The U.K.-based Hobson Industries Ltd, a specialist engineering company, recently announced the launch of a new specialist ballistic testing house, the Dolphin Gun Company.
Dolphin, a Division of Hobson Industries will use and expand the ballistic facilities built by Peter Hobson at the Hobson Donington on Bain facility in 2006.
“We built the original ballistic facility to develop and test our own armoring solutions away from the glare of the public and competitors,” Peter Hobson, managing director of Hobson Industries said in a statement. “Over the last year, we have received a number of enquiries from companies wishing to use our facilities for pre-qualification of armoring solutions prior to submission to the [Ministry of Defence].
Mik Maksimovic has been appointed the managing partner to run the business.
The Dolphin facility has the following specialist capabilities: Armor test rigs, both steel and ceramic; Muzzle velocity testing; High-speed camera for filming tests; Temperature and Humidity control monitors; Ammunition manufacturing equipment and components and in-theater ammunition for specific threat testing; and a complete range of current and past weapons in theater up to .338 Lap Mag for testing.
Additionally the facility has: Test recording equipment for velocity and muzzle energy; Fully secure encased concrete indoor range; Full range of acoustic protection headsets and PPE; and Home Office Section 5 Authority for storage.
Maksimovic, general manager of Dolphin said, “In our first weeks of operations we have had enquiries world wide and have conducted tests on a whole range of ballistic material. Given the current requirements from Iraq and Afghanistan we test all our materials to the levels used by the opposition. With our specialist ammunition facility we can manufacture rounds to suit those threats or use manufacturers in theater ammunition. We regard continued testing and evolution as the key to keeping armored products abreast with current and future threats thus protecting our troops in theater.”