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Partnering August, 2016


Canine Protective Vest Maker Chooses Sonobond Equipment


By Melissa Alleman, Vice President, Sonobond Ultrasonics


antee that its canine users had per- sonal protection comparable to that of their human counterparts, it added Sonobond’s SeamMaster® high-profile ultrasonic sewing ma- chine to its manufacturing process. Now, Patrol-Swat vests pro-


W


duced by K9 Storm, Inc., have secure watertight enclosures for all their ballistic components, exceeding the National Institute of Justice wet-con- ditioning standards that require bal- listic vests to be waterproof, even after submersion for 30 minutes. Be- sides maximum barrier protection, the lightweight, rugged, custom-fit- ted Kevlar® vests also ensure safe amphibious activities. Since bulletproof materials —


like Kevlar®, contained in vests —lose their lifesaving effectiveness when ex- posed to water, it’s absolutely critical that the seams in the inner nylon shell are perfectly fused. Ultrasonic bonding creates a strong molecular bond that is impervious to moisture


hen a Canadian manufactur- er of protective vests for working dogs sought to guar-


and eliminates stitch holes, glue gaps, fraying and unraveling, substantially reducing any risk of damage to the in- terior contents of the vest.


Protection and Mobility Highly trained dogs now assist


in law enforcement, military, border control and emergency response situ-


The canine vests provide stab protection and


contain built-in harnesses and load-bearing capabili- ties that enable the dog to rappel and parachute, as well as to remove non-compliant suspects.


ations. Whether they are detecting explosives or illicit drugs or helping to find or capture criminals or poten- tial terrorists, they are exposed to in- creasingly perilous conditions. K9 Storm was established in 1997 by former Winnipeg Police ca-


nine handler Jim Slater. While he and his police service dog Olaf served in Joint Forces Operations with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Emergency Response Team, Slater found nothing on the market that could protect Olaf and still allow him the mobility required during encoun- ters with armed and dangerous indi- viduals. Slater then made a custom- fit canine vest using his own ballistic panels, a home sewing machine and his knowledge of working canines. Leveraging their understanding


of what working dogs require in order to do their jobs effectively while being protected, K9 Storm now produces lightweight, rugged, water- proof tactical gear for dogs employed in security and defense in 24 coun- tries. The canine vests provide stab protection and contain built-in har- nesses and load-bearing capabilities that enable the dog to rappel and parachute, as well as to remove non- compliant suspects.


A built-in platform for a camera


and for communications systems allow the handler to see what the dog sees and provide instructions, even when the handler is at a distance. Prior to learning about Sono -


Small Screws Big Results Micro Screw-Tightening Solution


.


Our new JR-V Screw Tightening robots will feed and fasten M1 to M2 screws reliably and repeatedly. The integrated vacuum pickup provides clean screw pickups each time. Error handling allows retry or skip conditions.


• • •


Tighten & confirm torque


Easy-to-use


• Optional PC software


Tighten consistently


Choose from 200mm x 200mm or 300mm x 300mm work areas. Use it for mobile device, HDD, and smart phone assembly.


Mobile Device | Smart Phone | Electronics


Scan our QR Code to collect the contact information below


JIE-USA, Inc. 892 Cambridge Drive Elk Grove, IL. 60007 847-357-8870 office | 847-357-8890 fax sales@janome-ie.com www.janome-ie.com


See at NEPCON South China, Booth 1A43


bond’s ultrasonic equipment, K9 Storm used a single-needle assembly method for its Patrol-Swat vests. The company was convinced to acquire its first ultrasonic sewing machine based on the equipment’s ability to help meet NIJ water submersion standards, the speed and ease-of-use of the equipment, and the friendli- ness of Sonobond’s staff. “K9 Storm uses the lightest pos-


sible materials when manufacturing the custom-fit K9 Storm Patrol-Swat vests. The Sonobond ultrasonic seam- ing system is an integral part of the manufacturing process enabling us to achieve watertight ballistic enclo- sures,” says Jim Slater, president of K9 Storm. In fact, he anticipates ac- quiring more Sonobond machines for assembling the company’s products.


Advantages of Ultrasonic Bonding Ultrasonic bonding occurs when


woven or non-woven materials or blends with a minimum of 60 percent synthetic fibers are placed between the machine’s horn and anvil or, in the case of the SeamMaster, rotating wheel. High-frequency vibrations re- sult in localized heat buildup that causes the synthetic fibers to soften and fuse, creating a durable seal without needles, thread, glue or other consumables. The versatile ultrasonic sewing


machine excels at sealing the inner nylon shell of body armor systems. Its patented rotary operation bonds and trims synthetic materials in one quick step and its large, high-clear- ance wheel provides easy access for bulky materials and hand-guided op-


Sonobond’s ultrasonic


equipment produces watertight enclosures for the ballistic components in vests for dogs.


tegrated into production lines. Some of Sonobond’s customers have reported production output level increases of over 25 percent since switching from conventional sewing or adhesive methods to ultrasonic assembly. To ensure that its equipment


meets manufacturer’s requirements, Sonobond offers a free, no-obligation ultrasonic bonding viability test. This free test allows manufacturers to match the company’s equipment to their specific application and confirm that the products will deliver the ul- trasonic bonding they need. For over 55 years, Sonobond has


provided ultrasonic bonding and welding technology. The company of- fers a comprehensive selection of in- novative, high-quality engineered products. Today, the company manu- factures ultrasonic equipment for leading firms in the aerospace, appar- el, appliance, automotive, ballistics, battery, electrical, environmental, fil- tration, HVAC, medical, and solar in- dustries. In addition, Sonobond employees


have earned a reputation for provid- ing exceptional customer service and outstanding technical support before, during and after equipment installa- tion. They’re committed to ensuring that ultrasonic equipment is intro- duced swiftly and smoothly to any


manufacturing operation. Contact: Sonobond Ultrasonics,


1191 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19380 % 610-696-4710 fax: 610-692-0674 E-mail: info@sonobondultrasonics.com Web: www.sonobondultrasonics.com r


erations. The machine is up to four times faster than conventional sewing machines and 10 times faster than adhesive methods. It has the added advantage of re-


sembling a sewing machine and being easy to operate with only minimal training. The machine is also avail- able as a modular unit that can be in-


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