D3O
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D3O is the namesake ingredient brand of British company D3O Lab, which specializes in rate-sensitive impact protection technologies.[1]
The brand comprises a portfolio of more than 30 technologies and materials including set foams, formable foams, set elastomers, and formable elastomers.[2]
D3O is sold in more than 50 countries.[3] It is used in sports and motorcycle gear; protective cases for consumer electronics including phones; industrial workwear; and military protection including helmet pads and limb protectors.[4]
![An example of D3O hand protection](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Hand_protection.jpg/220px-Hand_protection.jpg)
![An example of a D3O limb protector](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/An_example_of_a_D3O_limb_protector.jpg/220px-An_example_of_a_D3O_limb_protector.jpg)
![The D3O testing laboratory](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/The_D3O_testing_laboratory.jpg/220px-The_D3O_testing_laboratory.jpg)
History
[edit]In 1999, the materials scientists Richard Palmer and Philip Green experimented with a dilatant fluid with non-Newtonian properties. Unlike water, this fluid was free-flowing when at rest but became instantly hard upon impact.
As snowboarders, Palmer and Green drew inspiration from snow and decided to replicate its matrix-like quality to develop a flexible material that incorporated the dilatant fluid. After experimenting with numerous materials and formulas, they invented a flexible, pliable material that locked together and solidified in the event of a collision.
When incorporated into clothing, the material moves with the wearer while providing comprehensive protection.
Palmer and Green filed a patent application, which they used as the foundation for commercialising their invention and setting up a business in 1999.
D3O was used commercially for the first time by the United States Ski Team and the Canadian ski team at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.[5] D3O first entered the motorcycle market in 2009 when the ingredient was incorporated into CE-certified armour for the apparel brand Firstgear.[6]
Philip Green left D3O in 2006,[7] and in 2009[8] founder Richard Palmer brought in Stuart Sawyer as interim CEO. Palmer took a sabbatical in 2010[9] and left the business in 2011,[10] at which point executive leadership was officially handed over to Sawyer, who has remained in the position since.
In 2014, D3O received one of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise[11] and was awarded £237,000 by the Technology Strategy Board—now known as Innovate UK—to develop a shock absorption helmet system prototype for the defence market to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury.[12]
The following year, Sawyer secured £13 million in private equity funding from venture capital investor Beringea, allowing D3O to place more emphasis on product development and international marketing.[13] D3O opened headquarters in London,[14] which include test laboratories and house its global business functions.
With exports to North America making up an increasing part of its business,[15][16] the company set up a new operating base located within the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC), a research park for high-technology companies located in Blacksburg, Virginia.[17] The same year, D3O consumer electronics brand partner Gear4 became the UK’s number 1 phone case brand in volume and value.[18] Gear 4 has since become present in consumer electronics retail stores worldwide including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
In 2017, D3O became part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) committee which developed the first standard in North America to address the risk to hands from impact injuries: ANSI/ISEA 138-2019, American National Standard for Performance and Classification for Impact Resistant Hand Protection.[19]
D3O was acquired in September 2021 by independent private equity fund Elysian Capital III LP.[20] The acquisition saw previous owners Beringea US & UK and Entrepreneurs Fund exit the business after six years of year-on-year growth.
D3O applications
[edit]D3O has various applications, such as in electronics (low-profile impact protection for phones, laptops, and other electronic devices),[21] sports (protective equipment),[22] motorcycle riding gear,[23] defence (helmet liners and body protection; footwear)[24] and industrial workwear (personal protective equipment such as gloves, knee pads and metatarsal guards for boots).[25][26]
In 2020, D3O became the specified helmet suspension pad supplier for the US Armed Forces' Integrated Helmet Protection System (IHPS) Suspension System.[27]
Product development
[edit]D3O uses patented and proprietary technologies to create both standard and custom products.
In-house rapid prototyping and testing laboratories[28] ensure each D3O development is tested to CE standards for sports and motorcycle applications, ISEA 138 for industrial applications, and criteria set by government agencies for defense applications.
Sponsorship
[edit]D3O sponsors athletes including:
- Downhill mountain bike rider Tahnée Seagrave
- Seth Jones, ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL
- Motorcycle racer Michael Dunlop, 25-times winner of the Isle of Man TT
- The Troy Lee Designs team of athletes including three-times Red Bull Rampage winner Brandon Semenuk
- Enduro rider Rémy Absalon, 12-times Megavalanche winner.[29]
Awards and recognition
[edit]D3O has received the following awards and recognition:
- 2014: Queen’s Award for Enterprise[30]
- 2016: Inclusion in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 ‘Ones to Watch’ list[31]
- 2017: T3 Awards together with Three: Best Mobile Accessory[32]
- 2018: British Yachting Awards – clothing innovation[33]
- 2019: ISPO Award – LP2 Pro[34]
- 2020: Red Dot - Snickers Ergo Craftsmen Kneepads[35]
- 2022/2023: ISPO Textrends Award - Accessories & Trim[36]
- 2023: IF Design Award - D3O Ghost Reactiv Body Protection [37]
- 2023: ISPO Award – D3O Ghost back protector[38]
References
[edit]- ^ "D3O". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O materials". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Flexible armour that hardens on impact: Richard Palmer and Philip Green named European Inventor Award 2019 finalists". European Patent Office. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Richard Palmer and Philip Green (UK) Finalists for the European Inventor Award 2019". European Patent Office. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "US and Canadian skiers get smart armour". New Scientist. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "First consumer product launched with d3o 'custard' armour". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Design Blue Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O: The Queen-honoured business exporting to over 40 countries". Real Business. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Founder of d3o takes extended sabbatical". Tornado Insider. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O: The Queen-honoured business exporting to over 40 countries". Real Business. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O Wins Smart Award From Technology Strategy Board To Reduce Traumatic Brain Injuries For Soldiers". Soldier Systems. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Beringea leads GBP13m funding round for D3O". Private Equity Wire. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Design Blue Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." Beringea. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "This British company is making inroads into the US military impact protection market". Military Times. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." Beringea. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "STRAX brand Gear4 now UK's no. 1 phone case brand". STRAX. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "ISEA Releases New Glove Standard on Impact Performance". Occupational Health and Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Leading Impact Protection Company D3O Acquired by Elysian Capital III LP". AP News. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Electronics protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Sports Protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Motorcycle protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Defence protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "How a new technology is setting the standard for hand protection". Industrial Safety and Hygiene News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Everything You Need to Know About The New ANSI ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard". MCR Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O Impact Protection Specified by US Army". Soldier Systems. October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Trusted impact protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Team D3O". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "D3O Lab: D3O Receives Queen's Award for Enterprise". Business Wire (Press release). 21 April 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Britain's fastest growing tech companies revealed" (PDF). Fast Track. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "T3 Awards 2017 together with Three: Best Mobile Accessory". T3. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "The British Yachting Awards 2018". The Chelsea Magazine Company. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Awardees outdoor". ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Red Dot Design Award: Ergo Craftsmen Kneepads". Red Dot Design Award. Red Dot. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Awardees Fall Winter 2022/2023 Accessories & Trims". ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "iF Design - D3O GHOST REACTIV BODY PROTECTION". iF Design - D3O GHOST REACTIV BODY PROTECTION. iF Design. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Awardees outdoor". ISPO. Retrieved 31 May 2023.