MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.,
Oct. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that ArmorSource LLC, a
leading provider of advanced ballistic head protection products, is
using Honeywell Spectra Shield® ballistic composite
materials to create helmets that meet and exceed the latest
military requirements in the U.S. and around the world.
Makers of ballistic protection gear are increasingly
transitioning from traditional aramid products to ultra-high
molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) products such as Spectra Shield, as
they move to meet new requirements for helmets that are lighter
weight but still able to protect against a range of threats. Use of
UHMWPE materials reduces the weight
of helmets and improves mobility without sacrificing
performance.
ArmorSource helmets, such as the AS-501 Ultra Lightweight
Ballistic Helmet for Military Troops and the LJD Aire Helmet, are
made with Spectra Shield and are among the lightest ballistic
helmets available for military and law enforcement agencies today.
The LJD Aire Helmets are 40 percent lighter than traditional
helmets and exceed the ballistic protection of the U.S. Army's
existing combat helmet, the Lightweight Advanced Combat Helmet.
Due to Honeywell's Advanced Dynamic Deflection Technology,
Spectra Shield-based helmets more effectively redirect energy from
ballistic threats to the head. Even with reduced weight, helmets
made with Spectra Shield provide full coverage and protection from
small fragments and bullets.
"Spectra Shield is a state-of-the-art material that is a
critical component of our products to better serve military and law
enforcement personnel," said Yoav Kapah, President and CEO,
ArmorSource LLC. "Helmets made with Spectra Shield provide less
weight-related strain on bodies while maintaining or exceeding
ballistic protection. We are excited to utilize Spectra Shield in
our products and in our research and development efforts for new
helmet platforms."
ArmorSource supplies helmets made with Spectra Shield to
militaries in Australia,
Austria, Italy, Spain
and other countries in addition to various U.S. agencies such as
the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Marshall Service.
"Spectra Shield is crucial for militaries seeking
next-generation armor that offers the most advanced protection
available," said Tim Swinger,
business director for armor at Honeywell Packaging and Composites.
"Our collaboration with ArmorSource will bring key improvements to
the armor industry that will ensure the availability of the most
lightweight, advanced design ballistic helmets possible."
Spectra fiber is made from ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. It has up to 60
percent greater strength than alternate aramid fiber and, pound for
pound, it is 15 times stronger than steel but is light enough to
float. Spectra fiber is used to create Spectra Shield, an advanced
ballistic-resistant material. Spectra Shield technology is a
patented Honeywell process designed to optimize the ballistic
performance characteristics of Spectra as well as aramid fiber.
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 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 www.honeywell-spectra.com and check out
this video.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified
technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide
with aerospace products and services; control technologies for
buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance
materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit
www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
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SOURCE Honeywell