We cordially invite you to attend the Supplier Showcase during SHOT Week on January 17 & 18th, 2022 at the HLC Industries Inc., Booth 51700 – to explore our INVISTA™ CORDURA® Solution Dyed Fabrics Collection of both 500D and 1000D. Stop by for our famous fresh Pistachios and a great conversation.
For additional information: sales@hlcindustries.com
When we say CORDURA® is durable, we mean it. That’s why militaries around the world trust CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics to perform on every mission. For additional information, contact: sales@hlcindustries.com – for samples + marketing materials
SPARTANBURG, SC (Nov. 23, 2021)—Milliken & Company has announced a new partnership with C2R Fast, a UK-based tactical gear designer. The first product of the organizations’ partnership is the Fortuna Jacket, a military-grade insulated jacket that was developed with Milliken’s TactX™ RipStop fabric which includes a non-PFAS finish.
By combining C2R’s design precision with Milliken’s expertise in high-performance fabrics, the Fortuna Jacket offers superior durability and performance attributes typically seen and saved for elite warfighters and militaries around the world. The hooded, insulated jacket is available in three colors (Wolf Gray, Ranger Green and Navy), and will retail for £295.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at C2R and we’re off to a strong start in our partnership with the introduction of the Fortuna Jacket. Milliken has been working in the government and defense space for more than 75 years and we’re always excited to do business with companies who value and understand the power a quality fabric can provide a garment,” said Bruce LaFlam, VP of sales and marketing, government and defense for Milliken.
Milliken’s TactX™ RipStop fabric offers leading durability and tear resistance without sacrificing comfort, making it ideal for the Fortuna Jacket which was developed for performance-minded consumers looking for outerwear that can be put to the test.
“At C2R we have always worked hard to guarantee we are utilising the latest textiles and manufacturing processes to ensure our customers receive the most unique and highest caliber product we can create. We spent considerable time evaluating different outer materials to identify the perfect combination of characteristics. Once we discovered TactX it was an easy choice. TactX demonstrates the determination to develop high quality performance textiles with the new DWR coating demonstrating Milliken’s determination to innovate in an environmentally conscious way. For this reason Milliken is a natural partner for us.” said Nick Shepherd, director, C2R-Fast.
The Fortuna Jacket will be available for purchase exclusively online at www.c2rfast.com. Pre-orders begin on Nov. 26 and jackets will begin shipping in December.
The Velocity Systems SwiftClip attachment system allows auxiliary equipment (Chest Rigs, SwiftClip Placards, Med Bags, etc.) to swiftly clip on or off your plate carrier. The system makes it possible to instantly change your kit to fit your operational needs with just a click. The SwiftClip is designed to accept any chest rig or other items with an ITW 1″ male side release buckle. All materials and workmanship are 100% made in the USA.
Graphics – @righteousduke
(Andover, Mass.) – November 9, 2021 – Polartec®, a Milliken & Company brand, and premium creator of innovative and sustainable textile solutions, announces the winners of its 2021 Polartec Apex Design Awards, the annual design award program celebrating the finest products made from Polartec fabric technologies. The winning products were selected from hundreds of entries based on skilled and creative uses of Polartec.
This year’s Polartec Apex Awards campaign centers the importance of versatility and functionality for today’s consumer, brought to life by a creative campaign featuring photography of all the winning products under the theme “Mountain to Bar and Back Again.” Recognizing the very best in garment design and fabric innovation, it’s the freedom to play and perform in the same solution that makes many of this year’s winners stand out from the crowd. The models in the campaign have been fashioned as characters representing each winning brand’s product.
The winners are:
66°North – Kría Neoshell® Power Fill Parka – The Kría NeoShell Power Fill Parka uses a first-of-its-kind combination of Polartec® Power Fill™, the first 100-percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) fill insulation, and Polartec® NeoShell®, the most breathable waterproof fabric. Polartec® Power Fill™ provides lightweight warmth and compressible insulation made of proprietary hollow fibers bonded together to eliminate cold spots. Polartec® NeoShell® is not only the most breathable waterproof fabric technology, but it’s also stretchy and lightweight, enabling unprecedented comfort in a waterproof fabric. The resulting design from the harsh, colder weather experts at 66°North in Iceland updates one of their original jacket designs with these technologies, creating a cold-weather parka that performs for everything from extreme weather outdoor pursuits, to everyday life.
ABSNT – theROBE – The ABSNT Robe is designed for a circular lifecycle thanks to Polartec® Power Air™. An update to the award-winning fabric technology, this style of Polartec® Power Air™ is 100 percent recyclable and 25 percent lighter than the initial product. Power Air is the first fabric technology engineered to minimize microfiber shedding, with an innovative knit construction that encapsulates lofted fibers within a multilayer, continuous yarn fabric construction, capturing warmth and preventing microfibers from shedding at least five times less than other premium mid-layer fabrics. ABSNT’s unique position of designing premium and mindful product that they feel are ABS(e)NT from the marketplace makes Polartec a perfect fit for their introductory product. The product will release in 2022.
Nike ACG – Men’s AOP Wolf Tree Hoodie, Women’s AOP Wolf Tree Half Zip, Men’s and Women’s AOP Wolf Tree Pant – Nike’s outdoor-inspired sub-label, ACG (All Conditions Gear), looks to the creators of technical fleece to deliver a premium apparel collection. Nike ACG uses Polartec® Classic 200 fleece made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyester with a unique all-over print to design tops and bottoms for men and women. The resilient construction of Polartec Classic fleece technology creates air pockets for insulation, making it lightweight, warm, and fast-drying, with maximum durability. Nike ACG’s designs with Polartec equip you for streets and trails.
And Wander – alpha AIR T – And Wander continues to showcase the design versatility of Polartec® Alpha® with the alpha AIR T. Polartec® Alpha® active insulation offers a rare combination of lightweight warmth and true breathability. A fabric technology originally developed for US Special Forces, Alpha regulates thermal comfort in dynamic conditions due to its exceptional breathability. The Japanese outdoor brand uses a minimalist, fashion-oriented design but draws inspiration from the outdoor technical world with performance fabrics. Polartec® Alpha® meets the And Wander ethos of making beautiful, lightweight, and functional clothing.
Ariat Rebar Polartec Elite Series – The Ariat Rebar Polartec Elite Series draws inspiration from how a climber or skier would layer in accordance with weather conditions to introduce the first non-flame-resistant Polartec workwear collection for the “athletes of work.” The collection employs a set of Polartec fabric technologies to create a unique thermoregulating layering system. For the base layer, Ariat chose Polartec® Power Grid™, the original grid fabric engineered to maximize warmth, breathability, wicking action, and compressibility, while minimizing weight and bulk. For the mid-layer, Ariat selected Polartec® Power Stretch® technical fleece for durable stretch and recovery, and treated it with Polartec® Hardface® for added protection, abrasion resistance and water repellency. For the outermost layer, Ariat used Polartec® Power Fill™, made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, to insulate in the coldest/harshest conditions. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind advanced clothing system using a breadth of Polartec fabric technologies to maximize thermoregulation and protection for the various conditions that workers face.
Haglöfs – High Loft Wool Jacket – Haglöfs uses the performance of natural fibers to their benefit in the High Loft Wool Jacket. As a long-time Polartec innovation partner, Haglöfs embraced an evolution of Polartec® High Loft™ lightweight insulation made with merino wool for its natural thermoregulation and comfort on the shoulders and torso. And to add further natural performance, the arms and sides are engineered with Polartec® Power Wool™ for increased stretch and range of motion, with a brushed grid fleece wool interior and a smooth jersey face synthetic exterior to retain wool’s natural properties, while increasing its performance. The result is a cold-weather layer that uses Polartec’s natural solutions for advanced thermal comfort, enabling Haglöfs to maintain sustainable performance.
Hikerkind – Midlayer_01 – Hikerkind is a women’s outdoor gear and New York City hiking club creating apparel with a new perspective that redefines the hiker archetype. For the brand’s initial product, Hikerkind selected Polartec® Power Air™, the award-winning future fleece technology specifically designed to reduce microfiber shedding. Featuring an innovative knit construction that encapsulates lofted fibers within a multilayer, continuous yarn fabric construction, Power Air provides advanced thermal efficiency while shedding 80% less microfibers compared to premium fleece. The Midlayer_01 is warm, yet lightweight and breathable, with four-way stretch and a soft hand feel, and looks as natural in an upscale boutique as on the trail. The bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100-certified Polartec fabric is made in the USA and the garment is constructed in NYC, with 100% curbside-recyclable packaging. The Midlayer_01 (complete with a matching scrunchie made from upcycled Polartec® Power Air™) encapsulates Hikerkind’s ethos of conscious creation and reducing overall waste.
Moncler – Grenoble Collection – Softshell Jacket, Softshell Pants – Moncler’s Grenoble Collection combines high-end fashion with performance technologies to create truly luxurious outdoor wear. Polartec® NeoShell®, the world’s most breathable waterproof fabric, powers this elevated look from top-to-bottom. With an air-permeable membrane, NeoShell is the first fabric to combine the superior breathability, ventilation, and stretch of a softshell with the waterproof performance of a hard shell. Moncler uses NeoShell in a unique tracksuit silhouette for versatile performance and comfort for any activity from mountain to city. The collection will release in January 2022.
Norrøna falketind Alpha120 Zip Hood – The falketind Alpha120 Zip Hood is Norrøna’s most breathable and quick-drying mid-layer, using a hybrid of Polartec® Alpha® and Polartec® Power Grid™ fabrics. Polartec® Alpha® active insulation is perfect for high-intensity outdoor adventures in cold conditions, as the fabric is engineered for advanced breathability and thermoregulation. Polartec® Power Grid™ technical fleece is strategically placed under the arms and down the sides to optimize range of motion, promote moisture-wicking, and decrease overall fabric mass. With this piece, the Scandinavian outdoor brand designed a durable and lightweight mid-layer that performs throughout cold mountain conditions.
Orvis – PRO Sun Hoodie – The PRO Sun Hoodie is the first-ever sun hoodie made from Polartec® Power Grid™, created for optimal temperature regulation and versatile performance. Polartec® Power Grid™ fabric technologies are defined by their patented bi-component knit grid construction for excellent moisture management and breathability. Orvis chose a thin, non-fleecey version of Power Grid with inherent sun protection (UPF50+), making it a truly smart application of this lightweight grid fabric. Originally designed for fly fishing, the PRO Sun Hoodie makes for an optimal moisture wicking base layer foundation for all activities in all conditions.
P.A.M. Liveable Recycled Shearling Coat – Australian fashion brand, Perks and Mini, designed this truly unique unisex coat with 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) Polartec® Thermal Pro® shearling Fleece. This particular iteration of Polartec® Thermal Pro® is a warm yet lightweight performance fleece delivering the comfort and look of wool shearling, with the dramatically improved performance and durability of technical fleece. Known for their interesting prints and patterns, P.A.M. was able to take advantage of Polartec® Shearling Fleece’s design versatility by creating a truly fashionable coat with vibrant flowers all over, referencing this premium quality fabric in their own style.
Sportful – Total Comfort Jacket – The Sportful Total Comfort Jacket uses a hybrid of Polartec thermoregulating fabrics, Polartec® Alpha® Direct and Polartec® NeoShell®, to set a new standard for winter cycling. In the interior, Polartec® Alpha® Direct active insulation regulates core body temperatures for advanced breathability, made possible through Alpha’s lofted fibers connected to a solid mesh core. Polartec® NeoShell® is the most breathable waterproof fabric technology, providing dynamic air exchange, comfortable stretch, and weather protection, allowing Alpha’s breathability to excel for aerobic pursuits. The Total Comfort Jacket combines two of Polartec’s most innovative fabric technologies to enable unprecedented comfort and performance in cold-weather activities.
Every winner is an embodiment of Polartec fabric innovation and design inspiration, celebrating the science of fabric and the art of product design. Each winner will receive a coveted Malden Wizard trophy in celebration of their winning designs, in addition to joint marketing support. A “People’s Choice” winner will be named via voting on Polartec social media over the coming weeks.
• Ultra-strong, lightweight fiber incorporated into design of new civilian armored vehicles in Latin America
• Mexican company first to manufacture Spectra fiber-based fabric for civilian vehicles
MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., Nov. 3, 2021 — Honeywell today announced Carolina Ballistic, a leading global manufacturer of ballistic materials, will use Honeywell’s Spectra fiber in the design and manufacture of new ballistic panels for civilian armor vehicles in Latin America, meeting a regional need for armored civilian vehicles that are lightweight but provide increased protection. The new Spectra Ballistic Panels will be on display at ExpoSeguridad in Mexico City (November 2- November 4).
Spectra fiber, an ultra-strong, yet lightweight fiber made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), is incorporated into Carolina Ballistic Armortec portfolio of products, providing multi-hit ballistic protection against a wide range of threats.
In Latin America, which has the largest number of armored civilian vehicles worldwide, there is a growing need for fortified vehicles that are resistant to various external threats. Lightweight armor allows vehicles to have better maneuvering, agility, and acceleration. In addition, low weight armor increases fuel mileage and reduces component stress and rollovers.
“As a specialist in body armor, vehicle armor and advanced material solutions for civil, military and law enforcement applications, we have provided Latin American and worldwide militaries and citizens with the highest level of protection with our products for more than 12 years” said Alvaro Fuentes Quintana, Carolina Ballistic Director. “By incorporating Spectra fiber into our ballistics materials portfolio, we can introduce new ballistic solutions for civilian vehicles that are designed specifically to protect against high velocity rifles threats.”
Spectra fiber is also incorporated into Honeywell’s Spectra Shield® technology for use in advanced armor applications. Honeywell’s Spectra Shield and Gold Shield® products have been widely adopted and proven for the most advanced armor applications globally, from bullet-resistant vests, breast plates, and helmets, to combat vehicles and military aircraft where lightweight solutions and performance are critical. Honeywell’s Shield technology is also capable of combining a variety of aramid fibers and resins to meet specific performance requirements in soft and hard armor applications.
“Armor solutions using UHMWPE have become the systems of choice for various applications. For military-grade armored vehicles, Honeywell’s Spectra fiber has provided a high-performing solution to withstand increased threats seen in combat for years,” said Tim Swinger, general manager for armor, Honeywell Life Sciences & Protection Industries. “By applying the same technology to civilian-grade armored vehicles, we can deliver next-generation armor to civilians and meet the demand for low-weight vehicles that provide the highest protection levels to occupants.”
Pound for pound, Spectra fiber is 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float. Spectra fiber is made from UHMWPE using a patented gel-spinning process. Spectra Shield technology is a patented Honeywell process designed to optimize the ballistic performance characteristics of Spectra as well as aramid fiber.
Honeywell maintains an active Spectra fiber and ballistic materials research program focused on continuous improvement and development of high-performance materials. For more information about Spectra fiber, visit industrial.honeywell.com/us/en/products/high-strength-fibers
From frontline operators under fire to law enforcement officers on the street, comfortable, reliable and rugged personal protective equipment (PPE) is vital to get the mission accomplished. Operators must be confident that what they’re wearing equips them to perform effectively and safely against a continuously increasing range of threats, every time, without failure.
The dangers posed by aggressors constantly change. Recent images from around the world have not only shown troops facing higher energy ballistic threats in military engagements in the Middle East and Southwest Asia but also ferocious assaults on Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. Police in Portland were frequently confronted by hails of rocks and concrete during disturbances in the summer of 2020 and a fire extinguisher was notoriously hurled at a group of officers during the US Capitol riots in January this year.
In response to these and other unpredictable military and law enforcement scenarios in-theatre, impact protection specialist D3O has applied its world-class material and product engineering capabilities to develop a new addition to its head protection range to better protect both military and law enforcement operators.
As this article goes on to explain, D3O’s latest innovation meets and exceeds blunt impact performance requirements at multiple impact velocities.
As a result, D3O offers head protection for the frontline warfighter who may be wearing a helmet for 15 hours uninterrupted as well as for the law enforcement officer facing a different type of threat on a short-duration mission.
Responding to evolving threats
An integral component of an operator’s PPE kit is the helmet, which offers critical protection against threats including ballistic impact from arms fire and explosive devices, blunt impact from falls or contact with solid objects, and blast overpressure from explosive devices.
The helmet’s core components include an external hard shell, an internal liner and suspension system to achieve a customized fit and minimize acceleration and deceleration of the head while providing comfort, and a retention device such as a chin strap to secure the system to the wearer’s head.
These components work together to reduce the risk of injury by preventing penetration from a ballistic impact and absorbing energy from a blunt impact or blast event – any of which can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI), where the brain’s normal function is disturbed.
Furthermore, the geometry and mass of additional accessories such as mandible protection, communications equipment or a ballistic visor cannot compromise the level of blunt impact protection or the overall balanced effectiveness of the helmet’s functioning parts.
All operators are aware of the adage, ‘Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain’. The average U.S. military warfighter carries at least 60 lbs of gear, with that figure often doubling for an extended patrol. Every component and accessory increases the total weight, which is particularly felt when added to the helmet. Operators must execute their mission without being distracted by their comfort level or fatigue. As a result, helmet system designers constantly face the challenge of increasing performance while ideally reducing weight.
The U.S. Army’s Integrated Helmet Protection System (IHPS) is one of three subsystems of the cutting-edge Soldier Protection System (SPS) – a platform designed to defeat current threats at a reduced weight while supporting the operator’s agility, maneuverability and survivability. SPS provides multiple levels of protection that can be tailored to a broad range of missions. The IHPS can also be configured and optimized to a specific task.
To help counter ever more unconventional projectiles, PPE specifications also evolve to provide enhanced levels of protection for operators. The IHPS product specification has a new requirement for a helmet that can perform at an impact velocity of 14 feet per second (fps) while not compromising performance at the traditional impact velocity of 10 fps, based on the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) standard (AR/PD 10-02). Protection at an impact velocity of 14 fps delivers a higher performance capability against the increasing energy exposure posed by many modern-day threats.
Applying cross-sector expertise
In 2015, D3O created the D3O® TRUST Stealth™ helmet pad system by leveraging its expertise from developing market-leading impact protection across the industrial, sports, motorcycle, electronics and defense markets. This system exceeds the required level of protection at 10 fps by 45 percent and maintains consistent performance on second impact. The seven-pad system fits most ground combat helmets and provides comfort during extended periods of wear.
TRUST Stealth™ was followed by TRUST Nimbus™, which delivers a 30 percent weight reduction and also exceeds the required level of protection at 10 fps by 50 percent in polyethylene (PE) shells and 39 percent in aramid shells. A seven- or nine-pad system that can be incorporated within most ground combat helmets, Nimbus™ offers state-of-the-art comfort, significantly easing the wearer burden.
D3O® TRUST Stratus™ is the latest innovation in D3O’s Defense head protection range. Testing shows that Stratus™ is the only commercially available system to exceed the impact performance requirements of the ACH standard simultaneously at 10 and 14 fps in both PE and aramid shells.
An integrated comfort liner in each pad, head-side fabrics offering antimicrobial protection and superior moisture-wicking properties, plus a ventilated moisture barrier to prevent pressure points at high altitude, also help to keep the operator’s focus on the task rather than their PPE.
TRUST Stratus™ meets SPS hook and loop adhesion requirements and can be integrated as an eight- or 10-pad system within most infantry combat helmets. This opens up a range of commercial possibilities for law enforcement and military tenders.
Optimizing for protection and comfort
For Oliver Sunnucks, D3O’s Senior Product Design Engineer, D3O® TRUST Stratus™ is “a natural evolution of the work we’ve been doing on the D3O® TRUST range over the last six or seven years. Throughout our development of the D3O Defense head protection range, we have continually fine-tuned the balance between applications, materials and standards.
“Ballistic performance is delivered primarily by the shell, whereas blunt impact performance comes from the synergy of the shell and the system inside. However, where the shells are specifically designed to meet a ballistic requirement, the internal pad systems are required to work effectively with a range of varying helmet shell designs. From a design engineering perspective, we must also consider the effect of geometric variables such as shell size and profile, material property variables such as temperature and strain rate (that is, the different impact speed requirements) and how the system response is changed through multiple impacts (due to damage).
“Our expertise is in understanding how these things play off against each other and knowing how to optimize the variables in order to deliver maximum protection and comfort at the lightest weight.”
Kevin Fleer, D3O’s Head of Product, explains that the requirement for impact resistance at a speed of 14 fps is “based on real-life impacts that modern-day operators encounter. It’s no longer a niche solution but a mass market one.
“Also, it doesn’t equate that a helmet system capable of passing a 14 fps standard will automatically pass at 10 fps. In almost all cases, the materials in a system tuned to 14 fps will be too rigid at the lower impact velocity.
“D3O® materials are extremely rate sensitive, meaning they react instantly to different velocities and energies. Therefore, it is possible to meet both the 10 and 14 fps standards using materials that remain soft enough for the 10 fps test and hard enough for the 14. This is only achievable with so much rate sensitivity from your chosen materials, a performance advantage that is unique to D3O®.”
The D3O Defense head protection range draws on the company’s world-class material and product engineering capabilities in order to create technology that serves those who need it most.
Furthermore, the ability to scale up US production capacity to handle the demands of the SPS IHPS program means the company is ideally positioned to serve both military and law enforcement needs for head protection.
By offering these solutions off the shelf, D3O is pushing the boundaries of head protection for a variety of users and providing a range of options for specifiers looking to increase protection for their teams.
by Bill VanMullekom, D3O
Stop by and say hello at our Booth 1463 at the IFAI EXPO in Nashville, Tennessee on November 2nd through 4th.
We are providers of USA Nylon Fabrics, Berry Compliant and Mil-Spec.
Check out our new website at: www.hlcindustries.com
