MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.,
Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it has released
Centurion™, a composite fabric designed to make law enforcement
apparel and equipment 35 to 40 percent lighter. Centurion is the
latest performance fabric made from Honeywell Spectra®
fiber and is suitable for any type of application where the product
needs to be strong but lightweight.
Traditionally, law enforcement officers have carried extra gear
such as ammunition and radios by attaching them to modular
lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) web designs that
include straps sewn onto their tactical vests. MOLLE straps add
extra weight and can make movement more difficult for officers.
By contrast, vests made with Centurion fabric are 35 to 40
percent lighter because they do not require extra fabric. Centurion
is laser-cut according to user preference, resulting in slits along
the vests from which officers can hang, hook or tie gear as needed.
Because nothing needs to be sewn into these vests, they are lighter
and more comfortable for officers to wear, as well as faster and
easier for manufacturers to produce. Combined with Spectra fiber's
strength, Centurion-made vests are resistant to cuts, abrasion and
water, making them suitable for many tough environments.
"Centurion represents the next evolution of lightweight law
enforcement equipment, removing several pounds from the more than
20 pounds that an officer can typically wear while on patrol," said
Lori Wagner, armor marketing manager
for Honeywell Packaging and Composites. "At the core of Centurion
fabric's remarkable properties is Spectra, Honeywell's
next-generation fiber that is the material of choice for law
enforcement agencies around the world as well as the U.S. military.
Honeywell's armor technology not only provides life-saving
materials, but also produces industry-leading, high-performance,
lightweight fabric like Centurion, designed to help those who
protect us."
Spectra fiber is made from ultra-high molecular-weight
polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. Pound for
pound, Spectra is 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to
float. It has up to 60 percent greater strength than alternate
aramid fiber. Spectra fiber is used to create Spectra
Shield®, an advanced ballistic-resistant material.
Honeywell's Shield technology is a patented Honeywell process
designed to optimize the ballistic performance characteristics of
Spectra as well as aramid fiber in Gold Shield®
materials.
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 – all which require lightweight
solutions and superior performance.
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.
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.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-lightens-tactical-vests-for-law-enforcement-officers-by-up-to-40-percent-300390315.html
SOURCE Honeywell