D3O is an ingredient brand specialising in advanced rate-sensitive impact protection technologies, materials and products.[1] It comprises a portfolio of more than 30 technologies and materials including set foams, formable foams, set elastomers and formable elastomers.[2]

D3O is sold in more than 50 countries.[3] It is used in sports and motorcycle gear; protective cases for consumer electronics including phones; industrial workwear; and military protection including helmet pads and limb protectors.[4]

An example of D3O hand protection
An example of D3O hand protection
An example of a D3O limb protector
An example of a D3O limb protector
The D3O testing laboratory
The D3O testing laboratory

History

In 1999, the materials scientists Richard Palmer and Philip Green experimented with a dilatant liquid with non-Newtonian properties. Unlike water, it was free flowing when stationary but became instantly rigid upon impact.

As keen snowboarders, Palmer and Green drew inspiration from snow and decided to replicate its matrix-like quality to develop a flexible material that incorporated the dilatant fluid. After experimenting with numerous materials and formulas, they invented a flexible, pliable material that locked together and solidified in the event of a collision.

When incorporated into clothing, the material moved with the wearer while providing comprehensive protection.

Palmer and Green successfully filed a patent application, which they used as the foundation for commercialising their invention and setting up a business in 1999.

D3O® was used commercially for the first time by the United States Ski Team and the Canada ski team at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.[5] D3O® first entered the motorcycle market in 2009 when the ingredient was incorporated into CE-certified armour for the apparel brand Firstgear.[6]

Philip Green left D3O in 2006,[7] and in 2009[8] founder Richard Palmer brought in Stuart Sawyer as interim CEO. Palmer took a sabbatical in 2010[9] and left the business in 2011,[10] at which point executive leadership was officially handed over to Sawyer, who has remained in the position since.

In 2014, D3O received one of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise[11] and was awarded £237,000 by the Technology Strategy Board – now known as Innovate UK – to develop a shock absorption helmet system prototype for the defence market to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury.[12]

The following year, Sawyer secured £13 million in private equity funding from venture capital investor Beringea, allowing D3O to place more emphasis on product development and international marketing.[13] D3O opened headquarters in London[14] which include full-scale innovation and test laboratories and house its global business functions.

With exports to North America making up an increasing part of its business,[15][16] the company set up a new operating base located within the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC), a research park for high-technology companies located in Blacksburg, Virginia.[17] The same year, D3O consumer electronics brand partner Gear4 became the UK’s number 1 phone case brand in volume and value.[18] Gear 4 has since become present in consumer electronics retail stores worldwide including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

In 2017, D3O became part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) committee which developed the first standard in North America to address the risk to hands from impact injuries: ANSI/ISEA 138-2019, American National Standard for Performance and Classification for Impact Resistant Hand Protection.[19]

D3O was acquired in September 2021 by independent private-equity fund Elysian Capital III LP.[20] The acquisition saw previous owners Beringea US & UK and Entrepreneurs Fund exit the business after six years of year-on-year growth.

D3O applications

D3O has various applications such as in electronics (low-profile impact protection for phones, laptops and other electronic devices),[21] sports (protective equipment),[22] motorcycle riding gear,[23] defence (helmet liners and body protection; footwear)[24] and industrial workwear (personal protective equipment such as gloves, knee pads and metatarsal guards for boots),[25][26]

In 2020, D3O became the specified helmet suspension pad supplier for the US Armed Forces' Integrated Helmet Protection System (IHPS) Suspension System.[27]

Product development

D3O uses patented and proprietary technologies to create both standard and custom products.

In-house rapid prototyping and testing laboratories[28] ensure each D3O development is tested to CE standards for sports and motorcycle applications, ISEA 138 for industrial applications and criteria set by government agencies for defence applications.

Sponsorship

D3O sponsors athletes including:

Awards and recognition

D3O has received the following awards and recognition:

References

  1. ↑ "D3O". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "D3O materials". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Flexible armour that hardens on impact: Richard Palmer and Philip Green named European Inventor Award 2019 finalists". European Patent Office. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Richard Palmer and Philip Green (UK) Finalists for the European Inventor Award 2019". European Patent Office. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "US and Canadian skiers get smart armour". New Scientist. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "First consumer product launched with d3o 'custard' armour". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Design Blue Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "D3O: The Queen-honoured business exporting to over 40 countries". Real Business. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Founder of d3o takes extended sabbatical". Tornado Insider. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "D3O Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "D3O: The Queen-honoured business exporting to over 40 countries". Real Business. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "D3O Wins Smart Award From Technology Strategy Board To Reduce Traumatic Brain Injuries For Soldiers". Soldier Systems. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Beringea leads GBP13m funding round for D3O". Private Equity Wire. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Design Blue Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." Beringea. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "This British company is making inroads into the US military impact protection market". Military Times. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." Beringea. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "STRAX brand Gear4 now UK's no. 1 phone case brand". STRAX. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "ISEA Releases New Glove Standard on Impact Performance". Occupational Health and Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "Leading Impact Protection Company D3O Acquired by Elysian Capital III LP". AP News. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "Electronics protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Sports Protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "Motorcycle protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  24. ↑ "Defence protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "How a new technology is setting the standard for hand protection". Industrial Safety and Hygiene News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "Everything You Need to Know About The New ANSI ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard". MCR Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "D3O Impact Protection Specified by US Army". Soldier Systems. October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  28. ↑ "Trusted impact protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  29. ↑ "Team D3O". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "D3O Lab: D3O Receives Queen's Award for Enterprise". Business Wire (Press release). 21 April 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  31. ↑ "Britain's fastest growing tech companies revealed" (PDF). Fast Track. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  32. ↑ "T3 Awards 2017 together with Three: Best Mobile Accessory". T3. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  33. ↑ "The British Yachting Awards 2018". The Chelsea Magazine Company. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  34. ↑ "Awardees outdoor". ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  35. ↑ "Red Dot Design Award: Ergo Craftsmen Kneepads". Red Dot Design Award. Red Dot. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Awardees Fall Winter 2022/2023 Accessories & Trims". ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  37. ↑ "iF Design - D3O GHOST REACTIV BODY PROTECTION". iF Design - D3O GHOST REACTIV BODY PROTECTION. iF Design. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  38. ↑ "Awardees outdoor". ISPO. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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