2008-2009 Press Releases
- 02/18/2009 - Mexican Nationals Turn to Texas Armoring for Protection against Drug Cartels
- 02/18/2009 - Ciudadanos mexicanos recurren a Texas Armoring para obtener protección contra los carteles de drogas
- 02/18/2009 - Violence, Theft, and Kidnappings Spur TAC Armored Vehicle Growth in Nigeria
- 02/18/2009 - Violence, vols et enlèvements stimulent la croissance des véhicules blindés TAC au Nigéria
- 01/28/2009 - Texas Armoring Corporation Offers Obama Presidential Limo to the Public
- 12/12/2008 - Texas Armoring Selects Aryan Azmi Marketing as its Exclusive Representative in Brunei
- 12/03/2008 - Texas Armoring Headlines SPEED Channel’s Newest Series: "Busted Knuckles"
- 09/09/2008 - Collier Attack Sparks Security Concerns: Texas Firm to Build Bulletproof Cars for Professional Athletes
- 07/10/2008 - Armored Cars: Texas Armoring Releases Bulletproof "Nigeria Package"
Mexican Nationals Turn to Texas Armoring for Protection against Drug Cartels
SAN ANTONIO, TX – February 18, 2009 – Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC), the leader in lightweight armored passenger vehicles, announced today that the company is working closely with high-profile Mexican nationals and affiliates of the government to help stop drug violence and protect Mexican civilians.
TAC, which is internationally renowned for turning stock vehicles into rolling fortresses capable of defeating hand grenades, high-power rifle fire, and even some IEDs, announced that it has multiple bulletproof units in production for Mexican clients. The company is also in talks with key individuals to provide armored SWAT trucks for the National Mexican Police Force in an effort to fight drug cartels and help take back key areas of the country’s war-torn landscape.
President and CEO Trent Kimball commented, “The drug-related violence in Mexico has adversely affected the lives of countless Mexican and American citizens. Last week, FOX News said that ‘more than 6,000 people died in drug-related violence last year.’ Our goal is to help lower that number in 2009. We’ve produced literally hundreds of armored vehicles for Mexico over the years, including the Popemobile, but the current necessity for armored passenger cars has never been greater. Clients in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, and Tijuana have contacted us regarding rush delivery orders, and we’ve ramped up capacity to meet their demand. Additionally, as drug lords have become more organized in their tactics, our armoring methods have become more advanced. Our vehicles are lighter, stronger, and more low profile than nearly all armored cars produced in Mexico, and we have seen many clients coming north to Texas because of quality concerns. TAC vehicles are completely indistinguishable from factory units, and we’re building many vehicles that can even stop armor-piercing rifle rounds.”
Kimball continued, “In addition to passenger vehicles, we’re now offering custom new SWAT units that will help Mexican Police and anti-drug units to fight cartels on the front lines. Our SWAT units are designed for use in dangerous tactical situations to provide officers and soldiers with a way to fight back and travel safely in hazardous territories.”
Texas Armoring also announced that daily tours of the facility will be held throughout the next few weeks for members of the press and Mexican clients that need more information.
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of light-weight armored passenger vehicles and bulletproof cars, cash-in-transit vehicles, armored SWAT trucks, and custom luxury limousines. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the luxury bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders. For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210.333.0211.
Contact:
Jason Forston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone: 210.333.0211
Fax: 210.333.0565
Violence, Theft, and Kidnappings Spur TAC Armored Vehicle Growth in Nigeria
SAN ANTONIO, TX – February 18, 2009 – Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC), the leader in lightweight armored vehicles, announced today that the company is working closely with high-profile Nigerian government officials and key business leaders to help implement security plans, protect Nigerian citizens, and ward off would-be rebels.
TAC, which is in talks with multiple security companies and government officials, announced a three-pronged approach to security in Nigeria and West Africa: first, armored passenger vehicles for private citizens and government officials; second, armored cash trucks (bullion vans) to help protect bank assets and deter criminals; and third, armored SWAT trucks to help police and military personnel stay safe even in the most dangerous tactical situations.
President and CEO Trent Kimball remarked, “Kidnappings for ransom, violence, and theft are increasing daily in Nigeria and militants are literally getting away with murder. Nigerian news outlets are reporting new kidnapping cases daily, and armored vehicles are becoming a necessity for high-profile Nigerian nationals and expatriates working in West Africa. Additionally, militants are targeting banks and even police forces; this is why our cash carrying vehicles and tactical SWAT units are becoming increasingly popular. We would encourage anyone interested in these services to contact one of our local representatives or contact our corporate headquarters.”
Kimball continued, “Our vehicles weigh approximately 1000 lbs. (454 kg.) less than most armored vehicles on the market and can stop AK-47, M-16, and even armor-piercing rounds at close range while maintaining the look and feel of a stock unit. All of our vehicles also offer protection against grenades, land mines, and some IEDs. In addition to standard features such as bulletproof glass and runflat inserts, we also offer defensive options like road-tack dispensing systems, smoke screen systems, and even electric-shocking door handles. Of the thousands of vehicles we’ve produced, we’ve never had a client casualty in one of our vehicles to date—a reputation we intend to keep.”
TAC, which has directly produced multiple armored vehicles for numerous West African heads of state, also announced that it is taking orders for protection during the upcoming state and federal elections and encouraged political leaders to place orders early to avoid delays.
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of light-weight armored passenger vehicles and bulletproof cars, cash-in-transit vehicles, armored SWAT trucks, and custom luxury limousines. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the luxury bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders. For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210.333.0211.
Contact:
Jason Forston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone: 210.333.0211
Fax: 210.333.0565
Violence, vols et enlèvements stimulent la croissance des véhicules blindés TAC au Nigéria
SAN ANTONIO, TX – February 18, 2009 – Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC), le leader des véhicules blindés légers, a annoncé aujourd’hui que la société travaille en étroite collaboration avec de hauts fonctionnaires nigérians et des chefs d’entreprise clés à l’élaboration de plans de sécurité, la protection de citoyens nigérians et la défense contre les rebelles en puissance.
TAC, qui est en discussions avec de multiples entreprises de sécurité et des responsables de l’État, a annoncé une démarche en trois volets de la sécurité au Nigéria et en Afrique de l’Ouest : premièrement, des voitures particulières blindées pour les simples citoyens et les représentants du gouvernement ; deuxièmement, des camions de transport de fonds blindés pour protéger les fonds bancaires et dissuader les criminels ; troisièmement, des camions blindés destinés aux forces spéciales pour sécuriser les personnels de police et de l’armée même dans les situations tactiques les plus dangereuses.
Le président-directeur général Trent Kimball a observé : "Les enlèvements pour rançon, la violence et le vol augmentent de jour en jour au Nigéria et les militants ont règne libre. Les médias nigérians annoncent chaque jour de nouveaux enlèvements, ce qui rend les véhicules blindés nécessaires pour les ressortissants nigérians et expatriés influents travaillant en Afrique de l’Ouest. En outre, les militants ciblent désormais les banques et même les forces de police, ce qui explique le succès croissant de nos véhicules de transport de fonds et d’unités d’intervention. Nous invitons toute personne intéressée par ces services à contacter l’un de nos représentants locaux ou à contacter notre siège."
Trent Kimball a poursuivi : "Nos véhicules pèsent 454 kg environ, soit moins que la majorité des véhicules blindés du marché, et peuvent arrêter les munitions d’AK-47, de M-16 et même les balles perforantes à distance rapprochée tout en conservant l’aspect d’un véhicule normal. Tous nos véhicules assurent également la protection contre les grenades, les mines terrestres et certains engins explosifs improvisés. Outre des équipements standard comme un vitrage pare-balles et des pneus à affaissement limité, nous offrons des options défensives comme des systèmes de distribution de semences sur la chaussée, des systèmes d’écran de fumée et même des poignées de porte à décharge électrique. Sur les milliers de véhicules que nous avons produits, nous n’avons jamais enregistré de victime dans un de nos véhicules à ce jour – une réputation que nous avons l’intention de garder."
TAC, qui a produit un grand nombre de voitures à l’épreuve des balles pour nombre de chefs d’État d’Afrique de l’Ouest, a également annoncé que la société était prête à honorer les commandes de protection à l’occasion des prochaines élections d’état et fédérales et invite les leaders politiques à passer leurs commandes de manière anticipée pour éviter les retards.
À propos de Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation est un leader mondial de véhicules particuliers blindés légers et de voitures pare-balles, de véhicules de transport de fonds, de camions blindés des forces spéciales et de limousines de luxe personnalisées. La société a été fondée dans les années 1970 à l’époque où des membres clés du personnel ont lancé l’industrie de la protection pare-balles de luxe en produisant des voitures à l’épreuve des balles pour les dirigeants du monde. Pour plus d’informations sur les véhicules blindés et Texas Armoring Corporation, veuillez visiter http://www.texasarmoring.com ou appeler le +1 210-333-0211.
CONTACT:
Jason Foston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone: 210.333.0211
Fax: 210.333.0565
Texas Armoring Corporation Offers Obama Presidential Limo to the Public
SAN ANTONIO, TX – January 28, 2009 – Texas Armoring Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of armored limousines and luxury bulletproof vehicles, announced today that the company will offer presidential-style limousines to the public.
President and CEO Trent Kimball announced, “With Barack Obama’s recent ascension to the White House, there has been a great deal of talk and speculation with regard to the new presidential limousine. Since the vehicle was officially released for duty last week, we’ve had numerous inquiries as to whether we could produce something similar. While the actual specifications of President Obama’s new luxury ride are kept secret, our engineers can get you pretty close to the real thing with a whole lot more livery and luxury. In addition, our vehicles help our clients to maintain a low-profile since they appear completely unarmored from the exterior and maintain the original factory appearance.
Our staff specializes in armoring, stretching, and building custom vehicles for high-profile clients throughout the world. In fact, we’ve produced numerous presidential vehicles for international heads of state, and we actually have several in production at the moment.”
Kimball continued, “Typically, armored cars produced for heads of state are, as Motor Trend put it, ‘nice, safe, and boring.’ However, we outfit our vehicles with plush executive interiors, large flat screen TVs, high-end wood grain and granite, custom audio systems, and other luxury amenities in addition to the typical VIP options. Additionally, our vehicles offer custom defensive capabilities like hidden ram bumpers, electric-shocking door handles, a smoke screen system, and even an automated road-tack-dispensing system. We also offer custom options depending on our clients’ needs.”
Texas Armoring also announced that the base cost for a standard B7+ armoring package with state-of-the-art materials will start at over $200,000 USD and will offer superior protection against land mines, hand grenades, and black-market armor-piercing munitions. Upon being asked if Texas Armoring would build an Obama-like vehicle, Kimball remarked, “We would absolutely be willing to build a vehicle like President Obama’s new limousine. The cost for the custom body build alone would be approximately $750,000-$1,000,000 USD and you could probably double that number to include the armoring cost. Overall, you’d be looking at around $2,000,000 USD for a single-unit order.”
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of armored passenger vehicles, bulletproof cars, cash-in-transit vehicles, armored SWAT trucks, and custom armored limousines. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the luxury bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders.
For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210.333.0211.
CONTACT:
Trent Kimball
President, CEO
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone: 210.333.0211
Fax: 210.333.0565
Texas Armoring Selects Aryan Azmi Marketing as its Exclusive Representative in Brunei
SAN ANTONIO, TX – December 12, 2008 – Texas Armoring Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of armored vehicles and bulletproof cars, announced today that the company has selected Aryan Azmi Marketing as its exclusive representative in Brunei and the surrounding geographic areas. Other territories named in the representation agreement include: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Laos, India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
“We’re very excited to be working with Aryan Azmi Marketing, and I believe that the combined experience we share will help further our business in the region,” said Trent Kimball, President and CEO of Texas Armoring Corporation. Kimball continued, “While the level of quality and service we provide is already well known throughout the world; we believe that the representation of Texas Armoring by [Aryan Azmi Marketing] will help us expand our global presence and protect individuals in the respective markets and beyond.”
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of armored cars, bulletproof vehicles, and armored trucks. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders.
For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210.333.0211.
For more information on Aryan Azmi Marketing, please contact Zafar Satti via email: aryanaz@texasarmoring.com.
CONTACT:
Jason Forston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone 210.333.0211
Fax 210.333.0565
Zafar Satti
Aryan Azmi Marketing
P.O. Box 522
Gadong BE – 3978
Brunei Darussalam
Phone: 673-8-899-070
Fax: 673-2-223-971
aryanaz@texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Headlines SPEED Channel’s Newest Series: "Busted Knuckles"
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – December 03, 2008 – Texas Armoring Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of armored vehicles and bulletproof cars, announced today that the company will be featured on the SPEED Channel’s newest reality series “Busted Knuckles.” Texas Armoring will be headlining the pilot episode for the series which will air beginning December 3, 2008 at 10:00pm ET. The episode will re-air December 4 at 2:00am and 10:00am ET, December 5 at 7:30pm and 11:00pm ET, and also on December 7 at 10:30am ET.
Busted Knuckles, a Bradley David Production, is hosted by Louisville comedian Rich Ragains who visits various gearhead environments to get his hands dirty and to show viewers some of the most interesting work environments in the USA. In the premiere episode, Ragains spends a day at Texas Armoring Corporation in San Antonio, TX busting his knuckles through various hands-on armoring tasks (e.g., using a plasma cutter, shooting bulletproof glass with an AK-47, installing ballistic nylon, etc.). In the pilot episode, Ragains also visits Delta to change the brakes on a massive 777 aircraft.
Busted Knuckles Producer Brad Kimmel remarked, “Rich adds a colorful twist by using a witty mix of humor and curiosity as he experiences the grimy, passionate, and sometimes bloody world of the American gearhead. There is never a dull moment as Rich puts himself in some very interesting situations.”
Trent Kimball, President and CEO of Texas Armoring, said of the experience, “It was great having Rich and the crew from Bradley David Productions at our facility, and we are excited to be a part of this new reality series on SPEED Channel. Rich fit right in with our crew and after viewing the pilot, it’s fair to say that Busted Knuckles easily rivals or surpasses shows like Modern Marvels or Dirty Jobs — I can’t wait for the next episode.”
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of armored cars, bulletproof vehicles, and armored trucks. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders.
For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210-333-0211.
Contact
Jason Forston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone 210.333.0211
Fax 210.333.0565
Collier Attack Sparks Security Concerns: Texas Armoring to Build Bulletproof Cars for Professional Athletes
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – September 9, 2008 – Texas Armoring Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of armored passenger vehicles, announced today that the company has been in contact with key security personnel affiliated with the National Football League (NFL). Following the recent attack on Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Tackle Richard Collier, representatives of professional athletes and their security staff have reached out to Texas Armoring Corporation to provide them with custom bulletproof car solutions. According to the company, approximately 80-90% of attacks occur while victims are traveling by automobile, thus a bulletproof vehicle is the first line of defense for individuals in the public eye.
“We’re saddened by the unfortunate violence against Mr. Collier last week and by similar attacks against NFL players during the last 18 months. We’re confident that our products can offer some peace of mind to other players and their families in the coming weeks and months as they obtain our vehicles,” remarked Trent Kimball, President and CEO of Texas Armoring. Kimball continued, “In reality, professional athletes and celebrities are prime targets for attacks. Because of this, we are working with a number of high-profile clients who are following the examples of public figures like Tom Cruise and David Beckham by acquiring bulletproof cars for themselves and their loved ones. My family has been in this industry for over 30 years, and Texas Armoring Corporation can armor nearly any vehicle custom to our clients’ specifications. Mercedes Maybachs, Cadillac Escalades, Range Rovers, and other luxury models are our specialty.”
In addition to offering armored bulletproof cars and SUVs to the NFL, Texas Armoring announced that it has retained the exclusive services of two former CIA operatives to help athletes and celebrities with a wide range of security services. While the personal details of the agents remain confidential, the two former operatives have operational experience in over 50 countries and are experts in private/commercial security, surveillance, and counterintelligence offerings. Both are veterans of the CIA's Directorate of Operations with field tours in the Far East, Middle East, Europe, and Latin America and domestically in the U.S. The former operatives have extensive private sector experience as senior consultants to corporate clients at the Fortune 50 level in the areas of executive protection, threat identification and mitigation, specialized training and as “first responders” in kidnap cases.
Of the partnership, Kimball said, “The pair of former operatives we’ve retained has over 40 years of experience worldwide. They’re experts in foreign intelligence operations, security program management, physical security, risk assessment, contingency and disaster recovery planning, and crisis management. Basically, this means that now Texas Armoring can send out highly-trained James Bond/Jason Bourne-type consultants to our clients’ places of work and private residences for a professional threat assessment to point out areas of weakness and make recommendations to improve security.” Having conducted hundreds of threat assessments and specialized training exercises in surveillance and counter-surveillance operations to ensure operational integrity under difficult conditions, the two will apply their expertise to protect Texas Armoring’s exclusive clients, their families, organizations, personnel and assets against foreign and domestic threats.
With regard to the announcements, Kimball concluded, “Overall, our goal is to protect NFL players and others in the spotlight with all of the resources at our disposal—the first step being an armored vehicle and the second, a professional threat assessment. We hope that other professional organizations will follow suit so that we can provide protection through bulletproof vehicles and threat assessments to members of the NBA, NHL, MLB, etc. The bottom line is that the type of violence that Richard Collier was subject to last week is intolerable, and Texas Armoring Corporation will continue to do everything in its power to protect high-profile athletes and celebrities from such shameful acts of violence going forward.”
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of armored passenger vehicles and bulletproof cars. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders. For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210.333.0211.
Contact
Jason Forston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone 210.333.0211
Fax 210.333.0565
Armored Cars: Texas Armoring Releases Bulletproof “Nigeria Package”
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – July 10, 2008 – Texas Armoring Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of armored vehicles and bulletproof cars, announced today a new product line of armored vehicles specifically manufactured to protect occupants traveling in the Niger Delta region. The newly offered “Nigeria Package” will be available starting Monday, July 14, 2008 on select models. According to Trent Kimball, President & CEO of Texas Armoring Corporation, the Nigeria Package will “offer superior bulletproof protection against AK-47 & M-16 threats” and will also include some James Bond type accessories such as electric shocking door handles, a smoke screen system, a road tack dispensing system, flashing strobe lights, a hidden siren/loudspeaker system, and a secure dead bolt door locking system. Kimball says that the “violence in Nigeria is deplorable [and that] Texas Armoring Corporation is ready to build custom bullet-resistant vehicles to protect businessmen, dignitaries, and other distinguished individuals throughout West Africa.”
The Nigerian Package will include European Level B6+ armoring (boasting nearly two-inch-thick bulletproof glass) and will be available for a special price on the following models:
- 2008 Toyota Landcruiser
- 2008 Lexus LX570
- 2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
- 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- 2008 Land Rover Range Rover
- 2008 HUMMER H2 & H3
With the recent increase in violence, kidnappings-for-ransom, and militant attacks on businesses, the need for civilian armored vehicles has never been greater in Nigeria. According to Kimball, “with the widening gap between the rich and poor throughout Africa, the level of violence has increased dramatically. Anyone with a moderate level of financial stability in Nigeria is potentially at risk for an attack. We’ve bulletproofed vehicles for numerous presidents and politicians in the past, but recently we’ve found that even general businesspeople are in need of armored protection. Our goal is to provide our clients with superior protection, while helping them maintain a low profile. It follows that each of our vehicles maintains the original factory finish as closely as possible, and that we only use extremely high-end materials in each vehicle we produce. Our focus is on hand-crafted quality, and you don’t become the market leader by cutting corners.”
Kimball went on to say that Texas Armoring has made efforts to reach out to large multinational corporations in Nigeria with good results, but that there is still a great need for protection in the corporate community in Nigeria and that Texas Armoring is prepared to meet demand.
About Texas Armoring Corporation
Texas Armoring Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of armored passenger vehicles and bulletproof cars. The firm’s origins date back to the 1970s when key staff members pioneered the bulletproofing industry through producing bulletproof cars for world leaders. For more information on armored vehicles and Texas Armoring Corporation, please visit http://www.texasarmoring.com or call 210.333.0211.
Contact
Jason Forston
EVP, Marketing & Sales
tac@texasarmoring.com
http://www.texasarmoring.com
Texas Armoring Corporation
4323 Factory Hill
San Antonio, TX 78219
Phone 210.333.0211
Fax 210.333.0565
"Your Life is Valuable, Protect It."