NEWS RELEASE
Shield Technologies Answers the Call for Marines in Iraq
Operational Commanders Call for Better Protection of Combat Assets
EAGAN, Minn. (February 25, 2008) - Deployed U.S. Marine Corps units recently called for increased protection of its valuable combat assets subjected to the harsh environmental conditions of the Iraq theater of operations. Shield Technologies answered the urgent call in February with a rapid response that included more than 200 off-the-shelf and custom-tailored Envelop® Protective Covers.
The order for numerous sophisticated ground and aviation weapons and sensor covers highlights the variety of items available from Envelop®, and includes: windscreen and FLIR sensor covers for the UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra helicopters; 50 caliber, M240 and M197 gun covers; transmitter and radome covers for the EA-6B Prowler aircraft; and even protective covers for the Shadow UAV launcher system and aircraft.
U.S. Marine Corps squadron and group commanders on the ground in Iraq called for the protective covers to help cut recurring maintenance time and costs caused by the unrelenting environmental degradation they face in theater. Dust, temperature extremes and water intrusion are the biggest issues that routinely affect the mission readiness of squadron assets. Aircraft windscreen replacements for instance can take several days, often an unacceptable time period for these high value Marine Corps units.
According to Phil Simoes, Director of Customer Service, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and National Guard Programs for Shield Technologies: "Envelop® Protective Covers provided the best overall protection and value in the eyes of the aviation logistics squadrons tasked with finding the right solution for these war fighters." The custom covers for the aviation assets, for example, are uniquely tailored for rapid installation and removal, allowing squadrons to cover critical equipment between missions. And the Envelop® canopy covers not only protect the windshield itself, but provide significant heat reduction in the aircraft interior, for long term asset protection and aircrew comfort.
Envelop's four-layered covers are waterproof and breathable, absorbing condensation and water trapped underneath the cover and holding it away from the assets being protected, until it evaporates into the air. In addition, long-life vapor corrosion inhibitors released into the enclosed atmosphere prevent oxidation. The layers work together to reduce corrosion by as much as 90 percent over other options. The technology is protected by three patents. All of the requested protective items requested by the U.S. Marine Corps are being delivered ahead of schedule, representative of Shield Technologies' traditional rapid response to war fighter needs for asset protection and mission readiness.
About ENVELOP® Protective Covers
Envelop Protective Covers are the next generation of environmental and operational covers, replacing ineffective vinyl tarps and corrosion-inhibiting chemicals that contaminate the environment. Envelop covers were originally developed to protect military weapons and other assets from water, salt, humidity, sand and other sources of environmental degradation. Validated in the Navy's ocean-going environment, Envelop covers have proven to dramatically reduce maintenance time for military assets, and they are the only soft covers approved by the U.S. Navy for topside weapons and equipment. More than 14,000 Envelop covers are now used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and allied navies. They are also available for consumer and industrial applications such as oil and gas machinery, commercial shipping, amusement parks, airplanes, gun cases and cruise ships. Shield Technologies Corporation is headquartered in Chicago, Ill., with operations in the Twin Cities suburb of Eagan, Minn.
