27 Oct 2015
Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology accelerates momentum as top material of choice for lightest, toughest armor protection
The Netherlands, 27 October 2015 - DSM Dyneema, the manufacturer of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber, branded as Dyneema®, and world leader in life protection materials and high-performance fibers, today announced that its Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology continues to gain traction in the life protection market due to its unmatched light weight, high performance, comfort and flexibility for demanding life protection applications. On the second anniversary of its launch, Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology has achieved many accomplishments, including being used in many prestigious, high-profile hard and soft armor systems and winning multiple awards for innovation. More and more top armor manufacturers are designing new systems around this technology, which allows them to meet increasingly stringent requirements and gain a competitive advantage.
“Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology fulfills customers’ need for a no-compromise solution offering both top ballistic protection and exceptionally light weight,” said Marcio Manique, global business director, Life Protection at DSM Dyneema. “Our platform has been eagerly adopted by leading armor manufacturers, who are winning important tenders for personal and vehicle protection in law enforcement, private security and defense. The positive impact of this breakthrough innovation continues to ripple across the industry.”
The world’s top armor manufacturers are using Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology in vests, inserts, helmets and extremity protection, and in hard armor for helicopters, patrol boats and land vehicles. These include:
- Leading Technology Composites applied its XPS2 system of advanced processing to Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology materials to achieve unprecedented levels of performance at significantly lower areal densities. Initial integrations of these systems on vehicle platforms provided customers with weight savings of 25 to 45 percent compared to legacy systems. The company has also achieved 10 to 20 percent weight-out on personal protection products such as body armor inserts.
- The New York Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, as well as police departments in Houston, Miami-Dade, San Antonio and others, selected the Alpha Elite™ body armor system from Point Blank Enterprises, which is based on Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology, to outfit their personnel. The selection criteria included performance, weight, flexibility and comfort. Point Blank has been awarded contracts from more than 40 tactical law enforcement agencies in North America since launching the Alpha Elite™ ballistic package in January 2014.
- Point Blank also selected the platform to design an advanced ballistics package incorporated in the Generation II Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS). The lightest soft armor system ever to be fielded by the U.S. Army, SPCS maximizes mobility and provides superior protection thanks in large part to Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology.
- Rheinmetall Ballistic Protection GmbH has developed and certified multiple armor systems with Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology. These include very lightweight protective inserts designed to stop 7.62 x 39mm AK47 (MSC) and 7.62 x 51mm NATO (Ball). These panels are being used by various elite European law enforcement units. Rheinmetall also used the technology to develop several naval armor systems.
- BSST GmbH, a German manufacturer of armor solutions, has developed lightweight vests with Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology for law enforcement units in several European countries. These vests meet a range of protection levels.
- Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology has also been used to provide ballistics protection in helicopter armor systems developed by international armor manufacturer TenCate Advanced Armour.
Built on the company’s Radical Innovation Platform and manufactured in Greenville, N.C., Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology combines breakthroughs in polymer science, next-generation UHMWPE fiber technology and unique uni-directional engineering. Compared to body armor made from traditional materials such as aramid, protective vests engineered with Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology can reduce weight by up to 30 percent while enhancing comfort and agility with fewer layers of material.
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Notes for editors
About DSM Dyneema
DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) fiber branded as Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® 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® fiber 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.
UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.
DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.
Dyneema® and Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ are trademarks of DSM. Use of these trademarks is prohibited unless strictly authorized.
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