JBIT is located in Tucson, AZ and the plates are manufactured by a company in Eloy, AZ called Global Platinum and Gold, Inc. (http://www.globalplatinumonline.com).
Check out the news for them (http://www.globalplatinumonline.com/news.htm).
Certification is nearly complete by the National Institute of Justice.
Here is their May 17th press release:
Global Platinum + Gold, Inc., together with it associates Bourque Alloys LLC and JBIT, Inc. have identified a new market in the law enforcement segment for protective strike plates, or personal hard armor protection. We have determined that a majority of uniformed law enforcement personnel throughout the country are required or highly recommended they all wear a 4 x 8 trauma plate. We have further determined that a majority of these plates are produced off shore by foreign manufacturers. This is not acceptable. Bourque Alloys and JBIT, Inc. have already commenced the process of having its own 4 x 8 plate certified by the National Institute of Justice.
Global produces the proprietary Kryron material that gives the aluminum alloy plates their special properties, which among others, hardens the aluminum alloy sufficient to not allow penetration by weapons projectiles. We have been assured by numerous law enforcement agencies that if an American product is available for purchase of equal or greater quality they will have no hesitation in purchasing our product. We believe that our strike plates are superior to anything presently on the market and that we have an excellent opportunity to significantly penetrate this market. These plates are smaller than the plates worn by military personnel, swat teams, and the like. JBIT, Inc. is currently offering 3 plate sizes and a ballistic curtain that unfolds over the door to provide complete protection when an officer finds themselves in a dangerous situation.
Our primary strike plate (10 x 12) is still undergoing testing with the National Institute of Justice. We expect no difficulties and may have results within two weeks. Each plate model requires separate certification with the National Institute of Justice-much like patent work, there will always be new and or improved plate models in for testing and certification.
Global is a licensee of Bourque Alloys and JBIT, Inc., and produces the most essential, and important ingredients that go into the creation of the aluminum alloy strike plates.
(Stock symbol for Global is "GPGI")
AZ is awesome. Great job by this fellow. American innovation.
I had to read that again. My brain read it as Krypton the first time.
WOW.. Godspeed AZ!
realizing that the bullets bounce off the plate, i’m not sure i would have opened up on it from 10 feet away.
don’t get me wrong... sweet rig. it’s only aluminum? that stops bullets? why hasn’t that been done before?
and the next question... can he make a whole body suit out of it... with some red and gold paint?
I'd love to have those plates.
Carrying an extra 40 pounds on me on hellishly hot days just sucks.
Will be very cool if it really works as advertised. I’m a little cautious if only they’re getting a little ahead of themselves by starting the press release publicity *before* there are any definitive test results by a 3rd party. Remember “Dragonskin”? IIRC it turned out that after testing by somebody other than the manufacturer, it didn’t quite live up to it’s publicity.
Being “made in America” isn’t what makes the difference, though. Stopping bullets makes the difference.
We’ll see, though. Technology will march on and one of these days somebody will do it. Maybe it’s these guys.
Lead, Aluminum, Copper? Spark?
This much at least is total bullsh!t. The "bad guys" (assuming the writer means violent criminals and not the HRT) are going around with what they've always gone around with - handguns. I wonder how much else is false.
Anothere Arizona company we can...get behind.
Looks like it is less then $500 for the lower grade specs but I cannot tell if it is sold to the public?
Funny, but when I read JBIT (the company name) I thought it said JBT (their presumed market?)
;-)
How did I know this was going to be a public company...