DHB Industries Inc. (Pink Sheets: DHBT) announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, Point Blank Body Armor, was awarded a $52.7 million contract with the U.S. Army. Per the agreement, Point Blank will produce 75,000 Improved Outer Tactical Vests beginning by March 2008.”With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in four locations, and strategic relationships with key suppliers in place, we have demonstrated consistently that we have the capability to produce and deliver products quicker than anyone in the industry,” said Larry Ellis, DHB president and chief executive officer in a statement.
The company designs and manufactures a variety of protective armor such as soft and hard body armor, protection against blunt trauma and stabbing.
Each form of armor is created with different technology to protect the user. The soft body armor uses layers of fiber to stop bullets.
When a bullet, shrapnel or any other projectile hits body armor rather than flesh, it is caught in what the company calls a “web” of high performance fibers. According to the company, the fibers are layered and stitched to surpass bullet resistant specifications. Those fibers absorb the energy then transfer the impact energy from the vest back to the bullet, causing the bullet to “mushroom.”
Each layer of the vest absorbs an amount of the energy until the bullet comes to a stop. The technology of the vest causes the fibers in each layer to work together so that a large area of the garment becomes a shield.
Point Blank manufactures concealable, tactical body armor systems and accessories for the U. S. military, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The company was formed in 1973, now employing over 1,000 around the globe.
Calls to DHB and Point Blank have not yet been returned.