Recently, BodyArmorNews.com had the privilege of sitting down with Mr. Dimitris Koskovos, CEO of Anorak Hellas. Anorak is a Greek company specializing in ballistic solutions and weather protection, boasting an entirely local production in Greece. During our conversation we discussed Anorak’s diverse range of Niobium and Rhodium panels, as well as environmental concerns in the industry and the manufacturing of female body armor.
Niobium and Rhodium: New Goals in Personal Protection
Anorak’s main buyers, rather than large military bodies, lean towards security professionals. These can include a range from standard guards to undercover and public policemen. Whether a buyer needs to be more discreet with their protection or requires full-coverage armor, Anorak’s portfolio offers many low weight options. At EnforceTac, their line of soft armor vests were being showcased. Committed to diversity of protection, the line contained a full scope of defense. These cover completely concealable undershirt types to robust full-body options.
Koskovos introduced their new Niobium panel now that can defend against not only firearms, but hits from blades and spikes. “They are low weight, soft, and they are very flexible in form,” he explained.
The Niobium panel is tested to NIJ level 3A for firearms, NIJ Level 2 for blades, and NIJ Level 1 for spikes. Koskovos believes spikes to be more common of a threat than firearms, especially in Europe. This blend of protective qualities is a current challenge in the field helping to drive further innovation.
The Rhodium panel is NIJ .06 tested, holding a substantial position in Anorak’s repertoire. Not only is it lightweight with firearm protection, but it’s tested to hold up against more ammunition than the standard even requires. “Our main goal is to keep the weight as low as possible, and the flexibility of the panel as high as possible,” says Koskovos. “Besides the protection, we give much more care and interest to the comfort he [the officer] feels while wearing the protective equipment. We are trying to decrease the total weight that an officer has to carry while still being protected.”
Environmental Values on a Corporate Level
As our conversation moved towards manufacturing and R&D, we touched on Anorak Hellas’ commitment to integrating environmental solutions. Because of Anorak’s already entirely Greek production, the company is in an advantageous position in terms of carbon footprints because they don’t have to ship supplied long distances. When looking for suppliers, they choose based on price and quality, but also based on geographic closeness. On the circularity of Anorak’s products, Koskovos says, “we believe in long term guarantee or long term wearing garments. We make garments that last, that you don’t have to throw away the first six months or the first year. ” A large question of sustainability in the body armor industry lies in the materials themselves. Anorak Hellas displays a commitment to long-term use and extended life cycles of the material.
