ICR, Ltd. Develops Innovative High-Tech Solutions for Ballistic Panels and Blast Mitigation to Combat Terrorist Attacks and Increase Airline Security Waco, TX. Jan. 7/ Press Release/-- The terrorist attacks of September 11th have revealed severe breaches in national safety and a real need for heightened national security. Much of the attention on national security has focused on the airline industry and ways to increase airline safety. National, military, and private security agencies are investigating ways to enhance existing security measures through development of ballistic panel materials and blast mitigation systems. Traditional ballistic and blast mitigation materials, such as steel and concrete, do not meet the new complex requirements for airline, military and security agencies, but high performance composite materials will. International Composites Research, Ltd. (ICR), a composite based engineering, testing and development firm located outside of Crawford, Texas in Waco, has found their expertise in much demand as national security takes top priority since September 11th. The company saw a growing need in the composite industry to provide engineering, research and development services to customers that didn’t have in-house capabilities. “The ability of ICR to provide quick turn around research and development”, says company President Bob Simon, “has made our services even more attractive to companies and government agencies interested in ballistic and blast mitigation development.” One of their largest customers, Waco Composites I, Limited, also located in Waco, has regularly employed ICR’s services to provide NIJ and UL level testing on their ballistic panels in addition to assisting them in development of light-weight, NIJ Level IIIA ballistic panels designed specifically for use in airline cockpit doors. The Pro-Tech Line of ballistic panels are composite based products that meet the stringent FARs outlined by the FAA, are rigid, non-spalling and non-ricocheting panels, and can be cut, sanded, painted or covered with any customer specified material. ICR has been involved in the development of several Broad Agency Announcement proposals under the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics for combating terrorism. These proposals have addressed a wide variety of innovative, high tech solutions for physical security, countermeasures to weapons of mass destruction, large vehicle bomb neutralization, containment and mitigation. The solutions proposed by ICR capitalize on existing core competencies of companies, using their clients existing products, services and capabilities to provide a unique approach to combating terrorism. While the main thrust of ICR’s research and development work has revolved around immediate national security programs since September 11th, additional security development programs for the military have included ballistic panels for armoring military combat vehicles, Electro-Magnetic Interference, (EMI), ballistic panels for military vehicles, and light-weight, high strength, carbon graphite avionics racks for military helicopters. Additionally, local law enforcement agencies have worked with ICR to armor SWAT vehicles and investigate the use of ICR developed products such as bulletproof briefcases and clipboards for use by U.S. Marshals and patrolmen. “Because we are a small company, in addition to being quick, we are very agile and flexible in the way we approach research and development projects for other companies and agencies that may otherwise be hampered by internal bureaucracies,” says Bob Simon. “It is one of the key elements to our success as a company and we strive to continue to foster that capability.” International Composites Research is registered in the Central Contractors Registry as a Department of Defense supplier. Contact: Laura Simon Director of Marketing (254) 772-2586 ext. 6 lsimon@icr-ltd.com