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Archive for the ‘Materials’ Category

AUSA 2024 – GORE-Tex Defense Fabric WINDSTOPPER Fabric

Monday, October 21st, 2024

GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER Fabric has been around for decades but with the recent move away from PFAS based Durable Water Repellent treated fabric, the argument for WINDSTOPPER use has seen a resurgence.

In the past, many customers looked to GORE-TEX fabrics for hardshell protection but now that DWRs aren’t so durable anymore, the inherent properties of WINDSTOPPER really shine.

The US Army has fielded a specialty clothing system in Alaska called Cold Temperature and Arctic Protection System, or CTAPS for short. It was a bit of a science project for several years, but the stand up of the 11th Airborne Division, made it a priority for the Army.

Some of the materials are a bit dated, and precede the move across industry to eliminate PFAS DWR from garments. In response, WL Gore & Assoc stepped up with their GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER technology to fill the gap. Not only did they propose a new fabric to keep the Soldier more comfortable, but they also updated the design of the garment to be more in line with other commercial items favored by Alaska’s Arctic Angels.

The fabric offers stretch, insulation, breathability, and weather protection, but is more durable and maintains its weather protection longer than other fabrics.

Learn more at www.goretexprofessional.com.

Sagewood Armament Para-Buckle – Sling Attachment

Saturday, October 19th, 2024

We don’t see a lot of innovation these days, particularly with buckles, but Sagewood Armament has hit it out of the park with this one.

The Para-Buckle – Sling Attachment is available in two sizes: 1″ and 1.25″ and allows an interface between sling and weapon using 550 cord. I’m sure users are going to come up with 100 other ways to put it to good use as well.

Made from 1/8″ thick G10, the Para-Buckle is offered in OD Green and Black. Get them at sagewoodarmament.com/sling-hardware/para-buckle-g10-2-pack.

Carrington Textiles Aligns All Cotton Fabrics with Better Cotton

Monday, October 7th, 2024

Adlington, United Kingdom: Carrington Textiles, a global leader in the manufacture of workwear, flame retardant and defence and security fabrics, has made a significant announcement underlining its commitment to sustainability by pledging exclusive support for the Better Cotton initiative with all the company’s products containing cotton.

The announcement was made on the occasion of World Cotton Day on 7th October 2024, an ideal opportunity for Carrington Textiles to highlight its commitment to developing workwear fabrics that not only offer high levels of quality and performance, but also support the production of responsibly sourced cotton globally.

What is Better Cotton?

It’s an initiative that promotes sustainable cotton farming practices to improve the environment and the livelihoods of farmers while ensuring high-quality cotton for consumers.

In 2019-2020, Better Cotton licensed over 2.4 million farmers from 23 countries across five continents. Together, these farmers produced 23% of the world’s cotton.

Better Cotton is sourced via a chain of custody model called mass balance. This means that Better Cotton is not physically traceable to end products, however, Better Cotton Farmers benefit from the demand for Better Cotton in equivalent volumes to those sourced.

How can this benefit customers?

When customers buy any of Carrington Textiles fabrics containing cotton, Better Cotton Credits or BCCUs are generated. These BCCUs can be claimed by a registered company directly on the Better Cotton Platform and used to communicate the responsibly source nature of the fabric’s cotton by using hang tags, labels and other marketing materials.

Neil Davey, Carrington Textiles’ Managing Director, announced this pivotal commitment to sustainability reflecting the company’s dedication to reducing its environmental footprint and providing customers with responsibly sourced materials.

Neil stated, “With 99% of fabrics from our FR, workwear and defence ranges containing cotton, this is a huge step towards our sustainability efforts, all of which we are proud to cover in our latest Sustainability Report. This initiative is expected to have a lasting positive impact on our products and the planet.”

Delta Three Oscar Launches Revolutionary Ballistic Foam to Help Brands Meet New NIJ Standards

Friday, October 4th, 2024

Blacksburg Virginia – 3rd October 2024: Delta Three Oscar, the ballistic arm of D3O renowned for its cutting-edge protective materials, has developed D3O® Ballistic, an advanced lightweight energy dissipating foam designed to support body armor manufacturers in meeting the new NIJ Standard 0101.07 and its new Back Face

Signature (BFS) requirements – the amount of deformation, or damage, created on the backside of a hard armor plate after a threat impact. This updated certification protocol, issued by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), offers enhanced protection and revised testing procedures, making it a significant upgrade over the previous NIJ Standard 0101.06.

As body armor manufacturers redesign and retest their products to comply with these new requirements, D3O Ballistic has become an essential solution for maintaining critical BFS performance while optimizing wearer comfort and mobility. Ten renown global manufacturers, have already adopted D3O Ballistic for their next-generation body armor systems, highlighting the material’s broad industry appeal.

Lightweight, Low-Bulk, High Protection

D3O Ballistic has been meticulously engineered to reduce the armor BFS for a wide range of threats, while improving mobility and comfort. This groundbreaking foam provides a crucial layer of protection for front-line personnel, minimizing non-perforating hit trauma and maximizing chances of carrying on with the mission. By offering a low-weight and low-bulk solution, it ensures that NIJ-certified body armour solutions remain mobile, comfortable, and reliable, addressing a key challenge in protective gear development.

This development comes at a critical time as the updated NIJ Standard 0101.07 introduces tougher requirements and more complex testing protocols. With D3O Ballistic, brands can confidently pass the new NIJ plate certification while ensuring the highest levels of safety and mobility for users.

Revolutionizing Protection for High-Risk Environments

“Delta Three Oscar is committed to saving lives,” said Stuart Sawyer, Delta Three Oscar CEO. “Our goal is to revolutionize protective gear for those operating in high-risk environments, and our Ballistic foam is a key part of that mission. This material isn’t just about protection—it’s about comfort, mobility, and ensuring that those on the front line have the best possible chance of coming home safely.”

In addition to supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, Delta Three Oscar’s innovative materials are used by international defense and law enforcement organizations around the world. The company’s products are also Berry Amendment compliant, making them a trusted partner for U.S. military procurement.

Catch Up with Ocean State Innovations at Upcoming Future Forces Forum in Prague

Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

OSI / Ocean State Innovations will be attending the FFF / Future Forces Forum in Prague – October 16-18th, 2024

Dimension-Polyant Launches X-Pac Tactical

Wednesday, September 25th, 2024

The ultimate tactical pack fabric

Putnam, CT: September 25, 2024 – In response to the growing demand from tactical operators and first responders for premium materials that offer trusted performance and protection during transportation and in-field use, Dimension-Polyant, a global leader in advanced technical sailcloth production, and manufacturer of X-Pac® lightweight, durable, and waterproof laminates for bags and packs, has introduced its new branded X-Pac® Tactical – a line of fabrics engineered to elevate tactical gear and withstand the rigorous demands of tactical environments.

X-Pac® Tactical is rooted in X-Pac® fabrics’ rich heritage of countless Everest ascents, Arctic expeditions, and millions of miles trekked. At the forefront of innovation, X-Pac® Tacticalfabrics leverage X-Pac® proprietary lamination technology that combines tough and trusted face fabrics with innovative fiber reinforcement specifically designed for demanding missions. This unique construction enhances the equipment’s functionality and longevity in the harshest conditions – making them the ideal choice for professional operators.

“We are proud to leverage the success of our X-Pac® Technology to the tactical market,” said Taylor North, Head of Technical Fabrics, Dimension-Polyant. “Our intention with X-Pac® Tactical was to create a high-performance tactical pack fabric that exceeds expectations—where lightweight meets durability, and innovation meets reliability.”

According to North, X-Pac® Tactical has launched with a collection offive rugged fabrics made in Putnam CT, USA, many of which are Berry Compliant showcasing Dimension-Polyant’s commitment to US-based sourcing and production while delivering exceptional performance and a steadfast commitment to quality.

“We’ve had such an incredible response to our new X-Pac® Tacticalfabrics and look forward to sharing more developments soon,” added North. Dimension-Polyant will be exhibiting at SHOT Week Supplier Showcase in Las Vegas, January 21-22, 2025, to present its new X-Pac® Tactical collection.

For more information on X-Pac® Tactical – the ultimate tactical pack fabric – please visit its new website: www.x-pactactical.com

Trust Only X-Pac®

D&M Holding Announces Expansion of WRE Primer Facility and New Smokeless Propellant Factory

Wednesday, September 18th, 2024

D&M Holding Company Announces Expansion of Current White River Energetics Primer Facility and New Smokeless Propellant Factory

DES ARC, Ark. (September 17, 2024) – D&M Holding Company, Inc. (D&M), an ammunition and energetics engineering company, is investing $70 million to expand its current White River Energetics (WRE) ammunition primer and energetics facility in Des Arc, Arkansas, and build a single-base, smokeless propellant factory.

“Currently, there is a worldwide shortage of smokeless propellant that is affecting munitions availability globally,” said Dan Powers, President and CEO of D&M Holding Company, Inc. “This will be the first single-base propellant factory to be built in the United States in over 50 years.”

White River Energetics currently has 125 employees at the Des Arc facility, with 73 new employees added in the past year. The expansion will create 100 new jobs and increase the Des Arc campus from 14,000 square feet to over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Construction on the expansion is underway and expected to be completed in Q1 2026.

“We are proud of all the people and employees who have worked tirelessly to support WRE and make this happen,” said BJ Rogers, Vice President of Operations, D&M Holding Company, Inc. “Having grown up in Des Arc, I’m personally proud to see the successes that have been made with primers and look forward to continued success in the future production of propellant.”

This expansion will enable WRE to scale its energetics and primer manufacturing to meet customer demand as well as develop new products. “This expanded campus also provides a facility for R&D and for training for our customers for whom we are building factories around the world,” said James Jones, Vice President of Business Development, D&M Holding Company.

D&M and WRE supports domestic and international clients in the defense and sporting markets through its development of turnkey factories, and its manufacturing and distribution of energetics for various types of ammunition, including primers for small and large caliber pistols and rifles. For more information visit D&M Holding Company and White River Energetics.

Pincroft Invests £1+ in New Military Printing Tech

Thursday, August 15th, 2024

£1m+ investment to dramatically boost Pincroft’s camouflage printing capacity

(Adlington, United Kingdom): Global leader in military fabric printing, dyeing and finishing, Pincroft, has announced an investment of over £1m for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for its factory in the United Kingdom that is set to increase the textile manufacturer’s camouflage printing capacity to over 8 million metres a year.

The new equipment boasts the latest technology in rotary screen printing, including a magnet combined system for uniform application across the width, digital synchronisation for better accuracy, short setup times, automatic repeat settings, design memory, and faster reproduction of re-orders.

It also includes a pre-bulk strike-off machine, which allows for preparation prior to the printing production process. This facilitates the development and verification of paste viscosities, colour concentration and magnet power adjustment.

Pincroft’s new rotary screen printer will allow the manufacturer to process a complex range of technical textiles, from lightweight fabrics for waterproof applications, to heavy weights for load carriage and equipment handling.

This new investment is Pincroft’s strategic move to continue its growth in the military fabrics segment and continue offering customers the best quality in camouflage textile printing.

Mike Collins, Pincroft’s Managing Director, says: “This investment is hugely important for our business. We expect delivery of the machine at the end of the year and aim to be ready for production at the start of 2025.”