Greenville, SC, August 19, 2015 — PBI Max, the strongest and most durable PBI outer shell fabric in the world, has been selected as the outer shell fabric to protect the firefighters of São Paulo, Brazil. The São Paulo Fire Department is responsible for protecting one of the largest and most populous cities in the western hemisphere. One of the worlds’ most progressive fire brigades, the São Paulo Fire Department requires materials in their turnout gear composite that comply to NFPA 1971 for the best protection and performance, materials like PBI Max.
São Paulo firefighters started wearing 6 oz PBI Max after their initial purchase of approximately 1,000 sets of gear delivered in June of 2015. This purchase was followed by an additional 2,000 sets of 6 oz PBI Max that will be delivered at the end of 2015 and into early 2016. The garments will be designed and manufactured locally by Ansell Hércules. The PBI Max outer shell offers firefighters the best combination of break open and thermal protection—in the strongest and most durable PBI outer shell fabric the world has ever seen. Engineered with Filament Twill Technology™, PBI Max provides up to four times greater trap tear strength compared to fabrics made from conventisonal rip-stop technology. PBI Max allows firefighters to do more, more comfortably—without the stiffness and stress experienced with traditional outer shell fabrics. More importantly, the gear will weigh less, allowing firefighters to move easier while reducing heat stress.
Joey Underwood, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Safety Components, stated, “we are proud to be selected as the fabric supplier to the São Paulo Fire Department, and to provide enhanced personal protection to these brave firefighters. We support their long and proud history of protecting their citizens. At Safety Components, we are committed to leading the way in the design and manufacture of industry leading personal protective fabrics for firefighting professionals. Providing these fabrics to countries such as Chile and Brazil is integral in driving our success now and in the future in Latin America as well as the world over.”
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During the past 15 years Safety Components has led the fire service by developing more outer shell and thermal liner fabric innovations than any other textile company in the world. Safety Components’ outer shells contain a patented, durable, water repellent finish that offers safer, lighter, and dryer gear. These same outer shell fabrics also contain solution dyed fibers for the highest resistance to fading after thermal exposure.
Safety Components, Inc. (SCI) is the market leader in technology driven fabric solutions for high performance textiles. The main focus of SCI is to design and manufacture textiles for markets including: first responders (fire service, USAR & EMS), military, outdoor fabrics, aerospace escape slides, fuel cells, and automotive air bag fabrics. A division of International Textile Group, the SCI manufacturing facility is located on 22 acres in Greenville, South Carolina.