NFM is headquartered in Norway but like their Viking forebears they have branched out all over Europe. Over the years their product offerings have expanded and now they have updated their website.
We are big fans of their GARM Combat Clothing System and intrigued by the EC paint.
Siemens has hired Retired US Army General Stanley McChrystal to serve as Chairman of their new Siemens Government Technologies business unit which specializes in security systems and engineering software for defense equipment.
GEN McChrystal is a busy man. He also heads McChrystal Group, which we regularly mention here on SSD and sits on the boards of Navistar International Corp and JetBlue Airways Corp. Additionally, he is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he teaches global affairs and leadership.
Unintended or not, the Army’s most recent delay in announcing the down select is going to hurt those firms currently in the competitive range for the Army Camouflage Improvement Effort. The program has slipped several times since its inception but this latest delay, with announcement coming “during the second week of JAN 2012” is the most troubling.
Unfortunately, this new deadline butts right up against the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show, 17-20 January in Las Vegas. SHOT Show is THE trade show of the year for those in the camo business, regardless of hunting or tactical and many of the candidate families of patterns will do well in both markets.
This is the first time we can think of in the Soldier Systems industry that a company is penalized for being a possible contract winner. These companies can’t conduct any marketing activities or even share their designs with potential customers for fear of influencing the source selection authority.
With a Government announcement as late as the 13th of January, companies are already enroute to Las Vegas. There is no way that they could print new signage or marketing materials in time to use them at SHOT. What’s more, with the 10 day protest window bracketing both SHOT Show and Outdoor Retailer, a formal announcement by a company that they are a finalist could very well, still be premature.
Conversely, companies that have already been informed that they are not in the competitive range can on about their business and market their patterns without any encumbrances. They are probably all jumping for joy at the Army’s decision.
We don’t believe that this decision was made with the intention of making things difficult for industry. But, it does. We urge the Army to make its announcement soon so that industry can do the things it needs to do, to sell its wares. That is what a good partner would do.
In late October MSA announced the sale of Paraclete Armor to PPE. PPE in turn, is owned by Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
What is pretty interesting about the Paraclete sale is that American Recreation Products which includes such brands as Kelty, Sierra Designs, Slumberjack, Ultimate Direction and Royal Robbins, is also owned by Sun Capital. These brands all have an impressive line of military products that we’ve covered in the past here on SSD.
Since ARP’s primarily outdoor focused the vast majority of their products are produced overseas. This can make for rough going if you are interested in military business. Perhaps, thanks to the Sun Capital connection, we will see some production of ARP’s military products by Paraclete. What would be even cooler is if we could see some cross pollination from ARP’s outdoor design expertise to Paraclete’s product offerings.
Don’t blink…
Short, sweet, and to the point, it’s nice to see that Leatherman acknowledges their military customer.
The SHOT Show teasers are starting early this year. Take for example this, from Knights Armament Corp.
“come see us at SHOT Show 2012, Sands Expo Level 2, in the Law Enforcement and Tactical Gear portions; Booth # 13372. Be the first to handle the latest in our weapon platforms, signature reduction devices and modular accessories.”
Another candidate family of patterns from the US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort has emerged. Genesis Pattern Technologies, founded by the developer of the popular hunting pattern Mothwing, has developed several pattern families for a wide variety of applications. Seen below is their Milpat1 variant family in the Konbat (Koncealment Battalion) line which includes “macro-micro patterns” based on features found in nature. For example, those crack-like designs can be found in the face of a rock just as well as in topography.
Here is a copy of their full press release.
Genesis Pattern Technologies LLC today announced that Chevalier Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations has been retained to help launch KLOAK Konsealment in its international debut of a new family of cryptic camouflage patterns to the outdoor industry and military.
During its launch phase, KLOAK will roll out numerous adaptive patterns to various markets, including the current U.S. Army Camouflage Improvement Effort Solicitation.
“Chevalier’s vision and combined knowledge of the outdoor and military markets will help guide KLOAK to a position that is reflective of the innovative nature of our technology-based company,†said Steve Johnson, Founder of Genesis Pattern Technologies. Company CEO and Director of Licensing, Steve Regan adds, “Chevalier has helped guide some of the best brands in the industry to success, and we have great confidence that the same will hold true for KLOAK.â€
“We are excited and honored to be working with Genesis Pattern Technologies in its ground-level introduction of KLOAK,†said Chevalier’s President, Greg Chevalier. “With Steve Johnson’s background in patterning and Steve Regan’s history in licensing—and their combined foresight into the future of concealment and strategic partnerships with major industry manufacturers–we see this relationship as an incredible opportunity for both our companies.â€
Prior to his development of Genesis Pattern Technologies, Johnson founded the innovative Mothwing Camo Technologies, which he sold in 2007. Regan brings decades of licensing experience to Genesis and is currently a partner with RWG Licensing. His background includes outdoor brands such as Dick Idol, Wild Wings, PGA TOUR, Bob Timberlake, Earnest Hemingway, John Wayne Enterprises and Ducks Unlimited.
The new KLOAK patterns, based upon mimicry patterning and cryptic colorations found in the natural world, will be unveiled during the SHOT Show in Las Vegas (Booth #243) right beside Under Armour, January 17-20, 2012.
Genesis Pattern Technologies strives to become the international leader in the development of camouflage patterns, as well as the development, marketing and production of other outdoors products and technologies for sale to outdoor enthusiasts.
