D3O

D3O is an ingredient brand specialising in advanced rate-sensitive impact protection technologies, materials
and products.[1] It comprises a portfolio of more than 30 technologies and materials including set foams,
formable foams, set elastomers and formable elastomers.[2]

The company D3O is a fast-growth engineering, design and technology-focused SME based in London,
UK, with offices in China and the US.

D3O is sold in more than 50 countries.[3] It is used in sports and motorcycle gear; protective cases for
consumer electronics including phones; industrial workwear; and military protection including helmet pads
and limb protectors.[4]

Contents
History
D3O applications
Product development
Sponsorship
An example of D3O hand protection
Awards and recognition
References

History
In 1999, the materials scientists Richard Palmer and Philip Green
experimented with a dilatant liquid with non-Newtonian properties.
Unlike water, it was free flowing when stationary but became
instantly rigid upon impact.
An example of a D3O limb protector
As keen snowboarders, Palmer and Green drew inspiration from
snow and decided to replicate its matrix-like quality to develop a
flexible material that incorporated the dilatant fluid. After
experimenting with numerous materials and formulas, they
invented a flexible, pliable material that locked together and
solidified in the event of a collision.

When incorporated into clothing, the material moved with the

wearer while providing comprehensive protection.

Palmer and Green successfully filed a patent application, which The D3O testing laboratory
they used as the foundation for commercialising their invention and
setting up a business in 1999.
D3O® was used commercially for the first time by the United States Ski Team and the Canada ski team at
the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.[5] D3O® first entered the motorcycle market in 2009 when the
ingredient was incorporated into CE-certified armour for the apparel brand Firstgear.[6]

Philip Green left D3O in 2006,[7] and in 2009[8] founder Richard Palmer brought in Stuart Sawyer as
interim CEO. Palmer took a sabbatical in 2010[9] and left the business in 2011,[10] at which point executive
leadership was officially handed over to Sawyer, who has remained in the position since.

In 2014, D3O received one of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise[11] and was awarded £237,000 by the
Technology Strategy Board – now known as Innovate UK – to develop a shock absorption helmet system
prototype for the defence market to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury.[12]

The following year, Sawyer secured £13 million in private equity funding from venture capital investor
Beringea, allowing D3O to place more emphasis on product development and international marketing.[13]
D3O opened headquarters in London[14] which include full-scale innovation and test laboratories and
house its global business functions.

With exports to North America making up an increasing part of its business,[15][16] the company set up a
new operating base located within the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC), a research park
for high-technology companies located in Blacksburg, Virginia.[17] The same year, D3O consumer
electronics brand partner Gear4 became the UK’s number 1 phone case brand in volume and value.[18]
Gear 4 has since become present in consumer electronics retail stores worldwide including Verizon, AT&T
and T-Mobile.

In 2017, D3O became part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety
Equipment Association (ISEA) committee which developed the first standard in North America to address
the risk to hands from impact injuries: ANSI/ISEA 138-2019, American National Standard for
Performance and Classification for Impact Resistant Hand Protection.[19]

D3O was acquired in September 2021 by independent private-equity fund Elysian Capital III LP.[20] The
acquisition saw previous owners Beringea US & UK and Entrepreneurs Fund exit the business after six
years of year-on-year growth.

D3O applications
D3O has various applications such as in electronics (low-profile impact protection for phones, laptops and
other electronic devices),[21] sports (protective equipment),[22] motorcycle riding gear,[23] defence (helmet
liners and body protection; footwear)[24] and industrial workwear (personal protective equipment such as
gloves, knee pads and metatarsal guards for boots),[25][26]

In 2020, D3O became the specified helmet suspension pad supplier for the US Armed Forces' Integrated
Helmet Protection System (IHPS) Suspension System.[27]

Product development
D3O uses patented and proprietary technologies to create both standard and custom products.

In-house rapid prototyping and testing laboratories[28] ensure each D3O development is tested to CE
standards for sports and motorcycle applications, ISEA 138 for industrial applications and criteria set by
government agencies for defence applications.
Sponsorship
D3O sponsors athletes including:

Downhill mountain bike rider Tahnée Seagrave

Seth Jones, ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets in
the NHL
Motorcycle racer Michael Dunlop, 19-times winner of the Isle of Man TT
The Troy Lee Designs team of athletes including three-times Red Bull Rampage winner
Brandon Semenuk
Enduro rider Rémy Absalon, 12-times Megavalanche winner.[29]

Awards and recognition

D3O has received the following awards and recognition:

2014: Queen’s Award for Enterprise[30]

2016: Inclusion in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 ‘Ones to Watch’ list[31]
2017: T3 Awards together with Three: Best Mobile Accessory[32]
2018: British Yachting Awards – clothing innovation[33]
2019: ISPO Award – equipment[34]
2022/2023: ISPO Textrends Award - Accessories & Trim[35]

References
1. "D3O" (https://www.d3o.com). D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
2. "D3O materials" (https://www.d3o.com/partner-support/about-d3o/d3o-materials/). D3O.
Retrieved 11 February 2021.
3. "Flexible armour that hardens on impact: Richard Palmer and Philip Green named
European Inventor Award 2019 finalists" (https://www.epo.org/news-events/press/releases/a
rchive/2019/20190507h.html). European Patent Office. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
4. "Richard Palmer and Philip Green (UK) Finalists for the European Inventor Award 2019" (htt
ps://www.epo.org/learning-events/european-inventor/finalists/2019/palmer.html). European
Patent Office. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
5. "US and Canadian skiers get smart armour" (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8721-u
s-and-canadian-skiers-get-smart-armour/). New Scientist. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
6. "First consumer product launched with d3o 'custard' armour" (https://www.motorcyclenews.c
om/news/2009/september/sep1009-first-consumer-product-launched-with-d3o-custard-armo
ur/). Motorcycle News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
7. "Design Blue Limited" (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03792408/filing-histor
y?page=6). Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
8. "D3O: The Queen-honoured business exporting to over 40 countries" (https://realbusiness.c
o.uk/d3o-the-queen-honoured-business-exporting-to-over-40-countries/). Real Business.
Retrieved 11 February 2021.
9. "Founder of d3o takes extended sabbatical" (http://www.tornado-insider.com/press/presses.a
sp?pressid=11407). Tornado Insider. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
10. "D3O Limited" (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05627883/officers).
Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
11. "D3O: The Queen-honoured business exporting to over 40 countries" (https://realbusiness.c
o.uk/d3o-the-queen-honoured-business-exporting-to-over-40-countries/). Real Business.
Retrieved 11 February 2021.
12. "D3O Wins Smart Award From Technology Strategy Board To Reduce Traumatic Brain
Injuries For Soldiers" (https://soldiersystems.net/2014/02/11/d3o-wins-smart-award-technolo
gy-strategy-board-reduce-traumatic-brain-injuries-soldiers/). Soldier Systems. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
13. "Beringea leads GBP13m funding round for D3O" (https://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2015/
04/08/221117/beringea-leads-gbp13m-funding-round-d3o). Private Equity Wire. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
14. "Design Blue Limited" (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03792408/filing-histor
y?page=2). Companies House. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
15. "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." (https://www.beringea.com/
d3o-expands-global-footprint-with-new-operating-base-in-usa/) Beringea. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
16. "This British company is making inroads into the US military impact protection market" (http
s://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/gearscout/2019/08/07/this-british-company-is-making-inro
ads-into-the-us-military-impact-protection-market/). Military Times. Retrieved 11 February
2021.
17. "D3O expands global footprint with new operating base in U.S." (https://www.beringea.com/
d3o-expands-global-footprint-with-new-operating-base-in-usa/) Beringea. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
18. "STRAX brand Gear4 now UK's no. 1 phone case brand" (https://www.strax.com/news/strax-
brand-gear4-now-uks-no-1-phone-case-brand/#:~:text=Following%20the%20latest%20dat
a%20released,taking%20them%20to%20the%20No.). STRAX. Retrieved 11 February
2021.
19. "ISEA Releases New Glove Standard on Impact Performance" (https://ohsonline.com/article
s/2019/03/06/isea-launches-new-standard-to-improve-hand-impact-injury.aspx?admgarea=h
t.HandProtection&m=1). Occupational Health and Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
20. "Leading Impact Protection Company D3O Acquired by Elysian Capital III LP" (https://apnew
s.com/press-release/pr-newswire/technology-europe-business-b1e5eb20b2b253b4c3707d0
284b82629). AP News. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
21. "Electronics protection" (https://www.d3o.com/our-products/electronics/). D3O. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
22. "Sports Protection" (https://www.d3o.com/our-products/sports-protection/). D3O. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
23. "Motorcycle protection" (https://www.d3o.com/our-products/motorcycle-protection/). D3O.
Retrieved 11 February 2021.
24. "Defence protection" (https://www.d3o.com/our-products/defence/). D3O. Retrieved
11 February 2021.
25. "How a new technology is setting the standard for hand protection" (https://digitaledition.ish
n.com/january-2021/hand-protection-feature/?oly_enc_id=1340C2933723G3V). Industrial
Safety and Hygiene News. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
26. "Everything You Need to Know About The New ANSI ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard"
(https://www.mcrsafety.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-ansi-isea-138-
-impact-protection-standard). MCR Safety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
27. "D3O Impact Protection Specified by US Army" (https://soldiersystems.net/2020/10/01/d3o-i
mpact-protection-specified-by-us-army/). Soldier Systems. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
28. "Trusted impact protection" (https://www.d3o.com/discover-d3o/trusted-impact-protection/).
D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
29. "Team D3O" (https://www.d3o.com/team-d3o/). D3O. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
30. "D3O Lab: D3O Receives Queen's Award for Enterprise" (https://www.businesswire.com/ne
ws/home/20140421005397/en/D3O-Lab-D3O-Receives-Queen%E2%80%99s-Award-Enter
prise). Business Wire. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
31. "Britain's fastest growing tech companies revealed" (https://www.fasttrack.co.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2016-Sunday-Times-Hiscox-Tech-Track-100-National-press-release.pdf) (PDF).
Fast Track. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
32. "T3 Awards 2017 together with Three: Best Mobile Accessory" (https://www.t3.com/features/t
3-awards-2017-together-with-three-best-mobile-accessory). T3. Retrieved 11 February
2021.
33. "The British Yachting Awards 2018" (https://www.chelseamagazines.com/the-british-yachtin
g-awards-2018/). The Chelsea Magazine Company. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
34. "Awardees outdoor" (https://www.ispo.com/en/awards/ispo-award/winners/ispo-award-2019-
awardees-outdoor). ISPO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
35. "Awardees Fall Winter 2022/2023 Accessories & Trims" (https://www.ispo.com/en/awards/te
xtrends/2022-23-fall-winter/awardees/trimsandaccessories). ISPO. Retrieved 11 February
2021.

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