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D3O

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D3O is the namesake ingredient brand of British company D3O Lab, specializing in rate-sensitive impact protection technologies.[1]

The brand comprises 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

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In 1999, the materials scientists Richard Palmer and Philip Green experimented with a dilatant fluid with non-Newtonian properties. Unlike water, this fluid was free-flowing at rest but became instantly hard upon impact.

As 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 moves with the wearer while providing comprehensive protection.

Palmer and Green filed a patent application, which they used as the foundation for commercializing 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 Canadian 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 test laboratories and house its global business functions.

With exports to North America making up an increasing part of its business,[15] 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.[16] The same year, D3O consumer electronics brand partner Gear4 became the UK’s number 1 phone case brand in volume and value.[17] 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.[18]

D3O was acquired in September 2021 by independent private equity fund Elysian Capital III LP.[19] The acquisition saw previous owners Beringea US & UK and Entrepreneurs Fund exit the business after six years of year-on-year growth.

D3O applications

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D3O has various applications, such as in electronics (low-profile impact protection for phones, laptops, and other electronic devices),[20] sports (protective equipment),[21] motorcycle riding gear,[22] defence (helmet liners and body protection; footwear)[23] and industrial workwear (personal protective equipment such as gloves, knee pads and metatarsal guards for boots).[24][25]

In 2020, D3O became the specified helmet suspension pad supplier for the US Armed Forces' Integrated Helmet Protection System (IHPS) Suspension System.[26]

Product development

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

In-house rapid prototyping and testing laboratories[27] 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 defense applications.

Sponsorship

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D3O sponsors athletes including:

Awards and recognition

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D3O has received the following awards and recognition:

References

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  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. ^ "This British company is making inroads into the US military impact protection market". Military Times. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  16. ^ "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." Beringea. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  17. ^ "STRAX brand Gear4 now UK's no. 1 phone case brand". STRAX. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  18. ^ "ISEA Releases New Glove Standard on Impact Performance". Occupational Health and Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Leading Impact Protection Company D3O Acquired by Elysian Capital III LP". AP News. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Electronics protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Sports Protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Motorcycle protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Defence protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  24. ^ "How a new technology is setting the standard for hand protection". Industrial Safety and Hygiene News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About The New ANSI ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard". MCR Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  26. ^ "D3O Impact Protection Specified by US Army". Soldier Systems. October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Trusted impact protection". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Team D3O". D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  29. ^ "D3O Lab: D3O Receives Queen's Award for Enterprise". Business Wire (Press release). 21 April 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Britain's fastest growing tech companies revealed" (PDF). Fast Track. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  31. ^ "T3 Awards 2017 together with Three: Best Mobile Accessory". T3. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  32. ^ "The British Yachting Awards 2018". The Chelsea Magazine Company. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  33. ^ "Awardees outdoor". ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Red Dot Design Award: Ergo Craftsmen Kneepads". Red Dot Design Award. Red Dot. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Awardees Fall Winter 2022/2023 Accessories & Trims". ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  36. ^ "iF Design - D3O GHOST REACTIV BODY PROTECTION". iF Design - D3O GHOST REACTIV BODY PROTECTION. iF Design. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Awardees outdoor". ISPO. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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