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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

British-Based D3O Opens North American Hub in Blacksburg, Virginia

11/13/2017
D3O, a British.-based impact protection company and market leader in protective wear and shock absorbing materials, opened a operating base in Blacksburg, Virginia. Located within the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, a research park for high-technology companies, the new D3O office, part of the company's expansion in North America, will serve as the regional hub for sales, marketing and development functions.

Bill VanMullekom, SVP D3O LLC, said: "This move firmly marks our commitment to delivering the best in impact protection technologies to our customer base across North America.

"Not only will it enable us to work more efficiently with our existing commercial partners but it will also support and facilitate strategic partnerships with independent research and testing institutions across the U.S. as we continue to drive growth through innovation, “ he added.

D3O currently supplies leading brands in the electronics, sport, motorcycle, industrial workwear, law enforcement and military protection markets. Applications include protective phone cases for GEAR4, one of the fastest-growing case brands in North America; shock absorbing liners used by Schutt Sports in football, baseball and lacrosse helmets, as well as D3O TRUST helmet pads used by 3M in military combat helmets.

The latest material development from D3O Lab is a liquid additive that enhances the impact protection properties of thermoplastic rubber (TPR) while maintaining flexibility and comfort. The new D3O iA technology, which launched in September in Indianapolis at the National Safety Congress Expo, primarily will target PPE glove brands in North America to offer back-of-hand protection for oil and gas and construction workers.

D3O's core technology applies non-Newtonian principles to materials which are engineered for shock absorption. Non-Newtonian materials stiffen on impact to dissipate impact energy and reduce transmitted force, before returning to their flexible state.

According to company officials, in April 2015 D3O raised approximately $17 million in funding from its existing investor Entrepreneurs Fund and new investor Beringea, to support the further expansion of the Company's impact protection products and international market growth.

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