INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Aearo Technologies
Tim McNamara Military/Government
Senior Sales Manager
Aearo Technologies
Tim McNamara was hired by Aearo Technologies (then American Optical) in 1980 and held a variety of positions in sales in the North American Industrial Division. Utilizing his experience as a former deputy sheriff, he was asked to place emphasis in the Government Division concentrating in both federal government and military sales. These areas continued to see considerable growth from products such as the E-A-R Combat Arms, Peltor Eyewear and Peltor Communications headsets and accessories.
Q: Could you give the SOTECH reader an overview of your company?
A: Aearo Technologies is one of the leading manufacturers of personal protective equipment in the United States. Aearo consists of five primary business units including AOSafety, manufacturer of safety eyewear and respirators; E-A-R, manufacturer of passive hearing protection—the ubiquitous yellow foam earplug is ours; Peltor, our Swedish-based manufacturer of our electronic headsets; SafeWaze, manufacturer of fall protection devices; and Specialty Composites, manufacturer of the materials used in many of our hearing protection products as well as sound absorption materials and vibration attenuation products.
Aearo Technologies has had a presence in the military market for more than three decades. The yellow foam earplug set the standard for hearing protection and continues to enjoy a strong presence throughout the armed services. The utility of our products has increased exponentially in the past five years with the introduction of the Peltor ComTac headset and more recently with the Combat ArmsEarplug, and the Peltor high impact eyewear.
Q: Hearing and eye protection are obviously your core competencies. Could you expound on those aspects of your business in the military market?
A: Move-shoot-communicate are the three principles of survival on the battlefield. The Peltor ComTac headset and Combat Arms Earplugs are relatively new products designed to protect a soldier’s hearing while enhancing his ability to communicate and increase his situational awareness. The Peltor ComTac headset has become the gold standard for the Stryker brigades, the Special Forces groups, the Ranger battalions, and numerous other organizations. Its PASGT and ACH helmet compatibility; talk-thru features; impulse noise suppression; ambient noise enhancement; and interface with multiple communications devices have made the Peltor ComTac mission essential equipment for units serious about hearing protection and enhancing a soldier’s ability to communicate in very difficult environments.
The Peltor ComTac headset recently underwent comparative field testing by General Dynamics at the Yakima Training Center in Yakima, WA. After weeks of rigorous testing, General Dynamics selected the Peltor ComTac for use in the General Dynamics Land Warrior program. General Dynamics’ selection of the Peltor ComTac underscores its versatility, durability, and value as a communications device that not only protects a soldier’s hearing, but affords the soldier enhanced situational awareness as well as a means to communicate in environments that would otherwise preclude normal communications.
Q: Your yellow, foam earplug has been used by the armed services for several years. Can you tell our readers about the new Combat Arms Earplug?
A: The Combat Arms Earplug [CAE] represents a leap in passive hearing technology thru the use of a patented design that affords wearers instant impulse noise protection while still being able to hear low-level sounds such as conversations, footsteps, and rifle bolts. The calibrated filter within the stems reacts to high-level noises—weapons fire or explosions—by suppressing the noise to a safer level thereby reducing the likelihood of permanent hearing damage or disorientation. The earplug is dual-sided for use in both tactical settings as well as high noise environments when one’s situational awareness is less important. The USMC Uniform Board recently recommended the Combat Arms Earplug become the standard issue earplug for all Marines. TRADOC is currently evaluating the distribution of the CAE to all soldiers and not just those deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Q: You mentioned eyewear among the many safety products Aearo manufactures. What products do you manufacture specifically for the military?
A: Our MAXIM and QX ballistic eyewear have emerged as standard issue protection for the armed services. The MAXIM and QX platforms feature state-of-the-art polycarbonate lenses that meet the military regimen for high velocity impact protection. The wrap-around, distortion free lenses provide unparalleled ballistic protection with multiple adjustment features to accommodate a variety of orbital structures and headgear. The anti-fog coating, high-impact nylon frames, and polycarbonate lenses—amber, gray, and clear—represent AOSafety’s cutting edge technology in protective eyewear.
Q: What sets Aearo Technologies apart from your competitors?
A: Aearo Technologies is the leader provider of force protection products to the military. We have served our Nation needs for our fighting men and women from WWI to today’s missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our products are battle tested and soldier proven. ♦