ExposureWear Inc., a client of the Louisiana Business and Technology Center within the E.J. Ourso College of Business, has been awarded a $1 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop one cool project.
The company has been chosen to develop a prototype of an Army Climatic Suit, which will keep soldiers cool during combat overseas.
Joe Lamendola, vice president of ExposureWear, said the company has been a client of the LBTC since 2006, and the incubator has been instrumental in its achievements.
“There’s no question that the organization provides a much-needed resource,” Lamendola said.
Ritchie Priddy, president of ExposureWear, agreed.
“They’ve helped us so much,” Priddy said. “Whether it’s words of encouragement or them saying, ‘This is how you do it.'”
Priddy said the development of an Army Climatic Suit is necessary because the current options are all restricting and inefficient.
“Overheating in combat has long been a problem,” Priddy said. “We knew that was a big issue.”
Soldiers currently use suits that circulate chilled water to keep them cool — a system that isn’t always adequate, Priddy said.
“If the system fails, you’re just carrying around dead weight,” he said. “And once you leave the base, you can’t take it off without putting yourself at risk.”
The ExposureWear suit will be designed so soldiers can remove it quickly if necessary, and the company will produce it in various shapes to accommodate soldiers’ needs, Priddy said.
The suits will use air instead of chilled water to regulate soldiers’ temperatures, which makes them lighter and easier to wear, he said.
He said the suits will include a feature that also allows them to heat soldiers in colder climates.
Austin Stukins, interior design sophomore, has served in Iraq and said he believes the suits will be a great tool for soldiers if designed correctly.
“I hate the idea of wearing something else in addition to all my gear, but if it works, it’s worth it,” he said.
Stukins said during his time in Iraq, he was subjected to extreme heat while wearing 80 to 100 pounds of gear. He said he and other soldiers were encouraged to drink at least a gallon of water each day to stay hydrated.
“It’s not necessarily just a comfort,” Stukins said. “It’s a safety thing, too.”
Roy Keller, director of the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office, said he’s excited the company was awarded the contract because it means the LBTC has done its job.
“It really shows the value of the system we have here,” Keller said.
Keller said the incubator helps companies to develop business and marketing plans. It also offers them resources like mentors, speakers and business connections.
Lamendola said ExposureWear is only one of several companies that received contracts from the Army to develop a suit prototype. The company chosen will receive a contract to continue development of the suit.
“A vast majority of them will never make it,” he said. “Some will be used in pieces.”
Lamendola said the company has been developing its patent-pending suit for three months, and once it’s completed, the company will send it to the Army.
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]