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.
I got a chance to catch up with Kevin Brittingham when he told me that he had joined SIG Sauer to head up their new SIG-SD Silencer business unit. We had last spoken at SHOT Show, right after winning a mutli-million dollar lawsuit against former employer Freedom Group. Brittingham founded Advanced Armament Corporation in 1994 which he sold to FGI in 2009 and is widely recognized as an expert in suppressor technology. His attitude at SHOT Show was very upbeat and he indicated that there were going to be some things to see at next year’s show.
Kevin is very excited about the opportunity at SIG and shared this with me, “Ethan Lessard, was the head of my engineering at AAC, quit and went back to SIG when I was fired. He did the LVAW (honey badger). He also started the Remington 51 and we were using it as the basis of our integrally silenced pistol platform.” That is a pretty intriguing statement but what he followed up with is all Kevin, “He’s a stud. We are working together again. Expect awesome shit.”
NEWINGTON, N.H. (February 17, 2014) — SIG SAUER® is proud to announce that Kevin Brittingham and Lindsay Bunch are joining its staff, adding decades of product design, R&D, and military experience. Their collective expertise will further enhance the company’s existing state-of-the-art special weapons development capabilities.
SIG SAUER welcomes Kevin Brittingham to lead its new SIG-SD Silencer business unit, as well as other special programs within its Military/Law Enforcement development activities.
Brittingham, the founder of Advanced Armament Corporation, currently holds more than 40 patents in the firearms industry. As part of his work at AAC, Brittingham also led the development of the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge. Recently, Brittingham was a founding member of the American Silencer Association, an advocacy group dedicated to championing the use of suppressors and lifting restrictions on ownership.
SIG SAUER is also pleased to announce the addition of Lindsay Bunch as Product Manager, Special Weapons Development Group.
Bunch joins SIG SAUER after serving more than two decades in the United States Army. With more than 10 years as an Army Sniper, Bunch moved into Special Operations Command, where his skills and experience were used in research and development of many of the U.S. military’s precision weapons systems in use today. His extraordinary knowledge will help SIG SAUER continue as an innovator and leader in the precision weapons category.
“SIG SAUER’s commitment to attracting the best minds in the industry drives our cutting-edge weapons systems,” said Ron Cohen, SIG SAUER President and Chief Executive Officer. “The addition of Kevin and Lindsay to the team demonstrates the company’s strategic investment in personnel to help design and engineer the finest weapons, technology, and support for our military customers.”
Congratulations to SIG SAUER for picking up both Brittingham and Bunch.
According to the website POC which focuses on Private Military Companies, Triple Canopy announced that “that it has formed a 100 percent employee-owned company by establishing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).” Impressively, Triple Canopy is a veteran-owned and veteran-run company with more than 80% of their workforce is made up of former military personnel.
“This is an exciting time for Triple Canopy and we are proud to become a majority veteran, employee-owned company,” said Triple Canopy CEO Ignacio Balderas. “Delivering quality services to governments and multinational companies in challenging locations remains the mainstay of our business success.”
Formed in 2003 by SOF Veterans, Triple Canopy has survived the changing international security environment intact. That alone is impressive. One of the reasons I feel is that they have made serious efforts to professionalize the community, working to establish the Code of Conduct for Private Security Contractors.
For manufacturers and retailers alike, Point of Sale Displays are extremely important. For the manufacturer it is the best way to represents themselves on a retail sales floor. For the retailer, the display should help showcase the product. I think Blue Force Gear has done a great job with this new launch, unveiled at SHOT Show.
The displays at the top can be changed and according to BFG they plan to support this capability with regular updates that will catch the customer’s eye as well as inform.
In addition to a very neat layout, there’s something else special about this display that won’t dawn on many right off the bat.
These blue guns are the best part of this new display. It can be difficult to visualize how many slings work. Generally, the customer will wonder if it’s long enough, how it will connect to the rifle, etc. With embedded QD points and Picatinny rail sections, these blue guns are an inexpensive way to provide some hands on time and show a customer how to configure the sling on the rifle.
Each display comes with one blue gun. Contact www.BlueForceGear.com for details about this new program.
OakleySI is expanding their web site membership program to Veterans. As I am sure you all know, previously the program was only available to active or reservist military, EMS, fire, state and local law enforcement personal. Now, Vets can join as well.
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Feb. 3, 2014 – Oakley Standard Issue, a division of Oakley, Inc., today announced that beginning February 6, 2014, military veterans will be eligible to register to become a member of the Oakley Standard Issue program through the OakleySI.com website. The program offers direct pricing on an exclusive line of Standard Issue products. Previously, membership was only available to U.S. active duty military, reserve, federal and local law enforcement, fire, EMS and those holding military retiree credentials.
“Prior OakleySI members, who because of their change from active duty status to veteran, want continued access to the Standard Issue products and price benefits. We also want to grant membership to the millions of other veterans who deserve the privilege of the OakleySI program,” said Dane Howell, OakleySI Sales Manager.
For veterans looking to participate, the process is easy, but requires the validation of a DD Form 256 or DD Form 214, or U.S. State or U.S. Local Government identification.
Complete membership details can be found on at OakleySI.com beginning February 6, 2014.
Silynx Communications, Inc., makers of the CLARUS and C4OPS, is seeking to fill a new position on their business development team. This is a full-time position. Domestic and international travel required. Location of position to be determined, preference for Washington, DC area.
Description: Business Development Sales Associate
Business Development Sales Associate Job Purpose: Builds market position by locating, developing, defining, negotiating, and closing sales with business relationships.
Business Development Job Duties Include (but are not limited to):
•Reach and maintain proficiency related to all aspects (e.g. technical, functional) of Silynx products.
•Generate sales leads and expand market presence, with initial focus on the military and law enforcement branches.
•Build long-term productive partnerships based on mutual benefits.
•Proactively locate or propose potential business deals by contacting potential partners, discovering and exploring opportunities.
•Screen potential business deal requirements, potential, and financials; evaluate options; resolve internal priorities.
•Develop negotiating strategies and positions by studying integration of new venture with company strategies and operations, examining risks and potentials, and estimating partners’ needs and goals.
•Close new business deals by coordinating requirements, developing and negotiating contracts, integrating contract requirements with business operations.
•Protect organization’s value by keeping information confidential and always acting, reacting, and communicating professionally.
•Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
•Provide weekly and monthly written reports of all activities, or as requested.
•Contribute time and efforts to all marketing tasks and needs, as requested.
Skills/Qualifications: Closing Skills, Motivation for Sales, Prospecting Skills, Sales Planning, Selling to Customer Needs, Territory Management, Market Knowledge, Presentation Skills, Meeting Sales Goals, Professionalism, Attention to Detail, Proactive and Self Motivated.
Only applications submitted by email will be considered.
Please include your resume with salary history.
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be contacted to further the application process.
No phone calls, outside agencies, or recruiters.
Send resumes to: careers@silynxcom.com
The Revolvr mobile commerce app has been approved on the Google Play store and is now available for download. The iOS app is soon to follow.
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.revolvr
£237,000 awarded for Development of Prototype of Shock Absorption Helmet System
35% of US and UK military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan directly attributable to TBI from IEDs
D3O, the British smart materials specialist, has been awarded funding from the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, to develop a new Shock Absorption Helmet System for soldiers to reduce Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI and mTBI).
Current warfare is characterised by highly agile insurgents whose weapon of first choice is the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and there is currently no effective helmet shock absorption systems available today that offer sufficient blunt trauma protection to attenuate the impacts caused by IED blasts.
Led by D3O’s Chief Knowledge Officer, Dr. Floria Antolini, D3O is responding to the immediate need to accelerate research into helmet solutions in order to mitigate unnecessary deaths and injuries our servicemen suffer from TBI. 35% of US and UK military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan wars are directly attributable to TBI from IEDs.
This award from the Technology Strategy Board’s Smart programme will enable D3O to research and develop a new Shock Absorption Helmet System, featuring their patented technology, to deliver superior military Personal Protection Equipment. The project aims to reduce the severity and occurrence of mTBI/ TBI by mitigating the blunt trauma impact force caused by IED blasts.
D3O’s unique patented technology is used to make a soft and flexible material with high shock absorbing properties. In standard conditions the material’s molecules flow freely, allowing the material to be soft and flexible, but on impact, lock together to dissipate the impact energy and reduce the transmitted force.
Based near Brighton, East Sussex, D3O is a groundbreaking impact protection solutions company that sells and licenses a range of unique patented smart materials. Their innovative protective products were first used during the 2006 Winter Olympics in ski race suits for the US and Canadian teams. The company has grown over 300% in 3 years to become market leader in protective wear and shock absorbing materials across footwear, electronics, sport, motorcycle, industrial workwear, law enforcement and military protection.
In the last 12 months, D3O has developed high performance helmet liner systems for the US team sports market including American Football and Baseball, and in October 2013, D3O developed and launched a new tactical product range called TRUST which stands for Trauma Reduction and Unrivalled Shock Technology. The TRUST collection offers head to toe protective solutions that have been engineered to provide high performance, lightweight and comfortable protection for military and law enforcement and includes an Advanced Combat Helmet shock absorbing pad system that meets the 10ft/sec requirements as well as knee pads, elbow pads, insoles and more.
Business Minister, Michael Fallon visited D3O’s Lab in Portslade, East Sussex:
“Businesses that develop, manufacture and market innovative new technologies hold the key to Britain’s global success. By targeting Government support where it is best placed to help them grow, we will help the most promising small firms deliver jobs and prosperity for the long term.
D3O is an example of the kind of world-class enterprise we are proud to work with. Its products have the potential to meet a real and urgent need, protecting our service personnel while boosting the UK’s share in a vital market.”
Mostyn Thomas, D3O Chief Marketing Officer says;
“We have received exceptional interest from the defence industry over the last 12 months in our technology and momentum in this market for lighter, flexible protection and shock absorption shows no sign of slowing. We recognise that now is the right time to bring new developments and innovations to this marketplace and help to address these recurring injuries.”
