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SKYDEX Signs $5.3 Million in New Contracts for its Blast-Mitigating Convoy Deck, Boat Decking in January

DENVER--SKYDEX Technologies – the industry leader in creating innovative technologies that mitigate shock, vibration and energy forces for the most demanding military applications – has signed multiple contracts with manufacturers, government agencies and retail distributors in the month of January valued at more than $5.3 million. SKYDEX entered into several contracts for its Convoy Deck, which is used in the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and Stryker vehicles purchased by the military. The company signed two significant agreements with BAE Systems and General Dynamic Land Systems (GDLS) for custom-cut blast mitigating flooring for their vehicles. SKYDEX also saw a jump in contracts for its Impact Mitigating Boat Decking (IMBD), signing Brunswick Boat Group and Beach Marine to several contracts. “Our already rapid growth continued to accelerate in January, because of the growing recognition of our products as the leading solutions for all types of impact mitigating situations,” said SKYDEX President and CEO Mike Buchen. “As we begin the new year, our mission remains the same: to engineer and manufacture the most innovative and effective products to protect people and things that matter and improve survivability for America’s warriors.” In 2011, the SKYDEX IMBD was installed in RABs (Riverine Assault Boat) and RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat) used by the U.S. Navy’s Riverine Patrol Squadrons and the Coast Guard’s Harbor Safety Patrol. The SKYDEX IMBD is uniquely designed to absorb the negative energy transmitted through boat hulls crashing into waves during high speed maneuvering, protecting occupants on the boat. In a survey of Special Operations craft operators, 62% reported injuries incurred during maneuvering operations. SKYDEX’s patented, geometrically designed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) technology acts as a spring to absorb impacts and vibrations that would normally transfer directly through the boat deck to the occupant’s feet and legs, causing fatigue, discomfort and injury. Independent testing demonstrates that SKYDEX blast-mitigating technology in its Convoy Deck greatly reduces the threat of lower leg injuries by diminishing the force of an improvised explosive device (IED) blast reaching personnel aboard an armored vehicle. The testing demonstrated that during a typical blast event without the SKYDEX Convoy Deck, vehicle occupants face a 100 percent chance of injury. Adding SKYDEX decking drastically reduces the chance of injury to about 10 percent. Even at three times the typical blast force, SKYDEX technology reduces the amount of force reaching crew members by 71%. Testing was done under the NATO’s STANAG 4569 protection standards and thresholds. The SKYDEX Convoy Deck has already been installed in more than 17,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, including the RG-31, Cougar and Oshkosh M-ATV. The product is now standard equipment in new Oshkosh and GDLS-C M-ATVs. In 2011, both GDLS-C and Oshkosh signed multi-million-dollar agreements with SKYDEX to provide its Convoy Deck for 200 new GDLS-C Stryker Double V-Hull (DVH) vehicles deploying to Afghanistan and for over 1,400 Oshkosh M-ATV vehicles. Using its patented thermoplastic polyurethane geometric designs, SKYDEX Technologies manufactures multiple lines of products to protect warriors from harmful impacts. Its twin-hemisphere technology has proven far more effective and far more resilient than foam products in a wide array of applications – from blast-mitigating flooring for combat vehicles, padding for military helmets, vibration-attenuating seating for both vehicles and aviation, shock absorbing decking for high speed interceptor boats and mattress systems providing a hygienic, durable comfortable solution. SKYDEX’s innovations are fulfilling the need to absorb a greater amount of destructive energy using thinner, lighter materials to carry out on the battlefield. About SKYDEX SKYDEX, a privately held technology company headquartered in Denver, CO, is the industry leader in developing protective materials that mitigate shock, vibration and/or energy forces for the most demanding military and commercial uses. Our technologically advanced innovations include blast-mitigating flooring for combat vehicles, padding for military helmets, vibration-attenuating seating for both ground vehicles and helicopters and shock absorbing decking for high speed interceptor boats. SKYDEX clients are government and commercial entities that value the increased survivability and reduced impact implications that SKYDEX technology provides to their most important assets – the human operator. Inspired by its motto – “Protecting People and Things That Matter^®” – SKYDEX utilizes its patented twin-hemisphere plastics technology to design and manufacture a wide range of products and is a leading supplier to armed forces around the world. For more information, please visit www.skydex.com.