Top Ten Companies in Ballistic and Ancillary Protective Gear

Introduction

Abstract

• The U.S. ballistic and ancillary protective gear market was $1.3 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach $1.4 billion in 2012. This figure is projected to reach $1.9 billion in 2017 yielding a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% between 2012 and 2017.
• The protective head gear sector within the U.S. was $781 million in 2010 and is expected to reach $860 million in 2012. The projected estimate for 2017 is $1.1 billion given a CAGR of 4.8% between 2012 and 2017.
• The ballistic body and vehicle armor and gear sector in the U.S. was $508 million in 2010 and is expected to reach $587 million in 2012. The sector should increase at a CAGR of 7.2% to reach $832 million in 2017.

SUMMARY FIGURE
U.S. VALUE ADVANCED PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR, 2007-2017
($ MILLIONS)

Source: BCC Research

The markets for protective ballistic gear and armor markets remain a fragmented industry. There are significant and specific segments of the protective gear and armor industry designed to perform specific tasks and are rated as to their effectiveness. Within each of those segments are a variety of players, including government organizations that create, develop and enforce regulations and standards, raw material suppliers, fiber and fabric manufacturers, mills and fabric producers, finished goods manufacturers, and suppliers and distributors. The supply chain is complex. The focus of this report is on the major equipment designers and suppliers of the products. To emphasize the complexity, it may be that one large corporation through many of its divisions and business units can be involved in all sectors of the supply chain.

What is termed “body armor or bulletproof armor” is better termed as individual ballistic protection. There are strict NIJ (National Institute of Justice) standards that body armor must meet for various levels of protection. Vehicular armor includes bullet and fragmentation-resistant vehicles, up-armored and purpose built vehicles that are used in both law enforcement and military applications. The retrofitting of the vehicles uses the same types of materials and some of the newer engineered in-place vehicle armor.

In this report, BCC Research identifies the top 10 companies in the ballistic and blast protection market. Factors taken into account included technical innovations, market leadership and commitment to this market via investment in products. In selecting these top 10 companies, BCC Research looked across the industry spectrum and selected the most active and significant contributors while recognizing that there are other contenders in this very complex and multifaceted market sector. Some of these “significant others” are included but to a less detailed extent than the top 10 companies that are the focus. The levels of ownership are more detailed for the “top 10.”

Although there are frequent mentions in military documents and in the popular press concerning nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC or NBCR) equipment, this is excluded from our discussion. There is no truly protective clothing for severe nuclear threats such as a battlefield nuclear explosion or a Chernobyl-level nuclear accident. When gamma rays are present in force and quantity, the effective absorbers might be lead or the misnomer “depleted” uranium. Respirators and clothing do help, but the best solution is situational awareness.

A structured approach is based on optimal use of BCC Research's own databases and proprietary information, as well as primary and secondary research techniques and methodologies. The material researched and presented in this technical market report is based on information gathered from personal contacts within government agencies, individuals involved in materials and manufacturing, industry consultants, and to some degree, on the authors' personal experience in speaking with industry sources knowledgeable in the subject material.

Additional data was obtained from reviews of secondary sources, such as trade publications, trade-associated company literature, government documents and patents. This was done in an effort to supplement the application, market, and trend data gathered from primary sources. SEC filings offer an insight into the trend for acquisitions and mergers. Monetary projections presented in this report are reported in constant U.S. dollars. A targeted and selective use of recent patents is encompassed into the document.

Anna Welch Crull, a chemist and experienced private consultant, is qualified in electrochemistry, polymers, membrane materials and advanced materials. Ms. Crull has worked with BCC Inc. (now BCC Research) for more than 30 years and has authored more than 114 technical/marketing reports, helped establish 10 technical newsletters, and assisted in numerous special consulting studies and conferences for more than 35 corporations and supplied business intelligence and research for U.S. government entities. She has worked for the U.S. Army Materials Command on rocket technology, propellants and explosives. Ms. Crull is a graduate of the School of Engineering, University of Mississippi and holds a master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Missouri.

BCC Research is an information resource producing high-quality market research reports, newsletters and conferences. BCC's information products explore major market, economic, scientific and technological developments for business leaders in industrial, pharmaceutical and high technology organizations. Industry analysis and market forecasts for advanced materials, high-tech systems and components, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the forefront of the company's expertise.

Table of Contents

Top Ten Companies in Ballistic and Ancillary Protective Gear

Chapter - 1: INTRODUCTION - Complimentary

• SCOPE OF REPORT
• METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
• ANALYST CREDENTIALS
• ABOUT BCC RESEARCH
• BCC ON-LINE SERVICES
• DISCLAIMER

Chapter - 2: SUMMARY

• Table Summary: U.S. VALUE ADVANCED PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR, THROUGH 2017
• Figure Summary: U.S. VALUE ADVANCED PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR, 2007-2017

Chapter - 3: OVERVIEW

• BODY/BALLISTIC ARMOR
• MARKET DRIVERS
• VALUE CHAIN
• AGENCIES SETTING STANDARDS
• MATERIALS FOR ARMOR
• ARMOR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
• CIVILIAN ARMORED VEHICLES
• MILITARY PROTECTIVE BODY AND VEHICLE ARMOR
• DESIGN CHANGES
• DIFFERENT ARMOR MATERIALS AND CONCEPTS
• INTERCEPTOR BODY ARMOR SYSTEM
• VEHICLE ARMOR

Chapter - 4: LEADERS IN BALLISTIC AND VEHICLE ARMOR

• SEGMENTATIONS
• TOP 10 FOCUS COMPANIES
• PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR MATERIALS BY MARKET SHARE
• COMPANIES TO WATCH
• VALUE ADVANCED PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR
  • Table 7: U.S. MARKET SHARE OF BALLISTIC BODY ARMOR MATERIALS BY COMPANY, 2012

Chapter - 5: ADVANCED HEAD PROTECTION GEAR

• BATTLE AGAINST HEAD INJURIES
• ENHANCED COMBAT HELMET/ADVANCED COMBAT HELMET
• FIREFIGHTER HEAD PROTECTION/FIRE HELMETS
• INDUSTRIAL HARD HATS
• FACE AND EYE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
• BALLISTIC EYE PROTECTION/GOGGLES
• VALUE OF PROTECTIVE HEAD GEAR
• COMPANIES ACTIVE IN ADVANCED HEAD PROTECTIVE GEAR MARKET
• OTHER MANUFACTURERS

• Summary Table: U.S. VALUE ADVANCED PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR, THROUGH 2017
• Table 1: BALLISTIC RESISTANCE OF BODY ARMOR NIJ STANDARD-0101.06
• Table 2: NIJ STANDARD-0101.04
• Table 3: NIJ 0101.03 VS. 0101.05 COMPARISON
• Table 4: HARD BODY ARMOR: RIFLE PLATE PROTECTION LEVELS
• Table 5: AGENCIES INVOLVED IN SETTING PROTECTIVE GEAR STANDARDS
• Table 6: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MILITARY BODY ARMOR DESIGN
• Table 7: U.S. MARKET SHARE OF BALLISTIC BODY ARMOR MATERIALS BY COMPANY, 2012
• Table 8: PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR MATERIALS BY TYPE, 2012 MARKET SHARES
• Table 9: VALUE BALLISTIC BODY AND VEHICLE ARMOR, THROUGH 2017
• Table 10: STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING AND PROXIMITY FIRE FIGHTING HELMETS
• Table 11: VALUE U.S. ADVANCED HEAD PROTECTIVE GEAR, THROUGH 2017

• Summary Figure: U.S. VALUE ADVANCED PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ARMOR, 2007-2017
• Figure 1: IRAQI POLICEMAN WEARING RANGER BODY ARMOR
• Figure 2: VARIOUS DEFENDER ENHANCED SMALL ARMS PROTECTIVE INSERTS
• Figure 3: VARIOUS CERAMIC BASED COMPOSITE ARMOR SHAPES
• Figure 4: VARIOUS BACKING SYSTEM PLATES
• Figure 5: CAMAN MRAP
• Figure 6: POINT BLANK FEMALE C-SERIES
• Figure 7: INTERNATIONAL INTERCEPTOR WITH GROIN PROTECTOR
• Figure 8: CURRENT COMBAT HELMETS
• Figure 9: BAE SYSTEMS HELMET MOUNTED HEADS SENSOR
• Figure 10: TRAINEE WITH COMBAT HELMET AND GOGGLES
• Figure 11: CERADYNE TOLL VACUUM PRESS OPERATION
• Figure 12: REVISION EQUIPMENT COMPATIBLE HELMET WITH NIGHT VISION GOGGLES

Top Ten Companies in Ballistic and Ancillary Protective Gear published by BCC Research in June 29, 2012. This report consists of 102 Pages and the price starts from US $ 2550.

Press Release

BCC Research Identifies Top 10 Advanced Ballistic and Ancillary Protective Gear Companies

Advanced protective gear and armor are forward-looking technology sectors. These advanced protective products primarily serve those in law enforcement, correctional institutions, Homeland Security, and the military. Most companies engaged in the advanced protective gear and armor business never stop looking for ways to improve and enhance their products by way of R&D, acquisitions, or partnerships. Almost none of these companies are vertically integrated from raw material to finished product. Vertical integration is a business plan that is receiving some attention to gain control of raw materials and the distribution system for personal protective gear and armor.

In this study, BCC Research identifies the top 10 companies participating in the complex advanced protective gear and armor market, as well as many other more specialized companies also deserving attention in the coming months and years.

Because of the complex nature of this market, BCC evaluated these companies using a variety of criteria, namely product innovation, accessibility to material, and vertical integration or business collaboration practices.

Given these criteria, BCCs assessment yielded these as the top 10 advanced thermal protective gear and clothing suppliers:

• DuPont.
• Honeywell.
• Royal DSM NV.
• Ceradyne Inc.
• BAE/Armor Holdings.
• TenCate Protective Fabrics.
• Point Blank Enterprises.
• Alliant Techsystems (ATK)/Black Hawk BlackHawk Industries.
• General Dynamics/Force Protection.
• Teijin Aramid/Teijin Group.