GORE-TEX Professional

Archive for the ‘Materials’ Category

FirstSpear and NFM Group Partner to Expand Offering and Capabilities

Friday, February 15th, 2013

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Most readers of SSD are familiar with the American brand FirstSpear. However, unless you’re from Europe, you may not have heard of NFM Group. This partnership is huge for consumers in both regions and ultimately, in the entire, international market place. Norway’s NFM has some great clothing designs that FirstSpear is already leveraging and will continue to introduce to the American market and NFM will now have access to in first paragraph should be FirstSpear’s innovative Tubes, 6/12 and 6/9 technologies.

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This is their press release –

The business cooperation will serve to facilitate the continued rapid growth of both companies, their expansion into new markets and provide customers rapid access to state of the art defensive technologies

St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and Glynitveien, Norway – Today, FirstSpear, a warfighter tactical equipment designer and manufacturer, and the NFM Group, an interntional group of companies developing and marketing unique tactical textile and body armor solutions, have announced the launch of a co-development and distribution partnership.

The move will allow both companies to further enhance their technological solutions by combining state of the art, high performance defensive field gear with tactical capability enhancement technologies, allowing U.S. and European customers with rapid access to the unique variety of leading technologies offered by both companies.

FirstSpear designs are produced based on valuble end-user input, applied into the R&D process by developers, focusing on specific mission needs, and thus delivering pioneering, capability enhancement oriented products.

The NFM Group, considered one of the most innovative and specific mission-need oriented textile developers worldwide, focuses on developing tactical textiles and load bearing equipment that increases the flexibility and survivability of the modern combat soldier.

The partnership between FirstSpear and the NFM Group will serve to facilitate mutually enhanced product offerings, more efficient and effective marketing channels for both companies.

With a shared goal of addressing the need for lighter, more adaptable modular gear, FirstSpear will utilize NFM’s advanced tactical textile designs and technologies to enhance their load carriage systems and apparel solutions. NFM customers will benefit from direct access to FirstSpear’s latest technologies, including Tubes and 6/12, to name a few. Both companies will continue to drive innovation by working closely and constantly with military end-users in order to meet their unique mission needs.

“FirstSpear is committed to developing and deploying products that cater to the unique needs of the best of the best – the tip of the spear,” said Scott Carver, Founder and President of FirstSpear. “NFM is among the most talented and innovative devlopment teams with whom we have had the pleasure of working. We are excited to join forces with them to better serve the warfighter, giving our customers more immediate access to top tier technologies.”

The match between FirstSpear and NFM Group is intuitive and natural” according to Walther Overland, Managing Director and CEO of The NFM Group, who elaborated: “Both companies base their research and development process and portfolio on valuble end user insight and first hand knowledge of field use requirements. Each company’s solutions and technologies complement the other’s well and we are delighted at the opportunity do deepen and widen our cooperation with FirstSpear on the global arena.”

Blue Force Gear Introduces Urban Wolf

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

Blue Force Gear will have kit available in the Arc’teryx Urban Wolf color soon.

Urban Wolf

OR – Arc’teryx

Friday, January 25th, 2013

The big story for Arc’teryx this OR is Down. But these aren’t down garments as you have traditionally known them. As with most things, Arc’teryx took a long look at the issue and came with a couple of improvements. First, these garments have fewer pieces than others on the market meaning fewer stitches resulting in stronger garments. Next, they increased the durability of the shell of the garment to mitigate the abrasion that ruins so many down jackets. Finally, they placed Coreloft synthetic in areas of high compression and vapor transfer; the shoulders and cuffs. This feature eliminates cold spots. Currently, the garments run either 750 and 850 fill down.

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Another innovation is the new hood design. Rather than traditional two direction hood adjustment, this new version brings the crown of the hood down over the top of your head and ears.

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There are already 11 garments in the line (including models for both mean and women) including traditional jackets as well as hooded variants. They have also introduced a true hybrid with a Gore-tex shell and the insulation is the Down and Coreloft combo.

Look for these late Summer 2013.

www.arcteryx.com

Silent Magnetic Closures Patent Has Just Arrived

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

I just received this news. The silent Velcro magnetic closure we wrote about last August has been issued a patent. Congrats to designer FIGHTER DESIGN and their distribution partner Velcro USA.

Today was a big day for FIGHTER DESIGN in Austin, Texas. US Patent number 8,316,515 arrived in the mail and is now on their wall following a brief Budweiser fueled ceremony. This patent protects the Silent Magnetic Closures for Velcro® Brand Fasteners being made by FIGHTER DESIGN. The product instantly converts any Velcro® Brand Fastener into a Silent Magnetic Closure. FIGHTER DESIGN is an inventor group that collaborates with some of the greatest minds in the industry to create and deliver innovative products.

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Silent Magnetic Closures for Velcro® Brand Fasteners are now available for purchase online at www.FighterD.com

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Models are available to fit all military uniforms and other models are coming soon for certain backpacks, bags, and pouches. Manufacturers are being told that custom models can be made for any size and strength of hook-loop closures. Retailers are encouraged to contact Fighter Design online.

Visit www.FighterD.com for more information.

*Velcro® is a registered trademark of Velcro® Industries

SHOT Show – Duro MultiCam Fabrics

Thursday, January 17th, 2013

Duro has finally introduced a MultiCam pack cloth called Gamma. This 400D fabric is printed in the MultiCam pattern and available now. It’s a lightweight fabric with a slick hand. Some will say that it isn’t very abrasion resistant and compared to 1000D Cordura it isn’t. But remember, we won a couple of wars using pack cloth. It can be a great tradeoff for low weight, you just have to consider what you’re using it for.

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multicamfabric.com

SHOT Show – ITWNexus Advanced Products and Accessories Developmental Items

Thursday, January 17th, 2013

ITWNexus APA let us see behind the curtain to take a look at some upcoming products. Some are still so new they don’t even have names. As these are still developmental pieces they may be made from unusual colors. Final models will feature the standard color palette.

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First up is a shotgun shell caddy that adapts to he front of the popular FastMag.

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This attachment also allows the shotgun shell carrier to be attached directly to PALS webbing.

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Next up is a 40mm carrier that accommodates two rounds. It is also compatible with both the FastMag as well as PALS-type webbing systems.

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As you can see it incorporates a lid of sorts that helps keep the rounds in place.

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This is something completely new for the division formerly known as ITW Military Products. They have developed a Mil Std 1913 foregrip. In the event you want to slide the grip down the rail and lock it into place, the detent buttons are fore and aft and it features two blocks to ensure it stays fast in the Picatinny rail’s grooves. Additionally, one side plate can be removed in case there are item already affixed to the rail and it can slid into place. To install you remove the side plate, select a position on the rail and rock it into place. Then you replace the side plate.

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Although only featured in the top photograph APA has also developed an adapter for the FastMag that will allow the user to wear it sideways on the belt.

www.itwmilitaryproducts.com

SHOT Show – ITWNexus Advanced Products and Accessories

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

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First off, ITW Military Products is now ITWNexus Advanced Products and Accessories. Second, they’d like your feedback on their upcoming development of additional models of the Grimloc. Below are four variants, the all black version is the current model. Counter-Clockwise from there is Grimloc XL, Grimloc Low Profile and finally the Grimlocissomo. Notice they all use the same arm, no matter the size of the overall Grimloc.

Those are to get your creative juices flowing. What would you like to see in the next generation of Grimloc? Leave your feedback in the comments section here.

www.ITWmilitaryproducts.com

SHOT Show – Massif Battlefield X

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

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Here is the application of Massif’s new Battlefield X technology. This FR fleece jacket features a WL Gore membrane for wind and water protection.

www.massif.com