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Archive for the ‘Materials’ Category

Rab Launches Material Facts on Apparel and Sleeping Bags From This Autumn

Friday, July 21st, 2023

Your chance to find out transparent sustainability information and make an informed purchasing choice 

British outdoor brand Rab is clearing up the confusion many of us often feel when trying to understand sustainability jargon and logos on outdoor products. From September 2023, Material Facts will be available for all Rab apparel and sleeping bags, accessible online through scanning a QR code on the product hangtag. You will be able find out more detailed, easy-to-understand information on recycled content, fluorocarbon status and production information.

Rab doesn’t believe in hiding behind a ‘green logo’ or ‘eco-friendly’ label. A quick scan of the QR code on your smartphone will take you to a clear and accurate Material Facts sustainability data table. This information will enable you to make your own educated choice, before buying a Rab clothing or sleeping bag product.

Rab and Lowe Alpine’s parent company Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd., frustrated with a lack of clarity around sustainability criteria, created the pioneering Material Facts sustainability information tables to drive a focus on accuracy and transparency, as product director Tim Fish explains: “Communicating sustainability information is complex and means different things to different people, often leading to misleading claims and greenwashing. We’ve developed our non-branded Material Facts program to provide consumers with enough information to make their own educated purchasing decisions. The program leads the way by taking into account consumers’ and retailers’ demands for accurate and honest sustainability product claims.”

By the end of 2024, all Rab and Lowe Alpine packs, equipment and accessories will also include Material Facts tables, and more criteria will be added in the future.

Equip will continue to drive industry-wide engagement to constantly improve Material Facts and to jointly create an industry standard with other brands and industry stakeholders. This is a clear step forward in terms of aligned accurate, honest and transparent CSR communication.

More information about the current Material Facts program can be found here.

CORDURA NYCO Fabric and CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric Uniform & Equipment Solutions Take Center Stage At IDEF ‘23

Wednesday, July 19th, 2023

Kennesaw, GA, USA – July 14, 2023 Kennesaw, GA, USA Set to propel and underscore its commitment to best-in-class solution-dyed nylon 6,6 fiber technology innovation as well as developing the durable, long-lasting fabric solutions of tomorrow; INVISTA’s CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics will focus on responsible uniform solutions, and military and tactical equipment,  tailored to the Turkey, Europe, Middle East and Africa markets at this year’s IDEF International Defence Industry Fair, July 25-28. Join the CORDURA® team at booth #845B.

The CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics comprehensive, global, head-to-toe military, tactical and law enforcement portfolio will showcase:

• CORDURA® NYCO Fabric has a 3-5x slower flame spread versus polyester/cotton alternatives.* 50/50 CORDURA® NYCO Fabric outperformed heavier weight Poly/Cotton Military fabrics in Abrasion Resistance testing.**

• CORDURA® NYCO Extreme Fabric made with INVISTA T420HT – the strongest nylon 6,6 staple fiber CORDURA® has ever produced. 

• CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric Solution Dyed Nylon 6,6 (SDN) provides unparalleled lot-to-lot color consistency plus long-lasting color durability and Stewardship benefits; available in a palate of 7 military colors.

Also on display will be a full collection of lightweight, breathable, quick dry, head-to-toe mission critical performance fabrics including CORDURA® Classic Fabric.

The CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics global military, law enforcement and tactical applications include: Combat Uniforms, Ballistic Vests, Packs, Load Carriage Equipment, Webbing and Trims, Footwear, Base Layer, Combat Shirts, Headwear, Seat Covers and many more.

Erik Walker CORDURA® Global Military Segment leader explains:

“Throughout our 55-year brand journey, we’ve worked to establish a foundation built on durable and long-lasting fiber technologies, including our legacy of solution dyed, high-performance nylon 6,6 offerings. As we advance on this journey, we continue to invest and expand our capabilities to include solutions that are not only durable but lead down the path to using fewer resources to make the products our customers value.  We continue listening to the demands of the market; identifying unmet needs, solving problems, and utilizing innovation to create cutting-edge solutions to meet the ever changing needs of global militaries and law enforcement.“

Erdal Merttürk CORDURA® Business Manager Turkey, Middle East & Africa added:

“At CORDURA® brand we know life in law enforcement, military or with a tactical unit can be demanding. So, we develop fabrics specifically designed for combat uniforms. Engineered to be comfortable even in the most challenging conditions; fabrics that are tough, versatile and engineered to excel in the field. With CORDURA® NYCO Fabric Extreme which offers durable yet lightweight fabrics for hot weather conditions, we continue to push the boundaries of durable fabric development to meet the physical and environmental demands of combat and tactical life.”  

More about CORDURA® brand innovations in focus at IDEF:

CORDURA® NYCO Fabric – Comfort of cotton with enhanced durability

Originally designed as a rugged, lightweight comfort solution for military combat uniforms, durable CORDURA® NYCO Fabric is engineered with an intimate blend of INVISTA T420 nylon 6,6 staple fiber and cotton delivering enhanced abrasion and tear resistance, No Melt No Drip*** performance and 3-5x slower flame spread* versus internally tested equivalent weight polyester/cotton.   

CORDURA® NYCO Fabric Extreme – 

For decades, a part of the CORDURA® mission has been to support members of the military by using some of the world’s most durable fabrics. CORDURA® NYCO Fabric Extreme based on INVISTA T420HT high tenacity fiber technology has a mission to create a new generation of durable, yet even lighter weight fabrics. Strong, rugged fabrics like CORDURA® NYCO Extreme Fabricare specifically designed for hot weather combat uniforms, and are an excellent alternative to NYCO Mil-Spec fabric.

CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric – Responsible fabrics with locked-in color

CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric is engineered with high-tenacity nylon 6,6 multi-filament fiber that locks in the color at the molten polymer extrusion level to create deep, durable color throughout the entire fiber structure. CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric has excellent color fastness, resists color loss after UV exposure and long-lasting color vibrancy.  Color consistency is crucial when pairing fabric with other materials such as webbing to create military and law enforcement gear.  Additionally, compared to conventional level acid piece dyeing, the process used to make CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric uses less water, energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases****. 

CORDURA® TrueLock™ Fabric is available in Desert Sand, Tan-499, Coyote-498, Ranger Green, Camo Green-483, Wolf Gray and Black. End-uses include bags, load carriage, and reinforcements as well as use in responsible  webbings and trims.  

*Flame Spread rate as measured according to ISO 6941.

**ISO 12947-2 (woolen abradant, 12 kPa) after 5 home laundering cycles at 60°C

***No Melt, No Drip Performance based on ASTM 6413.

****2013 LCA study based on the average comparison of conventional level acid Piece Dyeing to SDN at 3 independent/3rd party dyeing and finishing mills. 

Learn more at cordura.com/military

Ocean State Innovations Printing Services

Monday, June 19th, 2023

For further information, contact our sales department:

Geoff Senko: geoff@osinnovate.com   

Peter Raneri: peter@osinnovate.com

Blue Force Gear Releases Updated ULTRAcomp Wallet Just in Time for Father’s Day

Monday, June 12th, 2023

Pooler, GA – Blue Force Gear is proud to announce the release of its updated ULTRAcomp® Wallet. Made from a self-extinguishing fabric, it’s literally a wallet your money can’t burn a hole through. The ULTRAcomp Wallet’s water-resistant and anti-microbial properties make it a great line of defense against summer swamp ass. And it reduces IR signatures, so you won’t have to worry about it giving away all those covert purchases you “didn’t” make.

The ULTRAcomp Wallet is designed to be as slim as possible while holding up to 12 credit/debit cards and licenses. The oversized bill fold accepts most forms of paper currency, including Canadian and EU size currency. And because it’s made from ULTRAcomp—the same material Blue Force Gear uses in its plate carriers, battle belts, and other tactical gear—this wallet exceeds military tear- and abrasion-resistance standards. How’s that for durability?

The ULTRAcomp Wallet is available at BlueForceGear.com in four colors: MultiCam®, Coyote Brown, Black, and Wolf Gray.

To learn more, visit blueforcegear.com.

Defence and Military Fabrics Market Growth for Carrington Textiles with Strategic Appointment

Thursday, June 8th, 2023

Adlington, United Kingdom: Global manufacturer of military fabrics, worn by armed forces across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Australasia, Carrington Textiles, has announced the appointment of its new Head of Defence and Security, Graham Dobson.

Graham’s focus will be the development of products and opportunities within the defence sector globally, with a focus on new markets and tender management. He brings over 30 years of knowledge and experience from within the military, police, fire and workwear markets, with the last 10 years helping military and police end users, as well as manufacturing partners, to develop suitable fabrics to meet their specific performance requirements.

Graham says: “I’m extremely proud and excited to be working for Carrington Textiles which has such a strong heritage in manufacturing military fabrics.  They have an amazing reputation for printing camouflage textiles and the opportunity to work for Carrington Textiles knowing that the market trend is to bring production nearer to home was simply too difficult to pass.”

Carrington Textiles’ Sales Director, Paul Farrell, adds: “As we continue to grow in the defence sector, Graham’s extraordinary knowledge coupled with his expertise in product development, will help us in continuing to bring new, innovative products to customers. We are delighted that he’s joined our team and are looking forward to working on many exciting military projects together.”

CANSEC 23 – Logistik Unicorp Develops Hemp Based Uniform Fabric

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

Logistik Unicorp’s hemp uniform fabric continues to move forward. Having proven it can be done, including printing, they have moved to improve the characteristics of the fabric including comfort and durability.

The plain weave fabric contains ~25% hemp and has a breaking strength of 900 N for both warp and weft.

G-Form Awarded $1.2M Research and Development Contract by US Army Development Command to Advance Next Level Warfighter Protection

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

PROVIDENCE, RI, June 6, 2023 – G-Form®, the innovative technology protection brand, is proud to announce its first with the U.S. Army Development Command – Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC).

The G-Form OTAp is for research and development of a prototype to create cutting edge soldier protection by utilizing its proprietary SmartFlex technology. G-Form will apply its material science expertise to develop improved shock-attenuation products that provide the most advanced knee, elbow, and head protection available to the warfighter.

“Innovation is essential in how we develop and build advanced protection products and we are excited to redefine the future of impact protection solutions for our warfighters, together with our partners at DEVCOM,” stated Glen “Gava” Giovanucci, G-Form’s CEO. “This work directly supports our American manufacturing capabilities and helps to ensure that the domestic industrial base remains fully capable of supporting the needs of the Armed Services.”

“I am committed to helping local companies compete and do business with the U.S. Department of Defense. The men and women of G-Form produce and develop a range of advanced protection products for our troops in the field and contribute to national defense. I am proud to see them recognized with this OTAp. It will keep more Rhode Islanders employed making cutting-edge protection gear for our troops,” said Senator Reed, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

www.g-form.com

OpEx 23 – HLC Industries

Monday, June 5th, 2023

I was both surprised and pleased to see HLC Industries exhibiting at Operator Expo.

They were there to engage the Canadian textile industry and show their Made in USA fabrics.