We’re heading to NAUMD 2026.
Join 1947 & Ocean State Innovations at Booth T19 to explore advanced textile solutions built for performance, durability, and real-world applications.
May 03–05, 2026
Boston Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA
Meet our team, discover innovative materials, and see what’s next in high-performance textiles.
Let’s connect— peter@osinnovate.com
From 21 to 24 April at Techtextil in Frankfurt, Hall 9 Stand F03 will bring together textile manufacturing and specialist finishing expertise in one integrated offer. Carrington Textiles and Pincroft will present a co branded stand that unites fabric development, dyeing, printing and advanced flame retardant finishing under one roof.
The focus for 2026 is the unveiling of an entirely new generation of inherent flame retardant fabrics, developed in collaboration with technologies including Lenzing FR and XLANCE®. The collection introduces proprietary blends that have not previously existed in the global textiles market. Engineered from the fibre stage to deliver durability, wearer comfort and long term protective performance, these fabrics represent a genuine step change in inherent FR development. Each construction has been created to answer evolving garment engineering demands while maintaining permanent FR integrity throughout the full life cycle of the garment.
Alongside these industry first launches, Pincroft will demonstrate its depth as a specialist commission dyer, printer and finisher, with a strong emphasis on flame retardant finishing technologies. Its capabilities extend from controlled dyeing and precision rotary screen printing to in house permethrin application for insect repellent finishes. With artwork development, digital file preparation and rotary screen engraving managed internally, Pincroft oversees the full process from concept to final fabric, ensuring technical accuracy, repeatability and supply chain security for defence, workwear and technical textile programmes
Together, the two brands, part of RTS Textiles, present garment manufacturers and textile buyers with access to never before seen inherent FR blends supported by integrated finishing expertise, all from a single stand at Techtextil 2026.
“Military-grade elastic” is a well-known concept in the world of load-carriage today; but 15 years ago, it was a revolutionary idea. One that no one thought would work.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell
The idea was born when the CEO of Blue Force Gear (“BFG”) was nearly side-swiped by a cyclist careening out of an alley. As the “10-speed” cyclist swerved to avoid a collision, the CEO noticed a pair of water bottles tucked into the spandex pockets on the back of his jersey and the idea materialized. The water bottle was heavy, but it stayed in place. Could elastic work for a fully loaded M4 mag as well? That question (and BFG’s answer) changed the way gear manufacturers and warfighters have approached load-carriage for the past decade.
Blue Force Gear has always been an innovator – never reproducing something that was already on the market but rather approaching problems with a fresh look. If you recall from last week’s article, BFG’s design philosophy addresses the old military axiom “ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.” A Pub Med article stated that “many injuries experienced by soldiers can be attributed to the occupational loads they are required to carry.” (1) BFG recognized our warfighters’ lives, backs, and knees are worth protecting and that’s why the attention to detail – and obsession with shaving ounces – goes into every product they produce.
Ten-Speed was another innovation by BFG to drastically reduce weight for the warfighter. Ten-Speed became known as their line of pouches that uses a proprietary elastic to retain objects. The pouches were originally developed and marketed for M4 magazines, but a few unexpected benefits were swiftly realized when they were beta tested.
Photo courtesy of Department of War
Ten-Speed pouches will stretch to accommodate just about anything, as long as they’re sized to fit within that pouch. This allows the user to carry critical items without changing pouches or having specific loadouts for each mission. One pouch…nearly unlimited utility. Ten-Speed pouches range in size from pistol mag to 417 mag and come in single, double, or triple configurations. Depending on the size selected, they fit various items such as different types of magazines, medical gear, small handheld radios, GPS units, multi-tools, knives, flashlights, and yes, even dip cans.
Ten-Speed pouches lay flat when they’re not in use, adding no bulk and virtually no weight to the user. This is crucial because form-factor is a concern no matter what the mission. Another Pub Med article stated that “it is most efficient to carry load as close to the body’s centre of mass (CoM) as possible.” (2) In addition to reducing risk of injury, men and women with smaller profiles can fit more places and move faster than those with bulkier kit. When a Ten-Speed pouch is needed, it stretches to accommodate an item.
The operational feedback that shaped Ten-Speed came directly from elite units conducting linear assault missions — operations carried out in the confined quarters of aircraft, subways, trains, and buses. In those environments, every millimeter of unnecessary bulk is a liability. A pouch that snags on a doorframe or catches on a seat could mean the difference between a clean entry and a compromised mission. Ten-Speed was built specifically to eliminate that risk.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth
The best pouch is the one you forget is there. Ten-Speed pouches don’t add bulk, don’t weigh you down, and retain items beautifully until you need them and then lay flat when you don’t. BFG solves problems for the warfighter by drastically reducing weight and at the same time providing even more options, Ten-Speed is just another example of their innovation.
For procurement inquiries, unit evaluations, or operational briefings, contact the Blue Force Gear Military Department.
Keep an eye out for next week’s article where we’ll cover the technology that literally changed MOLLE pouches – Helium Whisper.
(1) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25178432
(2) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20060096
About Blue Force Gear®
Widely known for supplying the world’s best weapon slings, Blue Force Gear also leads the lightweight load carriage equipment revolution with Ten-Speed multi-use pouches, MOLLEminus platforms, and their patented Helium Whisper attachment system. Their proprietary ULTRACOMP high-performance coated fabric laminate material, unrivaled innovation, attention to detail, and obsession with reducing weight sets Blue Force Gear apart from others in the tactical equipment industry. Blue Force Gear is a Great Place to Work Certified Company. For more information on products, proprietary technologies, or how BFG continues to reduce weight for the warfighter, visit their website: www.blueforcegear.com
When Haley Strategic set out to build the next evolution of their iconic FlatPack X, they turned to X-Pac® Tactical – the laminate brand trusted by leading gear brands across the defense and outdoor markets.
The Limited Edition FlatPack X showcases the performance of X-Pac® Tactical X50, a rugged laminate built for demanding environments. Constructed with a 500D CORDURA® nylon face fabric, signature X-PLY® reinforcement, and a waterproof film backing, X50 delivers exceptional abrasion resistance, structural stability, and weather protection with optimized weight efficiency. Paired with Haley Strategic’s refined FlatPack platform featuring upgraded hardware, expanding gussets, and next-generation shoulder straps with laser-cut MOLLE the result is a pack designed to move seamlessly from the street to the field.
X-Pac® Tactical is proud to collaborate with industry leaders such as Haley Strategic Partners. Together, we continue to work in close partnership to bring high-performance, innovative products to market—driven by a shared commitment to superior quality and cutting-edge solutions for the end user. We value this collaboration and look forward to continuing our support with advanced materials that help shape the next generation of products.
For gear brands that demand the best, partnering with X-Pac® Tactical means a competitive advantage:
Superior Weatherproofing: Unlike traditional materials that absorb sweat and moisture, X-Pac® fabrics stay dry, enhancing comfort during extended wear.
Lightweight & Abrasion Resistant: Engineered for long-lasting durability without adding unnecessary weight to the end product.
Manufacturing Efficiency: X-Pac® fabrics perform exceptionally well under robotic sewing systems, showing minimal distortion and streamlining production — helping brands lower labor costs and boost capacity.
Versatility Across Applications: Trusted for a wide range of products including slings, plate carriers, pouches, packs, and more.
Proven Under Stress: Tested across fabrics including X-Pac® VX21, X33, and X50, the material holds up under real-world stressors and demanding sewing conditions alike.
About X-Pac® Tactical
Born from X-Pac® legacy on the world’s most challenging peaks and longest trails, X-Pac® Tactical Fabrics are lightweight, durable, incredibly strong, and 100% waterproof. At the forefront of innovation, these fabrics offer peak performance in the harshest environments. Leveraging a proprietary lamination technology, X-Pac® Tactical Fabrics combine trusted face fabrics and strategic fiber reinforcement — specifically designed for the most demanding missions. This unique construction elevates equipment’s functionality and longevity.
TRUST ONLY X-Pac® — www.x-pactactical.com and follow us @x-pactactical
PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Army armament engineers here partnered with a pair of Pennsylvania companies, one with alloy expertise and the other with forging metals, to deliver a capable barrel for the Army’s next generation of small arms.
Carpenter Technology developed the alloy and Geissele Automatics (also known as GWYNEDD) developed the production techniques for the barrels, while the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center provided the expertise in gun technology to deliver an innovation that is key to meeting the required capability.
This novel barrel design, created as part of two separate CRADAs (Cooperative Research and Development Agreements) between the Armaments Center, Geissele and Carpenter, relies on the alloy, GNB 200, which provides Army small caliber next generation weapons with higher tensile strength and, with it, better wear resistance.
This advancement came after several projects focusing specifically on barrel technology over the past decade.
According to general engineer Daniel Cler, the design’s principal investigator, DEVCOM had tested several “high alloy barrel materials” over the decade, seeking to help alleviate pressure buildup, corrosion and mechanical wear as next-generation weapons maintain significantly higher-pressure than their legacy counterparts, this could in turn worsen barrel wear.
In the past several years, the U.S. Army has attempted to shift away from using hazardous heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium coatings, which is still renowned for its longevity, but is known to cause significant health problems in production when hexavalent chromium is in solution.
Seeking to replace hexavelant chrome coatings with barrel materials that provide good wear and corrosion performance without coatings, the Army has performed research into a plethora of different metals. However, many of these materials were too hard to cold hammer forge, a method that is the current manufacturing technology for most military small arms. Because of this, the Armaments Center was refocusing on hammer forging and materials that were compatible with the process when it signed both CRADAs in 2022.
GNB 200 is, per Carpenter Technology’s website, a “premium remelted alloy steel specially formulated for high temperature wear resistance.” According to Cler, GNB 200 is near the upper limit of what can reliably be cold-hammer forged.
Carpenter Technology was already highly familiar with GNB 200, and as such provided samples for testing, along with several other materials. The Armaments Center gave guidance, processed information, provided support for analysis and result documentation and carried out accelerated wear testing for proposed alloys.
Work with Geissele focused on manufacturability and feasibility. Geissele cold hammer forged the barrels themselves, provided input and direction for coating alternatives and specifications, performed testing on barrels, and processed parameters on manufacturability. In this stage, the Armaments Center gave its expertise on barrel technologies, provided ammunition for testing and performed project oversight.
The parties involved tested the barrels in an M240L machine guns over the project’s third and final year, which ended in spring 2025. The material showed much better performance than the standard M240L barrel and now informs future Army next generation weapons.
GNB 200 continues to inform the next generation of Army small caliber weapons.Though the CRADA with Carpenter Technology has expired, DEVCOM renewed its CRADA with Geissele for another three years to continue development of barrel coatings.
A CRADA is a written agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties to work together on research or development.
The GNB 200 hammer forged barrel is not the only project made in collaboration with Geissele. The pair also collaborated on developing a new rifle profile which has been shown to further reduce wear and improve dispersion. This profile received United States Patent 12,203,716 B2 on Jan. 21, 2025.
Cler said he was most proud of seeing a project he worked on informed next generation systems. He also noted how important it is to have some influence upon the industry in the correct direction, though he lamented not being able to get involved earlier.
“CRADA’s are a good way to influence industry so that as systems are developed to meet Army requirements, industry is ready to jump in with better solutions that are more aligned with the Army,” he said.
By Tyler Barth
While there are many shades of green that occupy the military space (Foliage Green, Sage Green, and Army Green to name a few), Ranger Green and OD Green seem to be the most sought after and widely recognized. These two greens look similar, with muted tones that pair well with a variety of colors like gray, black, coyote brown, and Multicam or other camouflage patterns. So, what’s the difference in the two shades?
OD Green, short for Olive Drab Green, has been a staple of military equipment and uniforms since World War II. It’s a warm, medium-toned green with yellow-brown undertones and is described as “earthy” or “organic.” Ranger Green, by contrast, is a newer development born out of Army SOF requirements in the early 2000s. It is cooler with gray undertones that push it away from the olive family and closer to a subdued, slate-influenced green. For a deeper look at where Ranger Green came from and the history behind its development, check out BFG’s original article on the subject.
The gray component in Ranger Green is the key to understanding why it was developed as a distinct color. OD Green performs well in a broad range of vegetated environments, particularly in temperate zones with lush, mid-toned foliage. Ranger Green, however, was designed with darker, denser environments in mind. Its cooler tones allow it to blend more naturally into shadowed terrain and low-light conditions, where OD Green’s warmer hues can appear slightly bright by comparison. This also makes Ranger Green a strong performer at dusk and dawn during transitional lighting conditions.
The easiest way to distinguish the two is to look at them in indirect or overcast light. OD Green will read warmer and slightly more saturated, with that characteristic olive quality. Ranger Green will appear flatter and grayer, almost as if the green has been dialed back and cooled down. In direct sunlight, the gap between the two can narrow, which is one reason they’re occasionally mistaken for each other in photos.
So, which color is your favorite? Now’s your chance to find out because in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, BFG is offering OD and Ranger Green Vickers Slings at a discounted price! They will only be available while supplies last. Shop the sale today!
About Blue Force Gear®
Widely known for supplying the world’s best weapon slings, Blue Force Gear also leads the lightweight load carriage equipment revolution with Ten-Speed multi-use pouches, MOLLEminus platforms, and their patented Helium Whisper attachment system. Their proprietary ULTRACOMP high-performance coated fabric laminate material, unrivaled innovation, attention to detail, and obsession with reducing weight sets Blue Force Gear apart from others in the tactical equipment industry. Blue Force Gear is a Great Place to Work Certified Company. For more information on products, proprietary technologies, or how BFG continues to reduce weight for the warfighter, visit their website: www.blueforcegear.com
You need Brookwood®’s patented FR-TEX® fabrics, but the lead times and minimums are a challenge.
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Interested? Inquire today!
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“We are still on a bit of a high from the positive energy of the show along with the consistent flow of brands and industry attendees who stopped by our booth to learn more about our innovative fabric solutions for the tactical market,” said James Lang, Sales Manager, Dimension-Polyant X-Pac® Tactical. “It was our strongest Supplier Showcase to date and a great way to start the new year, building on the strong market position X-Pac® Tactical achieved through excellent sales performance and growing adoption of its tactical fabrics throughout 2025.”
Dimension-Polyant has established itself as a trusted innovation partner to leading tactical brands, leveraging the proven strengths of its laminate platforms and elevating performance through proprietary lamination technologies. Adoption of the company’s X-Pac® Tactical materials has expanded rapidly after extensive vetting by large manufacturers and brand partners with end users reporting overwhelmingly positive feedback on strength, durability, lightweight performance, and waterproofing.
“We’ve built a reputation for delivering real-world performance that end users can trust,” said James Lang, Sales Manager, Dimension-Polyant X-Pac® Tactical. “The growth we achieved in 2025 reflects how strongly the market is responding to advanced laminate solutions that deliver durability, weight savings, and scalability without compromise.”
According to Lang, attendees were drawn to the company’s new X-Pac® MANTA® fabrics, a pioneering advancement in tactical textiles that redefine benchmarks for weight, strength, and durability. Engineered with a structural core, X-Pac® MANTA® fabrics deliver exceptional strength, dimensional stability, and laser-cut precision, making them ideal for demanding applications such as structural packs, plate carriers, and MOLLE panels.
X-Pac® MANTA® fabrics are available in two innovative constructions: Dimension-Polyant’s exclusive Tyra Core Technology® spread filament core and woven Ultra Core technology utilizing Ultra-PE fibers. Tyra Core Technology® aligns and orients each filament to maximize load-bearing efficiency, tear resistance, and puncture toughness, delivering exceptionally lightweight yet incredibly strong laminates. Ultra Core fabrics utilize a woven Ultra-PE mid-layer for a softer hand feel, lighter weight, and Berry compliance.
Dimension-Polyant also presented its successful X-Pac® X3 collection of laminates that feature a rugged, flexible three-layer construction that is 100% waterproof, reinforced by DP’s proprietary X-PLY® fiber technology and finished with a sleek polyester film backing. These laminates include:
“Our materials continue to push the boundaries of strength-to-weight performance and design flexibility,” said Lang. “We’re seeing strong momentum across structural gear, load-bearing systems, and next-generation tactical applications.”
Dimension-Polyant has established partnerships with several leading tactical brands, including Haley Strategic Partners, Spiritus Systems, and LOF Defense, and continues to expand its laminate portfolio to meet evolving market needs. The company remains uniquely positioned to support both large-scale production and collaborative development.
“We’re big enough to deliver contract-scale orders, but small enough to stay close to our customers and build solutions based on real operational needs,” said Lang. “Our R&D team works hand-in-hand with partners to deliver the next generation of laminate technologies.”
Driven by the rapid adoption of advanced laminate materials in the tactical space and strong demand growth throughout 2025, Dimension-Polyant has continued to invest in key talent across operations, customer service, marketing, and supply chain to ensure scalable growth and consistent delivery performance.
About Dimension-Polyant
Dimension-Polyant is the world’s largest sailcloth producer with decades of experience in highly technical sailing fabrics. Founded in 1966, Dimension-Polyant has consistently set the standard with their high-quality products and precision workmanship. The company is known for reliable customer care, world-class innovation, and conscious efforts to make products that have as little of an impact on the environment as possible. Its production facilities are in Putnam, CT USA and Kempen, Germany. As of 2021, the company is climate neutral. www.dimension-polyant.com. Dimension-Polyant is owned by Sioen Industries, Belgium.
About X-Pac® Tactical
Born from X-Pac® legacy on the world’s most challenging peaks and longest trails, X-Pac® Tactical Fabrics, are lightweight, durable, incredibly strong and 100% waterproof. At the forefront of innovation, these fabrics offer peak performance in the harshest environments. Leveraging a proprietary lamination technology, X-Pac® Tactical Fabrics combine trusted face fabrics and strategic fiber reinforcement; specifically designed for the demanding missions. This unique construction elevates equipment’s functionality and longevity. TRUST ONLY X-PAC® www.x-pactactical.com.
