There’s a new armor out there that can stop bullets and create jobs.
No, it’s not magic armor or something out of science fiction, but it can save lives and generate livelihoods.
It’s name is ‘All American Armor? and it’s going to be manufactured right here in Oxford by Thermo Vac, Inc. located at 201 W. Oakwood Road.
According to Michael J. Burkhart, Chief Operating Officer of All American Armor and Executive Assistant at Thermo Vac, local production of this armor will create anywhere from 250 to 1,000 new jobs in Oxford Township within the next six months.
‘It might happen as soon as three months from now the way the talks are going,? he said. ‘Our main mission here is to create jobs.?
The armor is a composite consisting of various types of ceramic, polymers and woven fabric such as fiberglass, according to Burkhart, who grew up in Lake Orion and still lives there.
The different materials are layered together and then undergo a process known as ‘Soft-Bond? technology which is the ‘bonding of dissimilar materials? using a thermoplastic adhesive and pressure to create a composite which is superior to the individual components.
The composite materials are subjected extremely high temperatures, which cure the adhesive, while pressure is applied simultaneous by a vacuum, according to Burkhart.
Soft-Bond technology allows All American Armor to ‘interchange? the materials which make up the armor to almost anything a customer wants or needs, Burkhart said.
For example, the ceramic used can be anything from ‘alumina oxide? (a commonly used, readily available, inexpensive ceramic) to ‘boron carbide? (a lighter weight, more tightly pressed, higher-priced ceramic). Or the armor’s fiberglass component could be replaced with Kevlar, a synthetic fiber commonly used in making bulletproof vests.
The composite materials and Soft-Bond technology result in a ‘rigid-looking? armor that’s really ‘not hard on the inside,? which Burkhart said is described as ‘fluff.?
But that ‘fluff? is pretty strong with ‘almost 16,000 psi (pounds per square inch) in flexural strength? and ‘almost 10,000 psi in tensile (strength),? according to Burkhart.
Burkhart said when a bullet hits this composite armor it’s ‘destroyed? by the ceramic material and all the kinetic energy from it’s impact is ‘dissipated? throughout the armor and ‘absorbed? by the polymers and fabric.
Because the armor’s composite materials essentially ‘trap? the bullet, there’s no ‘secondary fragmentation? (or ricochets), he noted.
Burkhart said the armor can be ‘molded and shaped to anything,? so it has ‘many applications? including personal body armor, S.W.A.T. team shields and armor to line the inside of police and military vehicles. He said it could also be used on planes and guardhouses, and in airport security.
‘It’s unlimited what it can do and be used for,? said Burkhart, noting the company can make a piece of armor in ‘any size up to 12 (foot) by 20 (foot).? ‘We’ve only scratched the surface of this armor’s capabilities and applications.?
In addition to versatility and effectiveness, All American Armor’s product is also ‘economical.?
For example, the 5-foot tall, 29?-inch wide, bullet-proof shields Burkhart said the company made for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Special Response Team would be sold for $4,000 each, whereas the same level of protection from a competitor would cost $12,000 each.
‘That’s a huge difference,? he said. ‘We wanted to make a cheaper product that local law enforcement can afford because they don’t have unlimited budgets.?
All American Armor’s composite product is also lighter than the 5/8-inch steel the army uses for armor on its vehicles.
The 5/8-inch steel weighs about 22 to 24 pounds per square foot, whereas the composite armor can weigh as little as 12.62 pounds per square foot, depending on the type of ceramics used, according to Burkhart.
Lighter weight armor means more maneuverability, faster speeds, better fuel mileage and less wear on vehicle parts, he said.
The composite armor also offers better protection than 5/8-inch steel, which ‘won’t even stop a 50-caliber bullet.?
‘It blows right through,? Burkhart said. ‘We’re stopping the 50-caliber with our armor.?
At present, All American Armor has no orders for its product, ‘but there’s a lot of ears open,? Burkhart said. ‘There’s been a lot of talk. It’s still in the talking phase.?
Burkhart said the company is looking to purchase a 60,000-square-foot industrial facility (formerly Talon Automotive Group, Inc. Hawthorne Production Stamping Division Oxford Plant) on X-Celsior Drive, near Oakwood and M-24 in Oxford Township, to handle its operations. The vacant plant already has the necessary hydraulics to run a production line and 30-ton cranes for lifting vehicles to apply armor, he said.
All American Armor is also in talks with the Delphi plant in Flint, the largest ceramic producer in the world, to be its main supplier.
Burkhart said right now the Delphi plant is currently working at about 20 percent of its capacity. To meet All American Armor’s eventual need for ceramic, he said Delphi would have to ‘step up production by at least four times,? which could mean another 1,000 to 5,000 jobs at the Flint plant, he said.
‘All our current suppliers of ceramic are willing and ready to make what we need, but they won’t be able to make as much and as fast (as Delphi could),? Burkhart said.
The only resource Burkhart doesn’t have to secure to get All American Armor off the ground is determination, which he appears to have an abundance of.
‘I’m not going to stop until we’re the leader in the armor industry.?