BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy announced that Polartec, of Lawrence, will receive $7 million to provide protective clothing for the military. The funding was part of the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill. 

“This funding is great news for a company which is living proof that manufacturing jobs can stay in America. The men and women of Polartec who have worked so hard to stay afloat and stay in the lead in military technologies will now be designing protective clothing to protect our troops in the heat of battle,” said Senator Kerry.

“For many years, Polartec has been at the forefront of keeping our troops safe and well-protected on the front lines,” said Senator Kennedy. “All of us in Massachusetts are proud that it continues to lead the way in developing the technology to manufacture this indispensable protective clothing for our men and women in uniform.”

“The 1000 employees of Polartec are extremely grateful for the business the company continues to receive from the Department of Defense, as well as for the tireless support of Senator Kennedy and Senator Kerry.  They have both been champions for American manufacturing and for ensuring that our troops are properly equipped for the trials of combat,” said Andy Vecchione, President of Polartec, LLC. 

Additional information on the projects:

$4 million for Fleece Insulating Liners for Extended Cold Weather Clothing System Generation III (ECWCS-GEN III)

Currently soldiers and units of the Army use obsolete cold-weather clothing.  The ECWCS GEN III was developed in direct response to soldiers’ complaints of bulkiness and lack of breathability as an existing issue.  Soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from overheating when active and feeling uncomfortably cold when standing still.  This radical redesign of ECWCS requires 33% less space and weighs 25% less than previous generations, allowing soldiers to move with greater ease.  The U.S. Army cited a need for 240,000 ECWCS GEN III systems per year over the next five years.

$2 million for the Multi Climate Protection System (MCPS)

The Chief of Naval Operations FY 2000 Aircrew Systems Operational Advisory Group identified that Naval and Marine Corps aircrew personnel need an improved protective clothing system.  The Multi Climate Protection System is a modular ensemble that provides total performance by layering thermal protection shell garments.  Polartec Thermal-Flame Resistant (FR) with NOMEX fleece knit structures provide aircrew with enhanced thermal protection, flame protection and reduced thermal burden via dimensional moisture management.  Wind and water resistance capabilities are obtained using Polartec WindPro with NOMEX in the outer layer wear.

$1 million for Responsive Textiles

The US Army Natick Soldier Center has recognized a need for reducing the weight and bulk of the war fighter while maintaining breathability and as-needed insulation.  The single responsive garment would replace a multitude of layers, allowing for maximum mobility in varying environments.  The requested funds will be used to research the technical feasibility of the Responsive Textile concept, estimate costs, manufacture a prototype concept, and conduct fabric testing, bulk testing, and thermal analysis of the prototype concept under varying temperatures.  Next, the program will optimize the Responsive Textile fabric construction and physical characteristics for manufacturing and scale-up.

In total, the Defense Appropriations bill provides $777 million in funding for Massachusetts projects.

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