multiple instances that survival would have been impossible without the protection. “It feels like it was always meant to be; just follow what I enjoy and what I’m good at, and this is where we are,” Groat reflects. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROTECTION Safe Life Defense’s future strategy defies the typical two-year or five-year planning horizons that dominate business thinking. For Groat, the primary focus remains constant regardless of timeframe: developing products that fundamentally alter the industry landscape.“Whether it’s two years, 10 years, or even from the past, my personal biggest focus is always creating and developing things that change the industry,” he says. The company’s latest achievement exemplifies this approach.After two years of intensive design work and manufacturing line development, Safe Life Defense has begun shipping its Unity™ Hybrid Armor System at scale.The 100% USA-made,Berry Compliant carrier system marks a departure from existing military gear, developed with direct input from Special Operations Forces and law enforcement officers. The system features a proprietary, patent-pending mounting system that locks modular placards in place with precision measured in thousandths of an inch, allowing users to customize four configurable zones for mission-specific requirements. “We’re just releasing a new military carrier system that is unlike anything else that is out there,” Groat says. “The last two years of my life have been designing that, getting the manufacturing lines up, and we’re just now finalizing and starting to ship at scale.” Development won’t stop with the initial release. The company plans to continue developing complementary products that work within the Unity system while pursuing better automations, improved efficiencies, and new manufacturing equipment. The philosophy driving this perpetual innovation remains straightforward. “I think the second that you stop creating and doing that research and 156 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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