Zoombang develops and manufactures protective gear using a proprietary viscoelastic polymer formulated by its founder, Larry Rhoades, in the 1990s. The Texas-rooted company says its focus is protective gear, applying its PolyShield technology to safety needs in sports, tactical, industrial, and medical settings.
TJC PolymersBuilt by former Air Force Research Laboratory and advanced-materials leaders, TJC Polymers is a Dayton company known for applying deep polymer-science expertise to difficult protection and performance challenges. Its U.S.-made, Berry-compliant micro-composite fibers are developed with customers for applications where lower weight and demanding thermal or mechanical performance matter, including protective gear and aerospace structures. The company’s leadership brings more than 80 years of combined experience and a portfolio of 75 patents.DAYTON, OH
Mitigation TechnologiesFounded in 1991 after Craig Schwartz invented SAFETYDRAPE®, Mitigation Technologies designs and manufactures blast- and ballistic-protection products for the warfighters, law enforcement officers, schools, and organizations that need safer structures and vehicles. The Mercersburg, Pennsylvania company develops both standard and custom security solutions, including its patented SAFETYDRAPE® system and rapidly deployable protective barriers, with installations ranging from the White House to Australia. Schwartz continues to manage daily operations and lead the company’s research and development, while its products are made in the USA.337920MERCERSBURG, PA
2nd Skull, IncBorn from founder Federico Olivares’s 2010 determination to protect his son after a bicycle accident, Pittsburgh-based 2nd Skull makes thin protective skull caps and headgear designed to add impact protection beneath a helmet or worn alone. Its products use lightweight XRD® material that stays flexible during play but hardens under sudden pressure, and are made in the USA after testing at independent laboratories. The company’s headgear has also been developed for industrial workplaces, extending its original sports-safety idea beyond the field.PITTSBURGH, PA
Sorbothane, IncFrom its Kent, Ohio plant, Sorbothane, Inc. manufactures components from its proprietary viscoelastic polymer to absorb shock, isolate vibration, and damp unwanted noise. Founded in the U.S. in 1982, the company supplies standard parts and custom-engineered solutions made in America, with applications ranging from industrial machinery to NASA equipment and the Liberty Bell’s transport carriage. Its material is known for combining high damping with full recovery through repeated cycles.KENT, OH