CENTENNIAL, Colo., April 26 (UPI) -- Skydex Technologies of Colorado has opened an office in Kabul, Afghanistan, to supply its blast-mitigation products.
The office comes with a partnership with Parks Global Solutions LLC, a management consultancy, in Kabul to be the regional marketing and sales office to supply its products more swiftly and efficiently to U.S. and Afghan forces on the ground.
"International shipping takes time and trouble," said Skydex Chief Executive Officer Mike Buchen. "Having our products on the ground near the troops allows us to get them the protective gear they need almost immediately."
Skydex products in use in Afghanistan include helmet pads, body armor, seat cushions and blast-mitigating convoy floor decking that has been installed on thousands of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles.
"We are excited about this partnership between PGS and Skydex. Now U.S. and Afghan national army forces throughout Afghanistan will have quick and easy access to Skydex's life-saving products and technology," said PGS President Gerald Parks.
"With our extensive marketing and sales expertise within the region, and our commitment to promoting Skydex products, we will expand their presence within the marketplace and streamline the sales and delivery processes."
Skydex said independent testing done to NATO protection standards demonstrates that Skydex convoy decking greatly reduces the threat of lower leg injuries by diminishing the force of an improvised explosive device blast reaching personnel aboard an armored vehicle. The testing indicates that at a typical blast force of 13 yards per second, personnel aboard an armored vehicle without Skydex convoy deck face a 100 percent chance of injury. Adding Skydex decking reduces the chance of injury to about 10 percent.
Skydex is a privately held technology company with headquarters in Centennial, Colo.
