Due to the DoD domestic travel ban and San Diego, CA event size restrictions in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, ADS, Inc. has canceled Warrior Expo WEST 2020. The event was scheduled for April 1-2 at the San Diego Convention Center. We look forward to seeing you in 2021 at Warrior Expo WEST on April 28-29.
Selle Anatomica is a US Manufacturer of Bike Saddles with a sister company Light Composites which is a carbon composite manufacturer for the medical device and aerospace industry.
They’ve reached out in a desire to meet the need of our nation as it relates to the supply of personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers, specifically masks. They can make masks out of carbon fiber, fiber glass, and other fabrics. Light Composites is certified ISO 9001 and AS9100.
If you can help them to connect with the right people, please contact them. If you can contribute engineering resources, raw materials, etc, please contact them.
Please visit lightcomposites.net for more info.
Yesterday, I spoke with Scott Jones, the founder of Beyond Clothing who now owns Further Designs. He shared an incredible story with me.
The news of the day remains the COVID-19 pandemic. As scary as it might be, it is awesome to see Americans pivoting their efforts to counter this threat to our health.
The project is home sewer manufacture of filtered masks for use by those who have given up their N95 masks for use by higher risk groups. They’ve created a Facebook Group. Although it was founded by folks in Bellingham, Washington, they encourage others to join and collaborate.
Here is Scott’s story:
I was contacted on Friday afternoon by a friend who is a nurse at a local hospital. She was on the verge of tears fearing that soon she, and her peers, would not have access to any face protection while providing medical care to patients. We are only 90 miles, from Seattle, WA.
I was not behind the idea of simply creating cotton masks, but once the idea of a replaceable micron filter came up, I was on board.
Might as well make em look good, right?
Over the last 48 hours, I have worked with a team of local doctors and nurses, engineers, and others to create the Frontline Mask. As I did at Beyond, I like to be able to create as much versatility in my designs and production as possible. Especially in a dynamic world where items disappear from stores and online overnight. I couldn’t rely on elastic, or a certain fabric, or a certain filter. It had to be able to be ‘plug and play’ by the user, and the mask had to be able to handle the changes.
The mask in its current state, is made of 2 layers of tight weave cotton, with a slit on the face side, for the placement of a filter, that fills the entire mask. Filters such as vacuum bags, industrial filter fabric, hepa filters or the like will be able to be chosen, cut in the field and inserted. The cotton mask will be able to handle the changes to the filter requirements. Although Covid-19 is incredibly small, the transmission occurs on large water droplets that are far easier to stop. Although hospitals and doctors offices are not yet allowing this type of mask, we sadly feel that they will need to soon. Even the CDC has mentioned this regarding bandanas.
We also feel that the FrontLine mask will help those who have generously given up their own masks to more at risk medical professionals; dentists, PT, clinic nurses, soldiers, and senior care centers.
Attachment was also a challenge. To make the mask easily made world wide, but as safe as possible, the attachment to the face had to be dynamic and come with multiple solutions.
Different means of attachment.
The one I find to be most comfortable are daisy chained rubber bands applied to built in anchors in the mask. The nose piece is malleable farm wire, or clothes hanger wire.
The solution is comfortable, air tight around the face, able to go over a N95 mask, and able to handle any filters available.
The Version 1 spec package, patterns and instructional videos are available at fb.com/frontlinemasks or furtherdesigns.com/frontlinemasks and will be continuously enhanced as feedback comes in. We’ve received updates and recommendations for filters from around the US, and recommendations will be listed after further vetting.
If anyone in the Soldier Systems sphere has expertise or recommended items please have them contact me at scott@furtherdesigns.com.
Good morning and Happy MATBOCK Monday. We hope that everyone is taking the proper precautions to remain safe during these difficult times. Here at MATBOCK we are continuing to monitor the situation to provide a safe and healthy environment for our MATBOCK family. Ultimately MATBOCK is still here to help you whether through phone calls, text or email. If you need anything please reach out and we will be happy to assist you.
As a part of Medical March we are showcasing our OsteoFX Casting System. The OsteoFX Casting System from MATBOCK is now fully in stock and has been added to the DAPA schedule. We introduced this a few months back but MATBOCK now has the system fully available in different diameters from 2 inches (pediatric) up to 5 inches, all in various lengths for arms and legs. The cast system is easier to use than current systems, available at the same cost, and reduces some of the risks involved with current technologies. With the roll on method, there is reduced pain to the patient during application as well as the elimination of the risk of over tightening compared to wrapping methods. Additionally, because the system can breathe and dry, there is no reason for recasting in the event of exposure to water such as showering or swimming and these activities are encouraged with the OsteoFX. The material is also radiolucent for any X-rays that may be needed after application.
-FDA Approved
-Reimbursable
-Easy to apply with less mess
-Lightweight and breathable
-Water resistant for swimming and showering
-Little to no skin issues
-Superior radiolucency
-Cost effective with reduced application times and reduced waste
Join us this Monday at 4:30pm EST and every Monday thereafter for a brief webinar on our weekly highlighted product. To register click here: zoom.us
As a business you will most likely feel a pause, but hopefully, this will be a short crisis and our economy can get swiftly back on its feet. As always, SSD stands ready to do what we can to help.
One of my goals when I created Soldier Systems Daily in 2008 was to serve as a resource for industry, both here in the United States as well as abroad.
To this end, we are waving the fees associated with sales announcements and offering them cost-free for the foreseeable future to help your business reach customers.
Just go here and fill out the form to upload your sales ad. We will review and post them to the site as quickly as possible after receiving them.
Additionally, trade shows, where you would normally launch new products, have been delayed or cancelled outright.
SSD is here to support your business, product, and service launches. There has never been a cost associated with this. Feel free to email us press releases in text format with photos less than 2mb each in size (no adobe acrobat versions). If you’re curious, our column width is 440 pixels.
SSD Readers – Keep your eyes on the Sales page for regular updates. We also ask that you support those businesses that support us as advertisers. Many have stood by us since the beginning and they will be focused on their survival during this time.
Let’s all get through this together.
-Eric Graves
Editor
The Rock Exotica Aztek Full Block system is an invaluable, multi-purpose tool for rescue and technical rope practitioners
It is a personal mechanical advantage kit which can be configured as a 5:1, or 4:1 with a re-direct by just rotating the system. The pulleys are machined from solid aluminum, feature swivel connection points, and utilize high efficiency bearings.
The system can be used as a pick off, adjustable directional, high directional guyline, high angle attendant tether, high angle litter scoop, load release hitch and much more.
The compact design makes it suitable for applications with headroom, such as Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), silo/manhole rescue, and use with tripods.
The Aztek is available in black for military and tactical operations.
For further information, please contact sales@helixoperations.com
helixtactical.com/Products/Hauling-Rigging/Pulley-Systems/Aztek-Full-Block-System
WASHINGTON — Nearly two years into its largest modernization overhaul in four decades, the Army looks to continue its momentum of developing new ground systems centered on input from Soldiers.
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee’s tactical air and land forces subcommittee, the Army’s acquisition chief told lawmakers Thursday that adequate funding is needed to build on those efforts.
“The Army’s modernization program takes time and money,” said Bruce Jette, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology. “We are working to achieve efficiency wherever possible and we need sufficient, predictable, sustained and timely funding to ensure a successful outcome.”
REALIGNING FUNDS
In its fiscal year 2021 budget request, the Army has realigned $9 billion to fund its six modernization priorities over the next five fiscal years.
In total, there is now $63 billion over that period aligned against those priorities: long-range precision fires, next-generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift, the network, air and missile defense, and Soldier lethality.
The realigned funds come after senior leaders carried out extensive “night court” sessions that led to the elimination or reduction of 80 programs across the Army.
In the latest budget request, the top program being canceled is about $122 million for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, a guidance kit for helicopter-launched rockets. The largest program reduction is $222 million for upgrades to Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
The Army intends to replace the Bradley with the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. In January, the Army halted its solicitation for a rapid prototype and now plans to solicit it again to gain more interest from industry.
“We’ve made it clear OMFV is continuing,” Jette told lawmakers. “The objective we were pursuing is unchanged. It’s the methodology by which we’re trying to get there.”
Jette also thanked Congress for granting the Army new authorities to strengthen its acquisition process.
As a result of the middle-tier acquisition authority, the Army has been able to rapidly prototype and accelerate select modernization efforts. Currently, there are 11 rapid prototyping efforts and one rapid fielding effort, he said.
In addition, the other transaction authority, or OTA, has allowed the Army to attract small companies and nontraditional businesses. In fiscal 2019, the Army awarded 830 agreements valued at roughly $5 billion, he said.
Jette also credited the unique relationship between his office and Army Futures Command for bringing system concepts and designs to life.
“Together they are aligning requirements, development and acquisition expertise with representatives from testing, logistics, science and technology, and other important Army communities,” he said.
The collaboration has quickly delivered equipment to Soldiers, such as the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular and the Command Post Computing Environment, a software system that supports mission command.
“And, in both cases, statement of need to delivering those capabilities was less than 18 months,” Gen. John Murray, the AFC commander, said during the hearing.
The general also noted successful test shots of the Precision Strike Missile and the Extended-Range Cannon Artillery, which both aim to greatly extend the range of two key long-range precision fire delivery systems.
SOLDIER-CENTERED APPROACH
The Army has also relied on Soldiers to play a larger role in developing new equipment.
“In all of our efforts we are leveraging a Soldier-centered design approach to delivering capability, putting Soldiers at the center of our production,” Murray said.
Before, Soldiers typically did not see a new piece of equipment until a limited user test.
“And it usually didn’t fare well because we didn’t have Soldiers involved from the front,” he said. “So that has become a standard principle for everything.”
Soldiers, he said, have been heavily involved with the next-generation squad weapon, as companies vie to replace the M4 carbine and M249 squad automatic weapon.
The Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS, has been another success of Soldier feedback. Murray said there has already been over 6,000 hours of Soldier touchpoints that have helped engineers make modifications to the system.
“Within this approach, we are committed to learning early and learning often,” he said. “This means focusing on characteristics and working with industry and our Soldiers to make sure that when we do write requirements, we get them right the first time.”
Story by Sean Kimmons, Army News Service
Photo by Chris Bridson
With front slash pockets and rear patch pockets there’s also a cargo pocket on the right front thigh. The pant features articulated knees and a gusseted crotch with stretch fabric as well as an adjustable two-button tabs to switch between regular and tapered hems.
Available from 30 to 42 inch waists in various length up to 35 inches.
Made from a ripstop NYCO fabric featuring Cordura fibers, the K5 Maker’s Pant is available in Desert Tiger Stripe, Tiger Stripe, Woodland and Rustic Green.
beyondclothing.com/products/k5-makers-pant
