WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania, January 17, 2008 -- To help manufacturers quickly and cost-effectively meet the latest government standards, Sonobond Ultrasonics announced today that it is temporarily discounting the price of two types of ultrasonic bonders used to assemble ballistic vests. The new National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standards 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor, mandates that ballistic vests must now be totally water proof. These new standards significantly reduce the risk that bullet-proof materials -- such as Spectra-Shield® and Kevlar® contained in body armor -- will lose their life-saving effectiveness by exposure to moisture.
Sonobond offers two types of ultrasonic bonders for assembling ballistic vests with moisture-proof seams. One is the SeamMaster™ High Profile Ultrasonic Bonder. It professional seals the outer shell to protect the ballistic-resistant material inside. The other is the SureWeld™ 20 line of ultrasonic plastic welders. These are used to attach Velcro® to the outer shell of the vest. According to Sonobond's president, Janet Devine, the company will make both the SeamMaster™ High Profile Ultrasonic Bonder and the SureWeld™ 20 line of ultrasonic plastic welders available to ballistic vest manufacturers at a 5% discount through the first quarter of 2008.