Honeywell has announced that the same Spectra fibre technology used in protective vests for law enforcement is now available to shield the belongings of everyday consumers from thieves who slash bags to steal items.

Loctote Industrial Bag Company designed a theft-resistant drawstring backpack called the Flak Sack. Suitable both for travel and for daily use, the new cut-resistant bag is enhanced with Spectra fibre technology used in bullet-resistant vests.

It utilises Spectra in a unique fabric construction called FLAKnit created by Tuff-N-Lite, a division of Supreme Corporation, a leading textile and fibre technology company. Durable, yet flexible, the product is designed to be used in a range of situations such as travel, hiking and everyday use such as commuting to work.

Spectra fibre technology

Spectra fibre is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. The versatile material is used in a wide variety of applications including ballistic-resistant armour, professional fishing lines, industrial-strength ropes and increasingly in performance textile applications.

It is said to be 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float, whilst offering a high cut-resistance level, the company reports. Additional security features, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) blocking material, a heavy-duty brass and steel lock, and break-resistant, steel-reinforced nylon straps aim to ensure that Flak Sack has the best combination of features to protect against theft.

“Spectra is one of the strongest manmade fibres available, making it ideal for many high-performance situations,” said Sanjay Sharma, VP and GM, Packaging and Composites at Honeywell. “Honeywell’s ground-breaking technology and extensive R&D ensure that Spectra is the next-generation material of choice for breakthrough applications like the new Flak Sack bag. Spectra offers the most diverse features and benefits to help manufacturers and designers turn product fantasies into realities.”

Cut-resistant fabrics

Supreme Corporation has been manufacturing high-tech textiles and highly cut-resistant fabrics under the Tuff-N-Lite brand since 2006. These fabrics are designed for a range of high-performance applications in areas such as sportswear, police and military clothing, and safety gear.

“Honeywell Spectra enables us to realise our mission of creating the industry’s best high-performance textile products, whether they be composite yarns or cut-resistant fabrics,” said Matt Kolmes, CEO of Supreme Corporation. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Honeywell Spectra team to supply top-quality materials to innovative companies like Loctote.”

www.honeywell-spectra.com

www.honeywell.com