FirstSpear and NFM Group Partner to Expand Offering and Capabilities

ST. LOUIS and GLYNITVEIEN, Norway, Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FirstSpear, a warfighter tactical equipment designer and manufacturer, and the NFM Group, an international group of companies developing and marketing unique tactical textile and body armor solutions, have announced the launch of a co-development and distribution partnership. 

The move will allow both companies to further enhance their technological solutions by combining state of the art, high performance defensive field gear with tactical capability enhancement technologies, allowing U.S. and European customers with rapid access to the unique variety of leading technologies offered by both companies.

FirstSpear designs are produced based on valuable end-user input, applied into the R&D process by developers, focusing on specific mission needs, and thus delivering pioneering, capability enhancement oriented products. 

The NFM Group, considered one of the most innovative and specific mission-need oriented textile developers worldwide, focuses on developing tactical textiles and load bearing equipment that increases the flexibility and survivability of the modern combat soldier.

The partnership between FirstSpear and the NFM Group will serve to facilitate mutually enhanced product offerings, more efficient and effective marketing channels for both companies. 

With a shared goal of addressing the need for lighter, more adaptable modular gear,FirstSpear will utilize NFM's advanced tactical textile designs and technologies to enhance their load carriage systems and apparel solutions.  NFM customers will benefit from direct access to FirstSpear's latest technologies, including Tubes and 6/12, to name a few.  Both companies will continue to drive innovation by working closely and constantly with military end-users in order to meet their unique mission needs.

"FirstSpear is committed to developing and deploying products that cater to the unique needs of the best of the best – the tip of the spear," said Scott Carver, Founder and President of FirstSpear.  "NFM is among the most talented and innovative development teams with whom we have had the pleasure of working. We are excited to join forces with them to better serve the warfighter, giving our customers more immediate access to top tier technologies."

"The match between FirstSpear and NFM Group is intuitive and natural," according to Walther Overland, Managing Director and CEO of The NFM Group, who elaborated: "Both companies base their research and development process and portfolio on valuable end user insight and first hand knowledge of field use requirements. Each company's solutions and technologies complement the other's well and we are delighted at the opportunity to deepen and widen our cooperation with FirstSpear on the global arena."

About FirstSpear, LLC
FirstSpear, LLC is dedicated to rapidly delivering innovative individual equipment systems to professional users. FirstSpear designs are produced with direct input from the end user and by developers who take into account specific mission needs, resulting in innovative, capability-driven products. The FirstSpear production facility is located in Fenton, MO and this new venture has led to the creation of more than 80 skilled manufacturing jobs with plans to continue this growth in the near term.

For more on FirstSpear, please visit www.first-spear.com.

About the NFM Group The NFM®Group was founded in 1996 by four Norwegian National Guard Servicemen. Frustrated with the discomfort and lack of functionality of their existing military vests, they decided to make some improvements and sew some load bearing vests on their own. This prompted the Norwegian military to supply the team with a small development fund in order to enhance this effort further. The result was a vastly improved vest, ready for mass deployment by 1998. Since then, the NFM®Group has expanded and grown. By keeping a close dialog with the end-user, and maintaining a deep understanding of the complex market of its users, the NFM®Group is now a major contender within the full spectrum protection segment. NFM®Group products and services are used today by various European military and police forces. 

For more on NFM Group, please visit http://www.nfm.no/.

SOURCE FirstSpear