What Subsalve does

Subsalve USA Corporation, founded in 1977 and headquartered in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, designs and manufactures engineered inflatable products for buoyancy, lifting, fluid containment, and explosive ordnance disposal. Its catalog spans underwater lift bags (with capacities from 50 kg to over 110,000 lb), aircraft and vehicle recovery systems, the Mark V/Orca EOD platform, salvage pontoons, cable and pipeline floats, water-load test bags, the INFLAT-A-TANK flexible storage line, and an Oxygen Treatment Hood for non-invasive ventilation. Core technology rests on urethane-coated nylon, polyester, and Kevlar base fabrics with RF-welded seams; the company notes it is the only major lift bag brand offering polyurethane-coated fabrics across its full product range. Proprietary features include the Plunger Dump Valve, the BCS-ATA Buoyancy Control System with acoustic/timer actuation, and patented designs for Quad Bags and the Vehicle Recovery System (VRS-2000/4000).

The company sells engineered hardware primarily through a direct sales-led model with quote-based pricing and multi-year contract cadence to military, public safety, commercial marine, energy, and research customers. It is the only major lift bag brand offering polyurethane-coated fabrics across the full product line and holds certifications across IMCA D-016-AIRBAGS, ABS, U.S. DoD Standards, and NATO (for VRS). Its operating status is active, with a parent entity, Performance Inflatables Co LLC, formed in 2017 that also encompasses AEF Performance and AerDock Solutions.

Customer concentration is anchored by U.S. federal and defense buyers (DoD, all armed service branches, FBI, NASA) and large defense and energy primes (Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Halliburton Subsea, Exxon), complemented by international sales to 30+ governments and 25+ navies. Reported headcount is 1-10 employees, while revenue is not disclosed. No AI/ML capabilities are referenced in source data.

Name

Subsalve

Legal name

Subsalve USA Corporation

Website

https://subsalve.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Subsalve designs and manufactures engineered inflatables, including lift bags, buoyancy and EOD systems, and flotation hardware, serving military, commercial marine, public safety, energy, and research customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine engineered inflatables

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy Lift & Marine Recovery (Cranes, Lift Barges, Rigging) (IMAJANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Salvage Diving & Underwater Recovery (Cargo/Equipment) (TLAHAIAD), Salvage Support Towage (Refloating/Wreck Removal Assistance) (TLAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Engineered inflatable products
• Marine lift bags
• Buoyancy control systems
• Marine salvage equipment
• Vehicle recovery systems

Headquarters

HQ city

North Kingstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineered Inflatables Sales: Sale of engineered inflatable products including lift bags, flotation systems, salvage equipment, and custom solutions. Products are sold as hardware with various capacity ratings from 50kg to 50,000kg. Direct sales model with custom engineering support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Subsalve designs and manufactures engineered inflatable products for underwater lifting, buoyancy control, and marine salvage. The product range spans lift bags (50kg to 50,000kg capacity), enclosed flotation bags, salvage pontoons, military ordnance disposal systems, vehicle recovery systems, cable and pipeline floats, buoyancy control systems with acoustic/timer actuation, and flexible liquid storage containers. Products are built from urethane-coated nylon fabrics with RF welded seams and proprietary valve technologies.

Product overview

Subsalve is a portfolio of engineered inflatable products for buoyancy, lifting, and containment applications. The core product line includes Aircraft Lift Bags for runway recovery, Mark V/Orca military ordnance disposal systems, Professional Lift Bags and Enclosed Lift Bags for salvage operations, Salvage Pontoons (cylindrical and vertical) for vessel draft reduction, Vehicle Recovery Systems for public safety diving, Buoyancy Control Systems with acoustic/timer actuation for underwater buoyancy management, Cable and Pipeline Floats for subsea cable installation, INFLAT-A-TANK flexible liquid storage containers, Pipe Pluggers for pipeline sealing, Propeller Bags, Quad Bags, Commercial Lift Bags, Rapid Recovery Systems, Enclosed Shallow Water Flotation Bags, Lifeboat Davit Test Bags, Water Load Test Bags, Bomb Recovery Systems, and the Oxygen Treatment Hood for emergency medical ventilation. Supporting these products is a range of accessories including manifolds, pressure relief valves, quick disconnects, inflation assemblies, actuation systems, and repair kits. The company also offers custom solutions beyond the standard product range, serving recreational, commercial, scientific, and military applications since 1977.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Lift Bags Pneumatic lift bags designed to lift crippled aircraft from runways or terrain where standard aircraft jacks are impractical or impossible to use. Currently manufactured for the U.S. Air Force and many foreign air forces.
• Bomb Recovery System Specially designed system for law enforcement to recover or remove explosives and dangerous devices. Includes multiple float sizes (25lb, 50lb, 100lb), inflation hose, high-strength polyproline with carabiner, and carry bag.
• Buoyancy Control System (BCS-ATA) Active buoyancy management system with Acoustic/Timer Actuation enabling active management of payload buoyancy for underwater applications. Features tablet-based configuration, autonomous or monitoring modes, and GPS synchronized timing.
• Cable and Pipeline Floats Float balloons for safe and efficient installation of underwater cables and pipelines. Features three stainless steel lift rings, urethane-coated nylon construction with UV resistance and RF welded seams.
• Commercial Lift Bags Easy-to-use lift bags suitable for light salvage operations, object recovery, underwater construction, and scientific research. Feature proprietary Plunger Dump Valve for air control and 6:1 safe working ratio.
• Enclosed Flotation Bags Pillow-shaped flotation bags for floating objects close to the surface in any position. Used for vessel salvage, auto-recovery, pipeline and cable installation, and emergency flotation for ships, aircraft, submersibles, and ROVs.
• Enclosed Shallow Water Flotation Bags Shallow water pillow-shaped enclosed flotation bags (also called boulder bags) for vessel salvage, auto recovery, pipeline and cable installation in extremely shallow water applications.
• INFLAT-A-TANK Flexible storage containers for water, fuel, sanitary discharge, and other liquids. Manufactured from heavy-duty urethane-coated nylon fabric with breaking strength exceeding 1000 lbs per inch. Available in stock sizes from 250 to 100,000 gallons.
• Lifeboat Davit Test Bags/Kit Water-filled load testing system for lifeboat davits and other structures in areas with insufficient access for conventional solid weights. Includes test bags, inflation hoses, 6-station manifold, and air-driven diaphragm pump.
• Mark V/Orca Military-grade self-contained system specifically designed for removal of underwater mines, weapons, and explosives. Approved by U.S. Navy and used by over 25 navies worldwide. Available in 2,500lb and 4,400lb versions.
• Oxygen Treatment Hood Single-use disposable hood designed for Non-Invasive Ventilation. Studies show helmet-based ventilation can reduce ventilator demand by over 40% in ARDS treatment. FDA Emergency Use Authorization application pending.
• Pipe Pluggers Heavy-duty inflatable pipe plugs for construction, maintenance, and repair of pipelines, ducts, and tunnels. Constructed from high-tenacity urethane-coated nylon fabric. Available from 12" to 96" diameter with bypass design options.
• Professional Enclosed Lift Bags Versatile enclosed-bottom parachute-shaped lift bags with single attachment point for construction, heavy and light salvage, and offshore tasks. Range from 1,100lb to 110,000lb capacity.
• Professional Lift Bags Open-bottom parachute-shaped lift bags with single attachment point developed from the 5-ton Deep Ocean Lift Bag designed for U.S. Navy. Essential for construction, heavy and light salvage, and offshore tasks.
• Propeller Bags Specially designed lift bags for removing and installing boat propellers. Available in three standard sizes (100lb, 200lb, 300lb) with 4 lift points and manual dump valve with lanyard.
• Quad Bags Multi-purpose quadrangle flotation bags for tech and wreck divers and public safety divers. Used as lift bags, up-line floats, decompression floats, dry bags, and inflatable dive flags. U.S. Patent No. D-362,817.
• Rapid Recovery System Self-contained system including enclosed lift bag with integrated air cylinder pocket for full inflation at 100ft depth. Includes tank pocket, inflation yoke with check valve, and velcro valise.
• Salvage Pontoons Totally-enclosed cylindrical bags for shallow water salvage, vessel draft reduction, and cable/pipeline operations. Feature replaceable heavy-duty nylon webbing lift harness with 6:1 safe working ratio.
• Salvage Pontoons - Vertical Vertical orientation cylindrical bags for shallow water salvage and cable/pipeline operations. Rigged with single bottom and top pick point for lifting from top of bag.
• Vehicle Recovery Systems (VRS-2000 and VRS-4000) Patented self-contained vehicle recovery systems (VRS-2000 and VRS-4000). Used by 250 domestic and 50 worldwide public safety dive teams. Includes enclosed flotation bags with cylinder pockets and NATO approved.
• Water Load Test Bags Water-filled load test bags for testing lifting devices such as cranes, davits, and lifeboat release gear. Easy to transport and deploy at exact test weights required.
• Subsalve Accessories Supporting components including manifolds (2, 4, 8-station), pressure relief valves (PRV-S, PRV-F, PRV-L), quick disconnects, inflation hose assemblies, shackles, plunge dump valves, flex straps, repair kits, and actuation systems used to operate and maintain Subsalve engineered inflatable products.

Quantifiable outcome

• >40% reduction in ventilator demand in ARDS treatment using Oxygen Treatment Hood
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Performance Inflatables Co LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Subsalve USA became part of Performance Inflatables Co LLC in 2017, forming a family of companies including AEF Performance (performanceinflatables.com) and AerDock Solutions (aeredockingsolutions.com).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Resolve Marine Group: Global marine salvage and emergency-response services company that purchases Subsalve engineered inflatables for use in actual salvage operations — an adjacent buyer/partner rather than equipment competitor.

Direct peers

• Winslow Life Raft Company: Manufactures marine safety inflatables including life rafts and personal survival equipment — comparable specialty inflatable manufacturer serving overlapping defense and offshore operators.
• Unique Group: Supplies subsea lifting bags, buoyancy modules, and marine salvage equipment to offshore and naval customers, competing directly with Subsalve in engineered inflatable lift and buoyancy products.
• Vetter Systems: German manufacturer of inflatable rescue, crash, and lifting bags used in fire/rescue, military, and industrial applications — comparable engineered inflatable product line overlapping with Subsalve's aircraft recovery and load-test bags.
• Viking Airbag: Manufacturer of marine salvage and underwater lift airbags used for ship and offshore recovery — a direct product-line competitor to Subsalve's Professional and Commercial Lift Bags, serving similar diving and salvage customers.

Broad incumbents

• Enerpac Heavy Lifting (formerly Hydratight): Provides heavy lifting, pipeline maintenance, and inflatable plugging tools (e.g., pipe plugs), competing with Subsalve's Pipe Pluggers and weight-test bag lines in industrial and offshore contexts.
• Trelleborg Group: Diversified global industrial group whose offshore and marine solutions businesses overlap with Subsalve in fendering, buoyancy, and offshore lifting — a much larger incumbent in adjacent marine equipment categories.
• RFD Beaufort: Specialist in marine safety and survival inflatables (life rafts, evacuation systems) serving naval and commercial marine markets — a broader incumbent whose inflatable engineering capability intersects with Subsalve's product platform.
• Survitec Group: Provider of marine safety and survival equipment including life rafts and inflatable lifeboats — a broad incumbent serving the same naval, offshore, and commercial marine customers that buy Subsalve products.

Emerging players

• AirMat Industrial Inflatables: Manufacturer of industrial inflatable products including lifting bags and air cushions — an emerging comparable in engineered inflatable lifting and load test equipment relevant to Subsalve's commercial/professional lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SubsalveUSACorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/subsalve-usa-corporation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Subsalve