The origins of Tulmar can be traced back to 1951 when RFD Canada was established in Granby, Quebec to perform repair and overhaul services on marine life rafts. The company was renamed Tul Safety Equipment Ltd and moved to Hawkesbury, Ontario in 1968.
Marine and Aviation Life Rafts
In Hawkesbury, Tul Safety established a design and engineering department to develop and manufacture inflatable survival equipment. Tul introduced the Corsair series of SOLAS approved marine life rafts in 1971. The XL series of aviation life rafts 1, 4, 6, 10, 20 and 30-person rafts followed. TUL XL rafts became standard equipment on Canada's military air fleet and are still in operational service today.
Inflatable Life Preservers
During the 1970's and 1980's, Tul Safety developed and certified a number of inflatable life preservers for commercial airline use. The company also manufactured inflatable life preservers under contract to the Department of National Defense, including the LPU, LPSV and Maritime Pouch.
Military Vehicle Stowage Equipment
To diversify its customer base, Tul Safety began manufacturing protective covers and stowage equipment for the first generation of Light Armored Vechicles (LAVs) under contract to GM Defense. The production techniques and quality systems established to produce life support equipment enabled Tul Safety to become a high quality contract manufacturer of complex fabric parts. This contract manufacturing relationship continues today with various military vehicle and system OEMS.
Tulmar Safety Systems
In 1992, Tul Safety Equipment ceased operations. The same year, with senior management and production personnel from the former Tul Safety, Tulmar Safety Systems was incorporated. Operations began with manufacturing of stowage equipment and diversified into repair & overhaul and manufacturing of inflatable safety equipment, to the design and development of proprietrary defence and aerospace inflatable equipment.
Tulmar Manufacturing
In 2004, Tulmar Manufacturing was established in Wixom, Michigan to provide a US manufacturing base for vehicle seating, stowage equipment and military tentage. Now located in Ogdensburg, New York, Tulmar Manufacturing serves as a subcontractor to defence prime contractors in the United States.
Tulmar Technical Services
In 2007, Tulmar Technical Services was established to provide custom management and operational services for aircraft cabin emergency evacuation training equipment.
Tulmar Ridge LLC
In 2008, Tulmar entered into partnership with Ridgeline Industries to form Tulmar Ridge LLC, an SBA qualified 8(a) Veteran-Owned Small Business. Operating from a 30,000 sq ft facility in Clayton, NY Tulmar Ridge supplies vehicle seating, stowage and support equipment to US DOD and prime contractors.
Key milestones: - Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization (1992)
- Obtained ISO-9002 Quality Certification (1996)
- Manufactured first airline evacuation training slide (1997)
- Received Canada Coast Guard approval for Cadet Vest life preserver (1999)
- Moved into 60,000 sq ft manufacturing facility (2001)
- Awarded long term contract to provide stowage equipment for US Stryker armored vehicle program (2001)
- Began manufacturing XL series of life rafts for DND under license from Tul Safety Equipment (2001)
- Achieved ISO-9001-2000 Quality Certification (2002)
- TSO certification for aviation life preserver (2002)
- Introduced inflatable shelter system (2003)
- Partnership with Irvin Aerospace to provide TUL XL life raft for Irvin Aerial Rescue Kit (ARK) system (2005)
- Awarded US & Canadian patents for Hammerhead tactical life preserver (2006)
- Approved as Canadian distributor and authorized repair station for AmSafe Aviation seat belts & Winslow life rafts (2006)
- Tulmar Technical Services is awarded a long-term maintenance management contract by major Star Alliance carrier.
Today, Tulmar is a fully integrated manufacturer and distributor of engineered textile products and inflatable safety devices serving the aerospace, defence and security markets internationally. |
