Protective Clothing and Gear: Body/Vehicle Armor, Fire, Chem/Bio

Report Highlights

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

• The U.S. market for advanced protective clothing, armor, respirators and protective gloves now is valued at about $2.3 billion per year and is expected to increase to more than $3.35 billion by 2010, rising at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 7.9%.
• Armor, body and vehicular, is a $356 million-a-year industry at present that is expected to increase to $628 million by 2010, at an AAGR of 12%.
• The advanced fire protective garments market is valued at $429 million and should reach $606 million by 2010. Structural/proximity firefighters protective clothing is more than half the value of this sector.
• Chemical/biological exposure protection is valued at $340 million and is expected to increase at an AAGR of 8% through 2010, while ancillary gear is valued at more than $1.2 billion and expected to reach slightly over $1.6 billion by 2010.

INTRODUCTION

The advanced protective garment and gear industry plays a crucial role in the protection of military personnel, firemen, police officers, oil and gas field workers and a host of chemical process industry and industrial workers. Concerns for personnel safety, including protection from death and disabling injuries and illnesses, as well as civilian and military force protection from the specific dangers of chemicals, biologic agents, fire, projectiles and explosives, result in a fragmented and diverse industry devoted to personal protective garments and gear. To serve this industry, a large number of high-performance materials and combinations of these materials have been developed.

Protective apparel and associated gear is undergoing growth in many sectors as a result of terrorist activities and subsequent geopolitical events. Tracking and predicting growth related to these events, as well as examining offsetting growth factors, are major reasons for doing this study.

This comprehensive BCC analysis provides a view of the major trends within the personal protective garment, armor and associated equipment industry. Five-year market projections are provided to quantify market size and paradigm changes, and identify some of the new technological as well as continuing technological needs.

SCOPE OF STUDY

The report contains:

• Detailed examinations of protective clothing and equipment in the categories of body and vehicular armor, heat and flame-resistant clothing, chemical protective garments and equipment, and respirators for fire and chemical/biological situations
• Analysis of their varied distinctive purposes, components, composition and standards, the entities that use them, the conditions under which they are used and the manufacturers of both components and the final products
• Analysis of current and future market growth and trends within that sector with forecasts to 2010
• Discussion of players in each industry, including government organizations that create and enforce regulations and standards, raw material suppliers, fiber manufacturers, mills and fabric producers, armor and finished goods manufacturers, and suppliers and distributors.

METHODOLOGY

The material researched and presented in this report is based on information gathered from personal contacts within government agencies, individuals involved in materials and manufacturing, industry consultants, and to some degree, on the authors' personal experience.

Additional data was obtained from reviews of secondary sources, such as trade publications, trade-associated company literature, government documents, and patents. This was done in an effort to supplement the application, market, and trend data gathered from primary sources. All monetary projections presented in this report are reported in constant U.S. dollars.

ANALYST'S CREDENTIALS

Anna Welch Crull, a chemist and long-time private consultant, is experienced in electrochemistry, polymers, membrane materials, and advanced separations. Ms. Crull has worked with BCC, Inc for 30 years and has authored 85 technical/marketing reports, has helped establish 10 technical newsletters, and has assisted in numerous special consulting studies for more than 30 corporations and for U.S. and foreign governments. One of her earliest studies for BCC, Inc. was on flame-retardant chemicals. Her specialty is market evaluations and commercialization of new technology.

Colonel Dick Hooker (USA, Ret.) was a journalist prior to entering the army as an infantry officer. Col. Hooker spent half of his military career abroad, with European service, three tours in Vietnam, where he commanded an infantry battalion, and then as an intelligence officer and foreign-area specialist with U.S. embassies and military missions in Asia and the Middle East. He has co-authored global studies on water and wastewater global markets, advanced military battery technology, and fuel cell markets in stationary and transportation applications. A private consultant, Hooker has worked with BCC, Inc. for 6 years, specializing in military applications for advanced technologies.