{"id":1593,"date":"2012-05-29T07:00:22","date_gmt":"2012-05-29T11:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=1593"},"modified":"2012-05-30T10:26:40","modified_gmt":"2012-05-30T14:26:40","slug":"armorworks-new-molle-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=1593","title":{"rendered":"ArmorWorks New MOLLE Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>ArmorWorks<\/a> is a Chandler, AZ company that makes high-tech military armor protection.\u00a0 While they can up-armor your HMMWV or UH-60 Blackhawk, ArmorWorks also makes personal protective rifle plates and accessories for the soldier.<\/p>\n

At the SOFIC Show<\/a>, I met ArmorWorks associate director Alex Gallo.\u00a0 He showed me some of his company\u2019s latest Modular Plate Carriers, which incorporated an interesting feature:\u00a0 an alternative to the standard nylon gear mounting system ArmorWorks calls their MOLLE Solution.<\/p>\n

Gallo explained that common MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment attachments are rows of nylon or canvas-type material sewn in strips across the garment.\u00a0 The nylon and stitching has limited durability, as abrasion and the weight of the mounted accessory carriers can cause the MOLLE material to fray and come apart under heavy use.\u00a0 ArmorWorks went in a whole new direction with their MOLLE Solution.<\/p>\n

The face of the MOLLE Solution is covered in a proprietary material that Gallo said is similar to that of a Zodiac boat.\u00a0 It felt like a rubberized fabric to me.\u00a0 He said the equipment mounting slits are cut into the material itself.\u00a0 This reduces the thickness of the plate carrier.\u00a0 Not only MOLLE slits, but lashing holes can be cut into the material.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In addition to reduced bulkiness, the MOLLE Solution provides a much greater strength than conventional sewn cloth.\u00a0 Gallo stated that the breaking strength for normal nylon MOLLE is about 60 lbs. of force.\u00a0 Three times as strong, MOLLE Solution has been tested and withstands 180 lbs. of force.<\/p>\n

Gallo produced a sample of the ArmorWorks material.\u00a0 I was not allowed to photograph it (patent pending).\u00a0 He challenged us to stand on it and pull up on a pistol magazine pouch mounted into the MOLLE Solution.\u00a0 Of course, the mag pouch would not tug free or rip the slits on suffering this duress.\u00a0 The proprietary material is self-healing, said Gallo.\u00a0 Upon examining the fabric, it had stretched a very little under force, but rebounded to its former shape.<\/p>\n

The MOLLE Solution material can be laser etched for a permanent look.\u00a0 The front hook and loop ArmorWorks logo on one vest was etched (top photo), as was an intricate swirling design on the entire face of another carrier (below).\u00a0 I ran my hand over the etching.\u00a0 It felt like a soft engraving into the material.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The ArmorWorks plate carriers were so new, Gallo said he did not have pricing available at the convention.\u00a0 I will follow-up with him and get back to you on that.<\/p>\n

I found ArmorWorks MOLLE Solution to be versatile and inventive.\u00a0 The proprietary material is highly durable.\u00a0 It will certainly reduce the overall size of either a plate carrier or a SWAT vest in future versions.<\/p>\n

Randall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ArmorWorks is a Chandler, AZ company that makes high-tech military armor protection.\u00a0 While they can up-armor your HMMWV or UH-60 Blackhawk, ArmorWorks also makes personal protective rifle plates and accessories for the soldier. At the SOFIC Show, I met ArmorWorks associate director Alex Gallo.\u00a0 He showed me some of his company\u2019s latest Modular Plate Carriers, which incorporated an interesting feature:\u00a0 an alternative to the standard nylon gear mounting system ArmorWorks calls their MOLLE Solution. Gallo explained that common MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment attachments are rows of nylon or canvas-type material sewn in strips across the garment.\u00a0 The nylon and stitching has limited durability, as abrasion and the weight of the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[308,48,306],"tags":[311,326,312,313,314],"class_list":["post-1593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sofic","category-swat","category-technology","tag-armorworks","tag-modular-plate-carrier","tag-molle-solution","tag-plate-carrier","tag-protective-vest"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t