25 Nov 2005
Protective Vest Solution Prevents Double Trouble
Dyneema® and Steelskin® Join Forces for Dual Protection
Urmond, November 22 – You won’t need super powers to repel bullets and knives, thanks to a new technology for dual protection vests that combines two leading products: Dyneema® high-performance polyethylene fiber from DSM for ballistic protection, and Steelskin® steel cord material from Bekaert for stab protection. Combination of these two materials offers body armor manufacturers new market opportunities by providing the lightest possible solution for dual protection vests within the same class of protection, compared to competitive materials and technology. Law enforcement officers benefit from enhanced flexibility, which increases comfort and ease of movement.
Increased street violence often means a double threat – from both guns and knives – that conventional body armor does not fully meet. By combining Dyneema® and Steelskin® to meet customer requirements and local standards, manufacturers can develop specialized vest designs that provide superior performance, and flexibility while remaining exceptionally light weight.
According to Mr. Per Sabbasen, managing director of C.P.E. Production, a Finnish manufacturer of combat protective equipment, “The combination of DSM’s and Bekaert’s materials gives us a great opportunity to develop new products for our target market of police and private security companies. Other materials we have tried are hard to work with or stiff and uncomfortable. We have already certified several vest models with NIJ and look forward to expanding our use of this concept.”
Vests made with Dyneema® super-strong fiber provide superior ballistics protection at an extremely low weight. Together with high flexibility, this leads to increased comfort for the user. Steelskin®, based on Bekaert steel cord fabrics, provides stab protection against edged weapons.
Mr. Patrick Hermans, Product Market Manager Bekaert said, “This is a great example of a solution that is greater than the sum of its two parts. Combining innovative materials from two industry leaders lets manufacturers deliver more than protection against knives and bullets. Steelskin® actually blunts and damages a blade with each thrust, while Dyneema® provides exceptional energy absorption to stop the damaged knife and to minimize trauma. This unique concept meets the double threat posed by criminals, rioters and gangs armed with knives and guns.”
Mr. Finbarr Harkin, Managing Director, Body Armour Division for Sioen Armour Technology, said, “The combination of Dyneema® and Steelskin® gave us the materials we needed to engineer and successfully market the lightest dual protection vest that complies with the UK standard HG1A/KR1.”
Sioen Ireland is the current supplier of body armour to An Garda Siochana, Ireland’s police. This was the first time that An Garda Siochana chose a dual purpose armour to protect against ballistic and stab threats The armour provided by Sioen is PSDB certified to protection level HG1A/KR1 and is the lightest system currently available on the market. The Sioen armour is extremely thin and flexible and has been very well received by the force, as it offers excellent wearing and protection attributes.
Vests based on the new combination of Dyneema® and Steelskin® will be displayed at the Milipol Exhibition in Paris on November 22-25.
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Notes for editors
About DSM Dyneema
DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber. Dyneema® is a superstrong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.
Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a joint venture with Toyobo, which produces Dyneema® in Osaka (Japan). Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.
Bekaert
Bekaert (www.bekaert.com) seeks sustainable profitable growth based on its two core competences: advanced metal transformation and advanced materials and coatings.
Bekaert aims to consolidate its position as both market and technological leader around the world. With its broad range of high technological products, systems and services, Bekaert offers high added value for its customers.
Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is an European based company, headquartered in Belgium, employing 16 400 people. Bekaert, present in 120 countries, generates sales of € 2.7 billion.
DSM
DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company creates innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end markets and applications such as human and animal nutrition and health, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. Market-driven growth, innovation and increased presence in emerging economies are key drivers of this strategy. The group has annual sales of approximately EUR 8 billion and employs around 23,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Dyneema® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM N.V.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Dyneema
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