total estimated contract value to all awardees is four billion dollars over the potential five year contract period.

In order to best serve the end-user, TSSi expanded its workforce and created a department solely dedicated to managing the TLS contract following the initial contract award in February 2009. TSSi’s President/CEO, Bill Strang, commented, “We are proud of the support we have provided the Defense Logistics Agency over the past five years on the TLS contract. DLA has an extremely important mission of providing support to the nation’s warfighters, and they require industry partners who understand the daily challenges faced by the DLA team as well as the needs of their customers. These are the same customers TSSi has been supporting since we were founded nearly 35 years ago. Award of this follow-on contract confirms that we have continued to make improvements to our customer service over the past five years. We have placed an emphasis on going the extra mile to meet the equipment needs and delivery requirements of DLA and our military customers.”

The TLS Program contract expands the procurement options available to federal agencies and military units, streamlines the procurement process, reduces the Government’s warehousing and logistics requirements, and provides rapid response to urgent military requirements. Rebecca Curry, TSSi’s Director of Contract Management for the TLS contract, said, “DLA looks for industry partners who can deliver a quality product, at the best value to the warfighter, on time, every time. With those goals in mind, TSSi has focused on continuous improvement in the service provided to DLA and its customers. This new iteration of the TLS contract will receive the same high level of dedication from the TSSi staff.”

In 2011, TSSi was awarded the DLA Outstanding Readiness Support Award. According to the citation from DLA, TSSi was presented this award for the “…personalized service and specialty products that meet the fulfillment of the day-to-day needs of our customers. They utilize creative sourcing on difficult to obtain products and they accomplish the tasks with a ‘try harder’ attitude.” The TSSi staff is pleased to have the opportunity to continue serving the special operations community with exceptional customer service and dependability through the TLS Program.

Harrisonburg, Virginia, March 10, 2014. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support, Philadelphia, announced on March 7, 2014 that TSSi (Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc.), of Harrisonburg, Virginia has again been awarded the Special Operational Equipment Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Program contract. The TLS contract is a five-year contract (two-year base period and three one-year options) that provides logistical support to military commands, federal agencies, and other authorized customers worldwide. TSSi was awarded their original TLS contract in 2009. In addition to TSSi, DLA awarded contracts to five other government contractors. The total estimated contract value to all awardees is four billion dollars over the potential five year contract period.

In order to best serve the end-user, TSSi expanded its workforce and created a department solely dedicated to managing the TLS contract following the initial contract award in February 2009. TSSi’s President/CEO, Bill Strang, commented, “We are proud of the support we have provided the Defense Logistics Agency over the past five years on the TLS contract. DLA has an extremely important mission of providing support to the nation’s warfighters, and they require industry partners who understand the daily challenges faced by the DLA team as well as the needs of their customers. These are the same customers TSSi has been supporting since we were founded nearly 35 years ago. Award of this follow-on contract confirms that we have continued to make improvements to our customer service over the past five years. We have placed an emphasis on going the extra mile to meet the equipment needs and delivery requirements of DLA and our military customers.”

The TLS Program contract expands the procurement options available to federal agencies and military units, streamlines the procurement process, reduces the Government’s warehousing and logistics requirements, and provides rapid response to urgent military requirements. Rebecca Curry, TSSi’s Director of Contract Management for the TLS contract, said, “DLA looks for industry partners who can deliver a quality product, at the best value to the warfighter, on time, every time. With those goals in mind, TSSi has focused on continuous improvement in the service provided to DLA and its customers. This new iteration of the TLS contract will receive the same high level of dedication from the TSSi staff.”

In 2011, TSSi was awarded the DLA Outstanding Readiness Support Award. According to the citation from DLA, TSSi was presented this award for the “…personalized service and specialty products that meet the fulfillment of the day-to-day needs of our customers. They utilize creative sourcing on difficult to obtain products and they accomplish the tasks with a ‘try harder’ attitude.” The TSSi staff is pleased to have the opportunity to continue serving the special operations community with exceptional customer service and dependability through the TLS Program.

www.tssi-ops.com

Wes Whitlock Steps Down from Rogue Gunfighter

Monday, March 10th, 2014

I received this statement from one of Rogue Gunfighter’s founders, Wes Whitlock.

I am stepping away from Rogue Gunfighter, LLC as VP and will no longer have any dealings with this company. I will focus my efforts and time on my family, Rogue American Apparel (RAA) and my protective detail duties. I want to thank everyone who supported me and my efforts in building RG and giving it the exposure it now has.

Regards from Texas.

Wes Whitlock President/Founder RAA
“Live With Integrity”

Granite Gear, LLC Announces Strategic Alliance With FELLFAB

Thursday, March 6th, 2014

This is some pretty cool news from two great companies.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and Two Harbors, Minnesota – March 5, 2014 – Granite Gear has partnered with Canadian manufacturing and engineering company, FELLFAB®, to bring their cutting-edge tactical and outdoor gear to the Canadian market.

FELLFAB® President Eric Taylor and Granite Gear CEO Bryan Kinsley jointly announced the partnership, in which Granite Gear will grant FELLFAB® sole licensure to make, manufacture and sell their Load Carriage Systems in Canada. Granite Gear and FELLFAB® will combine technologies to jointly design and develop the Load Carriage Systems for use by the Canadian Military and other organizations in need of tactical gear.

As part of the agreement, FELLFAB® has been appointed the exclusive representative and dealer for Granite Gear tactical products in Canada. By combining FELLFAB®’s manufacturing scale, engineering excellence and project management expertise with Granite Gear’s award winning, cutting-edge excellence in design and construction of backpacks and tactical equipment, both companies believe that they can offer customers a highest quality, Canadian-made product that can continue to meet evolving tactical equipment needs.

www.granitegearstore.com

www.fellfab.com

Revision Acquires Panacis

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

Canadian company Panacis has been making quite a bit of buzz over the past 18 months or so with their battery products for military applications; particularly the SharePack. Looks like they caught the eye of Revision which has been doing quite a bit of work in the Soldier Systems arena.

download

REVISION EXPANDS INTEGRATED SOLDIER SYSTEM CAPABILITY THROUGH ACQUISITION OF POWER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMPANY

Montreal, QC (February 25, 2014) -– Revision Military, a world leader in protective soldier solutions, has expanded its capabilities by adding power management to its roster of integrated technologies, through the acquisition of Panacis, an Ottawa-based company focusing on Lithium ion rechargeable energy storage systems.

Advanced, electronic battlefield equipment such as networked radios, night-vision systems, GPS, smart phones and laptops, while increasing situational awareness and capability within smaller units, comes with the challenge of sustaining power for these devices, ideally without the weight and complexity that numerous types of batteries present.

“The opportunity for an integrated power management system that provides flexible storage and power management that can be easily adapted to a wide range of mission scenarios is extensive” said Jonathan Blanshay, CEO of Revision. “We are pleased to add power management – the ability to store, deliver, harvest, and share energy – to our roster of technologies in support of fully
integrating electronic equipment while lessening the battery burden on soldiers”.

Revision has been working collaboratively with Panacis on several projects, including reviewing power support for the “Prowler” Human Augmentation system and development of a conformal battery housed on the helmet developed for Natick under the HEaDS-UP ATO program, among a number of other initiatives where next generation energy management is crucial to soldier performance.

“We are delighted to be part of Revision Military and are looking forward to bringing our technological expertise, intellectual property, engineering strength and global program experience to provide highly efficient energy management and storage systems to the warfighter”, said Steve Carkner, founder and CTO of Panacis. “We welcome the opportunity that Revision offers to further commercialize our current products as well as new product ideas in support of Integrated Soldier Systems”.

“The expertise the Panacis team brings to the Revision portfolio of capability will allow Revision to offer a much more complete solution package to both users and partners such as Prime contractors” said Richard Coomber, Revision Military’s VP of Integrated Systems. “By integrating power, data management and protection in flexible ways Revision aims to become the solution provider of choice on a range of platforms. The history the Panacis and Revision teams bring in working together means that we can hit the ground running and deliver on our current projects and the exciting new ones our team can tackle, many of which are already in the pipeline”.

The acquisition is effective February 21, 2014, and the energy solutions team will continue to operate from Ottawa.

Warrior Protection & Readiness Coalition Appoints David Costello as Executive Director

Monday, February 24th, 2014

The Board of Directors of the Warrior Protection & Readiness Coalition (WPRC) has announced that they have unanimously voted to appoint David L. Costello as the Executive Director of the WPRC. Congratulations!

WPRC Announcement

(Click to view announcement)

TYR Tactical Announces North Carolina Expansion

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014

Received this from TYR Tactical:

Tyr SP

February in Southern Pines, North Carolina
Since 2010 our goal has always been to make each design feel like it was custom made for you, The Next Generation Warrior®. Our next evolution starts now. Please join us as we celebrate the Grand Opening of our first east coast facility, TYR Tactical™ Southern Pines.

Our Mission:
Southern Pines primary purpose is to act as a Custom Shop and “TYRORIZE” facility. The Custom Shop will allow you to take one of the five available platforms (PICO-DA, PICO-MV, PICO-MVS, COMA001, Ultra Low Vis Plate Carrier for the Velocity ULV Plate) and customize it with already existing TYR Tactical™ pouches. “Customization” refers to hard sewing pre-existing TYR Tactical™ pouches/MOLLE to one of the 5 above platforms. TYRORIZE \’tir-o-rise\ [adv] Meaning to modify or enhance an operator’s existing nylon or armored equipment.

Why Southern Pines?
Southern Pines is a perfect spot. We looked elsewhere in the region, but that community was the only one that felt like a second home. Fort Bragg is obviously a major hub for the Army, I wanted to be in a place with a great quality of life that was also positioned strategically to help our company grow. For us, Southern Pines is that place, so this move makes total sense.

Why Now?
TYR Tactical™ is a fast paced and growing company. This move is the culmination of 2 years of planning. Our objective is to bring the innovation, style and quality of manufacturing that every TYR Tactical™ product has to the east coast.

Can I order online and pick it up at TYR Tactical™ Southern Pines?
Yes. TYRTactical.com will offer a “SOPO Will Call” shipping option. A $5 handling fee will apply. This is because items will still be manufactured in Peoria, AZ and sent in biweekly freight shipments to Southern Pines. All online order status and expedite requests will still handled at our flagship location in Peoria, AZ.

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm
By Appointment Only

Contact Us:
SOPO@tyrtactical.com
(910)733-1790

Colt Is Buying LWRC! *Yawn

Friday, February 21st, 2014

Since it’s being reported elsewhere I’ll share what has been floating around for some time, Colt is supposedly buying LWRC. Nobody has any real details yet because it hasn’t actually happened…yet. So if somebody tells you they have facts, they don’t. Until the ink is dry, it’s all just a rumor.