Research, Development and testing at SD

Telephone: +263 4 487064/486405/486317
Facsimile: +263 4 486885
Email: Security Devices
 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


working in the SD factory

Research and Development

The PPE and blast-resistant products made at Security Devices were all designed and developed in collaboration with outside agencies. Our initial partnership was with a technology transfer specialist who went on to become a leading figure in Humanitarian demining (see Andy Smith). We were then fortunate enough to enter an intense R&D programme supported by the US government. While continuing our old and valued partnerships, we have developed a useful relationship with MIT in USA and with a wide range of end-users (commercial, NGO and government bodies). Our own specialist staff have become experts in their own right, developing new products and refining our processes to ensure that we always offer good value for money and effective equipment.

We only use the best materials and proven processes because we know that the equipment must not fail. From polycarbonate to Kevlar, stainless-steel to sewing threads, all our materials are sourced from responsible suppliers with ISO accreditation. Strictly enforced internal quality control systems ensure that the materials are appropriately handled and processed so that our products meet our stringent manufacturing constraints and satisfy our customers.

Testing
See also Blast testing

Security Devices carry out testing in three phases.

1) First, we test the materials that will be used to ensure that they are of the required quality.

Fragmentation firing rig 2) Second to test "ballistic" materials, we have an in-house fragmentation firing rig that allows us to test to NATO STANAG 2920 standards using two chronographs and standard fragments held in our own design of sabot. The fragmentation rig is shown alongside and the sabot making tools are shown below.

tools to make sabots

See an early STANAG V50 visor test report made as part of our US Army CECOM NVESD funded support. The performance of materials and material combinations currently used is confirmed by independent testing facilities in the UK.

3) Third, after all lab tests are positive, examples are subjected to blast testing against real mines and HE threats. One advantage we have over manufacturers in Europe and America is that we can often gain access to real mines for use in final proving tests.

tests around the world

We not only conduct blast tests, but also user trials and have co-operated with others during related tests and trials, such as GICHD during their manual Demining Study (when we supplied blast-resistant tools and dummy mines).

The results of demining accidents recorded in the DDAS show that Security Devices products perform at least as well as all others in real explosive events. Our visors and body-armour have been involved in at least 100 real accidents and always performed at least as well as other brands. Our hand-tools have also been involved in recorded accidents and have always performed as designed.  

Quality Assurance

At Security Devices we use only the best materials and proven processes because we know that the equipment must never fail. From polycarbonate to Kevlar, stainless-steel to sewing threads, all our materials are sourced from responsible suppliers with ISO accreditation. Strictly enforced internal quality control systems ensure that the materials are appropriately handled and processed so that our products meet our own stringent manufacturing constraints.