September 6, 2018 

Major Defense Contract Secured Just One Month After Acquisition of Smart Composite, Accelerating Expansion in the Defense Sector

Ballistic plates manufactured by WELCRON / Photo Courtesy of WELCRON

WELCRON, a company specializing in industrial textiles, announced on September 6 that it had signed a KRW 5.9 billion contract with South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND) to supply NIJ Level IV ballistic plates. This marks the company's first contract with the Ministry of National Defense for personal ballistic protection plates since entering the defense industry.

Ballistic plates are designed to be inserted into or attached to body armor to enhance ballistic protection against bullets and fragments. These plates are manufactured using advanced processing technology that bonds multiple layers of polyethylene (PE) and ceramic materials.

Under the contract, WELCRON will supply a total of 21,822 ballistic plates, consisting of 6,160 medium-sized plates and 15,662 large-sized plates, with deliveries scheduled for completion by mid-December 2018.

The ballistic plates meet the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level IV standard, which provides protection against .30 caliber armor-piercing M2 (AP M2) ammunition. In addition to preventing projectile penetration, the plates demonstrate backface deformation performance that exceeds the required standards by a substantial margin.

Since entering the defense market in 2011 with the development of advanced body armor, WELCRON has steadily expanded its defense business. The company developed South Korea's first stab-resistant buoyancy vest and supplied it to the Korea Coast Guard.

In 2016, WELCRON secured contracts with the Korean National Police Agency to supply ultra-lightweight ballistic and stab-resistant vests for counterterrorism operations and general police use, further establishing its position in the defense and security markets.

A WELCRON representative stated, "Securing this ballistic plate contract just one month after acquiring Smart Composite, a defense company, represents a significant achievement and is expected to accelerate the growth of our personal protection business."

The representative added, "Through continuous research and development, we plan to expand our business beyond personal ballistic protection plates into armor solutions for military vehicles and naval vessels."

[Media Coverage]

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➡ Originally published in Korean by Money Today News on September 6, 2018