Flextech provides custom-made, laminated, and compression-molded foam components for customers in the personal protection market. This market encompasses several unique segments including :
We use our compression molding process to manufacture parts that we supply to customers in this market. The compression molding process is utilized for the manufacturing of three-dimensional molded foam and foam composite parts. This process is perfect for making parts that have complex features, require precise part geometry, varying wall thicknesses, or critical dimensional tolerances.
Once the material has cooled, the mold opens, and the finished part is removed from the tool. On most parts, we are also able to cut the perimeter and any internal features of the part during the molding process. Cutting features in tandem with the molding process results in a finished part and allows us to avoid the expense of a secondary cutting operation.
The foam compression molding process is chosen for creating components for the personal protection market primarily because these parts are often in direct contact with the user and are designed for comfort. Compression molding produces parts with channels for flexion and airflow, living hinges for controlled bending, and molded patterns that allow for a cooling effect. The process allows us to build functionality into parts. We can also mold customer names and logos into parts so that their brand is identified.
Our compression molding process allows us to create a diverse range of components that are ideal for military, tactical, and law enforcement use. We have used the process to provide components such as ballistic vest and plate carrier panels, knee and elbow pads, semi-rigid holster components, helmet pads, shoulder pads, rifle slings, night vision goggle padding, riot gear pads, and molded case shells for medical kits.
We have used the foam compression molding process to manufacture a wide variety of parts for the medical/orthopedic and sporting goods segment as well. We mold fabric laminated parts for knee braces, ankle braces, lumbar, and cervical bracing devices. We also make parts for sporting goods including soccer head protection, helmet pads, shin guards and assorted other protective padding applications.