US developer of high tech textiles for the military, medical, safety, sporting goods and footwear industries Accumed Innovative Technologies has announced that it is to increase its workforce by more than 35% in 2007 in order to develop new products for the US military using its Breathe-O-Prene technology.  The company, which was approached by the US military, plans to develop technologies that are designed to help US soldiers to withstand extreme weather and combat conditions. This will include developing body armour components and solutions for chemical and biological warfare.

"AccuMed will ramp up additional manufacturing that will increase our workforce by more than 35% in 2007 creating jobs for skilled sewers and administrative positions," said Michael DiMeo, vice president of Sales. "Recently, Accumed Innovative Technologies Inc. was approached by the US military to develop Breathe-O-Prene based cutting edge wearable solutions for our soldiers that address various threats that range from ballistic to biochemical in nature.”

The company is now working with other companies and research organisations that supply military products and, if the US military approves the final product, Accumed has the opportunity to manufacture three to four million units—a contract that could reach $90 million over five years.

The company hopes to be able to produce the products in-house but stated that if would use domestic subcontractors if necessary.

Accumed’s core product Breathe-O-Prene is a fabric that utilises an open-cell construction that maximises breathability and moves moisture away from the skin.