Sonobond Will Exhibit Its Ultrasonic Bonding Equipment at the 2013 Shot Show This January
The company has two ultrasonic bonders that are ideal for helping to assemble body armor that must comply with tough NIJ standards. Those attending the SHOT Show are invited to learn more by visiting Sonobond at Booth #14679 in the Sands Expo & Convention Center, January 15-18.
WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania - Sonobond Ultrasonics announced today that it will once again be exhibiting at the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show to be held in Las Vegas, January 15-18, 2013. In discussing this important event, Sonobond's Vice President, Melissa Alleman, said, "We are looking forward to the show because it draws so many professionals from the fields of law enforcement, shooting sports, and hunting. Sonobond is also proud to be once again sharing a booth (#14679) with Brookwood Companies-a leading supplier of specialized fabrics."
"It is appropriate for us to be exhibiting together because our ultrasonic bonding equipment and Brookwood fabrics are both used by so many ballistic vest assemblers. This body armor helps protect law enforcement personnel, members of the military, Secret Service agents, employees of the CIA and IRS, and emergency responders. In fact, two Sonobond machines-the SeamMaster(TM) High Profile Ultrasonic Bonder and the SureWeld(TM) 20 Ultrasonic PlungeBonder(TM)-are especially suited for aiding companies in complying with the increasingly tough standards set for body armor by the National Institute of Justice. These require ballistic vests to be waterproof-even after submersion for 30 minutes."
Advantages of Ultrasonic Bonding
Ultrasonic bonding is a dependable, cost-effective, and well-established process. No needles, thread, glue, or other consumables are required. Instead, ultrasonic energy is directed into woven or nonwoven synthetic materials or blends with up to 40% natural fibers. The resulting heat buildup causes the material's synthetic fibers to melt and fuse. A strong molecular bond is created that is impervious to moisture. This is accomplished in one quick step. There are no stitch holes or glue gaps. Fraying is virtually eliminated, as is unraveling of bonded edges and seams. Sonobond's equipment has the additional advantage of being easy to operate with only minimal training.
Over 30 leading manufacturers now rely on Sonobond's ultrasonic bonders for fast, reliable assembly of ballistic vests. In fact, some customers report that their production output levels have improved over 25% since switching from conventional sewing or adhesives machines.
Equipment Ideally Suited for Body Armor Assembly
The SeamMaster High Profile Ultrasonic Bonder-which Sonobond will have at the 2013 SHOT Show-is especially popular among ballistic vest manufacturers.
The machine is ideal for sealing the outer nylon shell of body armor to protect the ballistic-resistant material inside. A reliable seal means there is substantially less risk that the bullet-proof materials contained in the vest-such as Spectra-Shield® and Kevlar®-will lose their life-saving effectiveness by being exposed to moisture. In fact, the seams produced by this Sonobond equipment are so perfectly fused that they meet current National Institute of Justice (NIJ) wet-conditioning standards that mandate protection from submersion for half an hour, rather than protection from a spray shower. (See NIJ-0101.06.)
The versatile SeamMaster High Profile Ultrasonic Bonder features a rotary system for rapid sealing, sewing, and trimming of synthetic fabrics. Although similar in appearance to a traditional sewing machine, it has a large wheel with a high clearance above the bench. This provides fast, easy access for bulky materials and hand-guided operations. It is also up to four times faster than conventional sewing machines and ten times faster than adhesive methods. This equipment is also available as a modular unit for convenient integration into production lines.
Equipment for Sealing Synthetic Straps
The SureWeld 20 Ultrasonic PlungeBonder is another Sonobond machine that offers important advantages to ballistic vest assemblers. This powerful equipment is capable of sealing large, multiple-layer or difficult-to-bond materials. It is perfect for ultrasonically bonding coated straps within the seam of a ballistic vest's outer shell. The bond is accomplished in one pulse without compromising the integrity of the ultrasonically sealed outer shell. As a result, the body armor continues to meet NIJ submersion standards.
When the bond is made, the outer shell material and the strap are placed between the machine's customized horn and anvil. High-frequency vibrations are then channeled to the materials. This creates a localized buildup of heat that produces a reliable, high-quality seal without heating the surrounding area.
Ultrasonic Bonding Viability Test
Sonobond offers a free Ultrasonic Bonding Viability Test. This lets companies confirm that they can count on Sonobond equipment to deliver the reliable results they require. Vice President Alleman says, "Our machines have an outstanding track record for meeting the needs of manufacturers across a wide spectrum of industries, including ballistic vest assembly. By taking advantage of our no-cost, no-obligation test, firms can prove to their complete satisfaction that our equipment will provide the quality ultrasonic bonding needed for their specific application."
Over a Half-Century of Industry Leadership
Sonobond is a worldwide leader in the application of ultrasonic bonding and welding technology. Over the past 52 years, it has earned a well-deserved reputation for providing innovative, quality-engineered products. Today, the company manufactures a complete line of ultrasonic equipment for leading firms in the aerospace, apparel, appliance, automotive, ballistics, battery, electrical, environmental, filtration, HVAC, medical, and solar industries.
Sonobond personnel are committed to making sure the introduction of ultrasonic bonding equipment is accomplished quickly and smoothly. They also provide exceptional customer service and outstanding technical support before, during, and after installation.
Additional Information
Those attending the 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, January 15-18, are encouraged to come to Booth #14679 to learn more about Sonobond's ultrasonic bonding equipment for ballistic vest assembly. However, information about the SeamMaster High Profile Ultrasonic Bonder, the SureWeld 20 Ultrasonic PlungeBonder, and other Sonobond machines can also be obtained from the company's website at www.SonobondUltrasonics.com or by calling 800-323-1269.
For questions or immediate service, please contact Vice President Alleman at MAlleman@SonobondUltrasonics.com.
Spectra-Shield® and Kevlar® are Registered Trademarks of their respective companies.
1191 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 610-696-4710
Fax: 610-692-0674
Web: www.SonobondUltrasonics.com
Email: info@SonobondUltrasonics.com
Contact:
Melissa Alleman
Vice President
610-696-4710
