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RNLI Selects SKYDEX as Official Supplier for Critical Shock Mitigating Kneeling Decks for the D Class Lifeboat
Centennial, Colo., January 3, 2024 -- The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), one of the most renowned maritime organizations in Europe, have officially selected SKYDEX Technologies, Inc. to provide their innovative shock mitigating kneeling decks to protect crews aboard their D Class Lifeboats. The D Class lifeboat is the busiest in the RNLI’s fleet, however, due to its compact size and difficult operating environment, the crews aboard these craft are exposed to impacts and whole-body vibration (WBV), causing discomfort and reducing performance. In response, the RNLI launched an initiative to improve craft equipment to better protect their crew.
Working closely with the RNLI, SKYDEX developed a customized solution to meet the unique needs of the D Class Lifeboat. “Safety is our top priority, but a design has to fulfill our requirements. We needed to find a balance between protecting our crew, comfort and developing a product that allows for critical care such as CPR and other SAR activities,” said RNLI’s Engineers. With the additional requirements of lightweight and robust, SKYDEX was able to leverage decades of experience designing bespoke and high performing solutions built to withstand the toughest environments on earth.
“We have an unwavering commitment to protecting people and things that matter and are excited for our ongoing work with the RNLI. Our organizations share several core values, the biggest being the protection of human life,” said Alvaro Vaselli, President and CEO of SKYDEX. “I was impressed with the rigor of their testing protocol and grateful to have worked closely with the Engineering and Supply team. We all have a shared success in producing a solution that has been proven to provide impact reduction and the increasingly important focus on protection from whole-body vibration.”
The SKYDEX Shock Mitigating Kneeling Deck has undergone significant on-water trials as well as lab-based performance testing at SKYDEX. The combination of this product with other potential craft enhancements in the future has enabled the design team to achieve their risk reduction goals while maintaining a focus on crew performance. The mattress will now be systematically rolled out to D-class lifeboat stations over the course of 2024 and 2025. In addition to the performance benefits brought by the SKYDEX Shock Mitigating Kneeling Deck, both teams at SKYDEX and the RNLI are dedicated to producing sustainable solutions with a focus on products that are built to ensure maximum lifecycle performance.
About SKYDEX
Founded in 2001 and based in Centennial, Colorado, SKYDEX is a global leader in advanced impact mitigation and energy absorption solutions. From protecting armored vehicles, fast boat decking and cushioning to helmets and body armor, SKYDEX is driven by a single purpose: "Protecting People and Things That Matter." With technical expertise and proprietary geometries, advanced SKYDEX materials are used to protect hundreds of thousands of lives across a wide range of applications, such as vehicle protection, marine performance, sports protection, blast and ballistics, work wear/PPE, electronics and more. Backed by a passionate team of engineers and incredible technologies, SKYDEX solutions outperform traditional materials. To learn more, visit https://www.skydex.com/.
About the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) charity saves lives at sea. RNLI volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the coast of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations and around 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK, Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends entirely on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 143,100 lives.