Malden Mills Industries Inc., makers of Polartec(R) performance textiles, announced today that the United States Congress has approved $19.1 million for Polartec(R) garments for the U.S. Military in the 2004 Defense Spending Bill. Included in this funding is $3 million to continue research and development of electronic textiles that are the foundation of the Army's Combat Casualty Care program.
Polartec(R) fabrics are used extensively in all branches of the United States military including the Marines, Special Operations Forces, the Navy, Air Force and now units of the largest military branch, the Army.
In addition to this congressional funding, the Department of Defense has approved a Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) that calls for $5.2 million in long underwear tops and pants made of silkweight Polartec(R) Power Dry(R) for the U.S. Army. The first yards of fabric for this program will be delivered by the end of October 2003. This represents the first major order of a technical next-to-skin fabric for the Army and will result in an increase in comfort, safety, and performance for soldiers in the field. Fred Chan of Special Operations Forces (SOF) Special Projects Team of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center was extensively involved in the field testing process and approval of Polartec(R) Power Dry(R) for the Special Operations Forces and now the U.S. Army. Chan, Program Manager – SOF Warrior Protection, stated, “We purchased state-of-the-art garments and materials from the best companies in the outdoor industry to test their performance. At the end of a rigorous process, the best performing products had one thing in common — Polartec(R) Power Dry(R) fabric was found to best meet the operational needs of our users. It was the fastest wicking, fastest drying and most comfortable base layer fabric we tested.”
In addition to the Rapid Fielding Initiative, Malden Mills has developed many new fabrics specifically for the U.S. Military in conjunction with the Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, a government research agency. Projects include flame resistant fabrics for naval aviators and ship blankets; Special Operations Forces cold weather clothing systems (Protective Combat Uniform or PCU); the Polartec(R) black watch cap; and the Combat Casualty Care program that provides remote physiological monitoring of soldiers in combat.
The $3 million grant for Combat Casualty Care will be used to continue efforts to design electronic textiles for the U.S. Military to monitor and transmit soldiers' pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and location back to military medics responsible for their well being in the field. The Combat Casualty Care program will save lives by enabling medics to quickly evaluate a situation and focus their efforts on the soldiers who need it most.
“Malden Mills has been a key player equipping and outfitting the world's greatest military. Our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen deserve the very best, lightest, most comfortable and durable cold weather gear — and that's exactly what Malden Mills has delivered for them. I'm proud of our troops and proud that Massachusetts companies like Malden Mills are playing such an important role in supporting them,” stated Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Congressman Marty Meehan of Massachusetts adds, “This is great news for Lawrence and Methuen and great news for our Army, Navy, Marines and National Guard soldiers. Malden Mills has played a key role in supporting our military in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing them with the most effective gear to weather harsh conditions, and improving their safety and comfort. The U.S. Military has worked with Malden Mills over the years because, put simply, it produces the best gear around for our men and women in uniform. I'm so pleased that we were able to help that partnership continue to grow.”
“Malden Mills and its highly skilled workers have built a solid reputation for providing the U.S. Military with the best possible technology in protective gear,” said Congressman Charles Bass of New Hampshire, who helped secure the funding. “I am pleased that this New England Company will continue to help meet the needs of our men and women in uniform.”
