Premier Communication Electronics to launch CBRN vest at Ambulex 2013

Exeter-based Premier Communication Electronics (PCE) will launch its newest product, a military-style hands-free hydration vest, at the Ambulex exhibition in Coventry today.

The CBRN (which stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear and is pronounced C-burn) vest comes with a built-in space for a camel-pouch for immediate hydration and a number of pockets for communications equipment including two-way radios, external speakers, ear-pieces and PTT switches.

PCE recently added the vest to its portfolio of products but will officially launch it at Ambulex, which is being held at the Ricoh Arena on July 10 and 11 and targets private and volunteer transport ambulance fleet managers, senior NHS Trust managers, and community and accessible transport providers.

Karen Langley, chief executive of PCE, said: “Ambulex is the perfect platform for us to officially launch this product. We can either supply the CBRN vest as a basic vest or customise it to meet the individual needs of the wearer by positioning and adding pockets to suit the essential equipment to be worn.”

PCE, in Osprey Road, Sowton, Exeter, already installs blue lights, sirens, vehicle location systems, radio and mobile phone in-vehicle solutions for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and regularly undertakes specialist projects with other government agencies. Its expertise in working with the emergency services and armed forces drew its attention to a need for these vests outside of disaster management scenarios.

Mrs Langley added: “These vests are typically used by responders in a hazardous situation, which would ideally suit paramedics and ambulance staff, but also other emergency services workers. The CBRN vest is a convenient way of carrying around all the communications equipment required by frontline emergency staff while still leaving their hands free for other tasks. It has also been designed for utilisation with CBRN PPE suits.”

PCE’s Natalia Ferrazzano and Paul Frissen will be unveiling the CBRN vest at Ambulex 2013.