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Polartec’s New Power Shield Pro Hitting the Scene

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

You can’t hardly consider a military insulating layer these days without it being made from Polartec technology. Polartec, LLC, is launching a revolutionary new softshell fabric combining weather protection and breathability.

â€œPolartec helped launch the â€˜softshell revolutionâ€™ over ten years ago with PolartecÂ® Power ShieldÂ®, a fabric that offered superior breathability, durability and stretch with enough weather protection for everything but the wettest conditions,â€ states Karen Beattie, product marketing manager for Polartec. â€Polartec Power Shield Pro dramatically ratchets up the fabricâ€™s water resistance, while retaining critical breathability.â€

Several characteristics make it a promising choice for tactical garments. It is quieter than traditional shells yet repels 99% of wind. Additionally, insulation, breathable membrane, and shell are laminated into a single fabric solution making for lighterweight and lower volume clothing.

Thanks to a new proprietary membrane technology and lamination techniques, Polartec Power Shield Pro allows true air permeability (8 l/m2/sec = 2CFM) for a controlled two-way air exchange that significantly improves moisture transport over softshells that do not allow airflow. At the same time, Polartec Power Shield Pro holds a water column of 5000mm, offering superior water resistance.

Polartec Power Shield Pro is a laminate that can offer a combination of poly or nylon woven face fabrics with excellent DWR and durability characteristics, paired with lightweight to high loft backs. Sandwiched in between is a proprietary new hydrophobic, microporous polyurethane membrane that allows actual airflow through the entire fabric package but stops water from penetrating.

Polartec Power Shield Pro will be launched at the January 2010 Outdoor Retailer and ISPO trade shows by multiple brands including 66 North, Eider, Lowe Alpine, Millet, Montura, The North Face, Norrona, and Trangoworld. Let’s start to see this fabric with some tactical brands…hint, hint.

Tags: Polartec
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eVent by Any Other Name

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Apparently GE has decided to revise their branding strategy for eVent fabrics. No longer will they market the eVent brand but rather continue development of the technology and license the fabric to customers allowing them to build their own brands. This means that a lot more manufacturers will be using the eVent technology just under a variety of private label brands.

Tags: eVent, GE
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Goreâ„¢ Military Fabrics to Showcase Its Newest Protective Gear at the 2009 Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo

Monday, November 16th, 2009

In true fashion, as a leader in the development of cutting edge protective clothing and individual protection, Gore is at it again.

The scientists and product engineers at Gore have listened to the needs of the elite warfighter, and responded with the development of some of the most functional gear to hit the street. Whether that street is in the city of Mazari Sharif in Balkh Province, or in the remote mountains of Tora Bora; this new gear is meant to increase mission effectiveness through innovations in comfort and performance. Innovations based on the functional needs of the warfighter in the harshest and most demanding environments around the world.

Whether that need be durably waterproof, windproof and breathable protection, concealment, burn protection, or chemical and biological hazard protection, the military looks to the GOREâ„¢ Military Fabrics team for creative, dependable solutions.

Building on the tradition of GORE-TEXÂ® fabric, GOREâ„¢ Military Fabrics continue to play a vital role in the production of best-in-class protective clothing products for all branches of the U.S. Military – products our military personnel have come to trust for more than 25 years.

Visit the Goreâ„¢ Military Fabrics booth #508 at the Soldier Equipment and Technology Expo, to see the hottest new gear, and to discuss why Gore is a leader in developing solutions to systems level protection.

Tags: GORE Military Fabrics
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200 yrs: From Black Powder to Bullet Resistance

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

DuPont has produced several shorts that combine marketing and information. You could almost call them infomercials for the tactical industry. I really like them and this one is my favorite.

It takes you on a quick tour through history highlighting DuPont’s relationship with our military. DuPont of course, is the producer of such fabrics as NomexÂ® and KevlarÂ®, both critical to Soldier Survivability. Check out Dupont’s web presence at www.whatkeepsyousafe.com.

Tags: Dupont
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Army Camouflage Industry Day

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

UPDATE: According to solicitation ARMYCAMOUFLAGEINDUSTRYDAY posted yesterday on Fedbizopps, the U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC) and the Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment is sponsoring an industry dayrom 0900-1100 hrs on 28 October at NSRDEC in Natick, MA in the Carney Hall (Bldg#1), Hunter Auditorium. As you may have heard, the Army is assessing different camouflage patterns for use in Afghanistan (as well as other locales) and is seeking the expertise of the textile printing industry to determine the feasibility to consistently produce these colors and patterns in multiple substrates. All textile industry attendees (sorry looky lou’s) must have a US citizenship and register by email with Alison.spurr@us.army.mil by close of business on 26 October 2009. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Acquisition Center – Natick, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact(s): Stacey Smith, 508-233-5118

We updated Alison Spurr’s email address. We apologize for any confusion.

Tags: Natick
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Francisco J. Martinez Joins Protect the Force, LLC as Partner and Executive Vice-President

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Strategic consulting firm continues its expansion with appointment of Natick Soldier Center executive and addition of leading manufacturers of protective technologies.

Protect the Force, LLC announced today that Francisco J. Martinez, formerly Project Officer for the U.S. Army – Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center; Program Executive Office Soldier; Special Operations Command has joined Protect the Force, LLC as Partner and the companyâ€™s EVP for Product Development and Technology Integration.

â€œFrancisco brings over 19 years of experience in the Textile Technology field. He has a proven track record of understanding complex personal protection challenges and rapidly developing solutions that have saved lives and prevented injuries for our nationâ€™s armed forces and Homeland security operators. His level of energy and outside the box thinking will prove critical in Protect the Forceâ€™s commitment to providing best in class services to its clientsâ€ said Gary Hess, Protect the Force, LLC CEO.

Over the last five years at Natick, Mr. Martinez has worked effectively at developing integrated solutions for military combat clothing & individual equipment systems. He has been a forerunner in optimizing and creating test methodologies which more closely replicate real life combat scenarios in a reproducible and scientific environment.

His established and extensive relationship with industry, academia, medical and science and technology organizations both domestically and internationally creates an extremely unique source for product development and technology integration. Franciscoâ€™s Subject Matter Expert opinion in the area of flame and thermal protection is highly sought after and remains mission critical to the Global War on Terror. Mr. Martinez has been the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions throughout his career and most recently represented the U.S. Army at the NATO Combat Clothing and Individual Equipment Protection committee.

Clay Williamson, Protect the Force, LLC President, remarked, â€œFranciscoâ€™s appreciation for what truly is important and necessary to protect our forces, his constant and tireless search for solutions, industry and government network and passion to make a difference will result in success for Protect the Force. Francisco stands out as a technology innovator and pioneerâ€

Mr. Martinez will establish a third key location for Protect the Force, LLC in Natick Massachusetts.

The company also announced today that American Apparel, Inc., and PBI Performance Products Inc. have joined its growing list of clients. American Apparel is a high quality manufacturer of military apparel and uniforms. The company is one of the largest military â€œcut and sewâ€ operations in the country and is currently providing fire resistant combat uniforms to both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. PBI Performance Products is a world leader in the advanced materials and fabrics industry. The PBI fiber will not burn in air, does not melt or drip, and will retain its strength and flexibility after exposure to flame. PBI fibers form the backbone of various fabric blends, providing flame-resistance and thermal protection with the highest level of comfort, durability, and protection.

To learn more about Protect the Force, LLC vsit them on the web at www.protecttheforce.com.

Tags: Protect The Force LLC
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Finns Develop Fabric Based Antenna Technology

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Patria Aviation Oy has revealed information about their new fabric based antenna system.

The design is formed into a flexible patch made from pliable conductive material that can be affixed to clothing and may lead the way toward more conformal technologies. Intended for use with cellular communications and associated GPS systems, the patch is supposedly able to “maintain a strong radio signal, even when the patch is bent vertically, horizontally or diagonally” and “send location information to a remote user”.

It does have a few drawbacks based on how you look at it. The systems is currently optimized for use with Iridium satellite phones and is incapable of receiving calls, but rather only in placing them. At any rate, the concept works and could be used as-is in several situations, particularly in the realm of sensors.

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Modern Day Marine Round Up

Monday, October 5th, 2009

There were a lot of great products at last week’s Modern Day Marine expo at Quantico, Virginia.

Wilcox Industries showed their new interface for the Ops-Core mount.

Speaking of Ops-Core, they debuted several new products available in early 2010. This eye shield was actually developed a couple of years ago but placed on hold while they refined the FAST technology for a military customer. The lens slides up and down on a track located inside the shell. It will replace the front brow pad inside the helmet as a unit and is ready to go awaiting production of the actual clear shield which will be manufactured by Oakley.

The Smith Optics Elite Division crew was on hand.

Australian firm Global Safety Solutions & Management PTY LTD exhibited their new wet weather laminate material. It is used in the current Australian issue foul weather clothing system.

Inert Products, LLC displayed a wide variety of training aids including the M4 “rubber duck” as well as other inert training aids.

Benchmade Knives showed a set of their HK signature knives packed inside a pistol case. The combo pack includes a 20-Tools-in-One mutli-tool, LED light, and Ally knife.

Tags: Modern Day Marine, Ops-Core
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