USACE
USACE (ACE Security Laminates) is a Washington D.C.-based manufacturer of glass security laminates and bullet-resistant retrofit solutions using proprietary Polymatrix multi-ply BoPET technology, serving government, military, Fortune 500, and transit clients across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What USACE does
USACE (Advanced Coatings Engineering LLC), operating as ACE Security Laminates, is a Washington D.C.-headquartered manufacturer of glass security laminates and bullet-resistant glazing solutions, founded in 1991. The company pioneered the first bullet-resistant window laminate in 1994 and developed its proprietary "Polymatrix" technology — a multi-ply BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) system with six-directional fiber alignment engineered to disburse impact energy across existing glass surfaces. USACE claims its retrofit approach delivers approximately 90% cost reduction versus traditional bullet-resistant glass replacement, with specialized framing and engineering typically accounting for roughly 70% of project cost.
The product portfolio spans multiple ballistic-rated series — the 100 Series entry-level, the 200 Series SL09 (2-ply, rated to 225 psi), and the 300 Series SL14 (3-ply, rated to 350 psi) — alongside newer offerings: the ACE Polymatrix Rapid Response Kit (2020) for DIY deployment, the first-generation Overlay Unit (2022) for rapid installation, the ACE Polymatrix IGU (2023) — a ballistic-ready insulated glass unit for new commercial construction — and vehicle ballistic protection solutions. Products carry certifications across UL-752, NIJ 0108.01, EN 1063, GSA, and ANSI Z97.1, supporting procurement by regulated government, defense, and institutional buyers.
USACE runs a hybrid go-to-market combining direct corporate/government sales with a DIY consumer channel, monetizing through quote-based project pricing for professional installation and one-time hardware sales. The customer base spans federal agencies and military branches (US Navy, Marine Corps, Federal Reserve, Department of State, DOJ, National Archives, RCMP), Fortune 500 enterprises (Apple, Meta/Facebook, IBM, Walmart, FOX, Tata Group, Brinks), major transit authorities (WMATA, MTA NYC, Grand Central Terminal, TTC), and institutional buyers across healthcare, education, and retail. Operations extend across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; the company is privately held with 11–50 employees and no disclosed external funding.
USACE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- USACE
- Legal name
- Advanced Coatings Engineering LLC
- Website
- https://usace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- USACE (ACE Security Laminates) is a Washington D.C.-based manufacturer of glass security laminates and bullet-resistant retrofit solutions using proprietary Polymatrix multi-ply BoPET technology, serving government, military, Fortune 500, and transit clients across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
USACE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Security Glass Laminates
- NAICS
- Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass (327215), Laminated Plastics Plate, Sheet (except Packaging), and Shape Manufacturing (326130)
- SIC
- Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laminated Safety & Security Glass (PVB/SGP) (IMADAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial & Protective Film Extrusion (Masking, Surface Protection, Barrier Films) (IMANACAD), Low‑E, Solar Control & Energy-Efficient Coated Glass (IMADAHAF)
Keywords
Where USACE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
USACE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Security Laminate Products: Sale of security laminates (100, 200, 300 Series) and Polymatrix products for glass protection against ballistic threats, bomb blasts, forced entry, and extreme weather.
- Professional Installation Services: Installation services performed by trained professional technicians for corporate and government clients.
- Custom Engineered Solutions: Highly customized glass security engineering including design integration support, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, third-party testing coordination, project vertical integration, and unique purpose product design for hazardous substance transport and storage.
- ACE Polymatrix IGU: Pre-fabricated ballistic insulated glass units for new construction and window replacement projects, shipped ready to install.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
USACE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
USACE manufactures and sells proprietary glass security laminates (the 100, 200, and 300 Series Polymatrix products) that are retrofitted onto existing glass in buildings and vehicles to provide protection against bullets, bomb blasts, forced entry, and extreme weather. The company also supplies pre-fabricated ballistic insulated glass units (ACE Polymatrix IGU), DIY rapid deployment kits, and offers custom engineered security solutions and professional installation services.
Product overview
USACE (Advanced Coatings Engineering LLC) offers a portfolio of security laminate products for glass protection, ranging from entry-level security films to advanced ballistic solutions. The core product line consists of three series of security laminates: the 100 Series (entry-level safety film for shatter control), the 200 Series SL09 (2-ply laminate for standard security against burglary and bomb blasts), and the 300 Series SL14 (3-ply high-security laminate for ballistic protection). Supporting products include the ACE Polymatrix IGU (industry's first ballistic-ready insulated glass unit for new construction) and the ACE Polymatrix Rapid Response Kit (for rapid DIY deployment). All products are constructed from multiple plies of Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) aligned for optimal energy disbursement, and are third-party tested to UL, NIJ, and EN ballistic standards. The company specializes in retrofit applications, applying solutions to existing glass without requiring reconstruction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Polymatrix: Premium Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) security laminates for glass protection against bullets, bomb blasts, and forced entry.
Products and services
- 100 Series Security Film Entry-level single-ply security film offering up to 190 lbs per inch break strength, shatter control, bomb blast resistance (SF7 variant), and UV rejection up to 99%. Third-party tested by Intertek. Available in clear or shades of grey and silver.
- 200 Series Security Laminate (SL09) 2-ply security laminate with 225 psi break strength providing protection against smash and grab crimes, burglary, bomb blasts, and IEDs. Tested against GSA bomb blast standard, optically clear with 99% UV rejection and lifetime warranty.
- 300 Series Security Laminate (SL14) 3-ply high-level security laminate with 350 psi break strength (50% stronger than 200 Series), providing highest levels of break resistance against aggressive forced entry, ballistic threats, bomb blasts, and small arms fire. Can be configured for both ballistic and non-ballistic protection.
- ACE Polymatrix IGU Industry's first ballistic-ready insulated glass unit (IGU) designed to fit into standard, off-the-shelf commercial 1-inch storefront window framing systems. Provides UL Level 2 ballistic protection without specialized framing or wall assemblies. Shipped ready to install.
- ACE Polymatrix Rapid Response Kit DIY rapid response security kit designed for quick deployment. Easy to order and install for immediate threat response situations. Available for online ordering through the website with an 'Order Now' option.
- Ballistic Protection for Vehicle Windows Retrofit ballistic solution for vehicle windows providing UL Level 1 protection against 9mm ammunition. Applied to OEM vehicle windows, eliminating need for door reconfigurations. Lightweight and discrete with minimal incremental weight loading.
- Custom Engineered Solutions Custom glass security engineering services including design integration support, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, third-party testing coordination, project vertical integration, and unique purpose product design for hazardous substance transport and storage.
- Professional Installation Services Installation services performed by trained professional technicians for corporate, government, and institutional projects. Also available for DIY customers with guidance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% cost reduction compared to traditional bullet-resistant glass
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use USACE
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
USACE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
USACE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
USACE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Madico: Madico manufactures safety and security window films including its ClearShield and ballistic-rated lines, directly overlapping USACE's 100/200/300 Series retrofit product category.
- Total Security Solutions: TSS designs and installs bulletproof barriers, transaction windows, and ballistic glazing for banks, government, and retail — overlapping USACE's financial, retail, and government segments with both product and installation offerings.
- Armortex: Armortex fabricates bullet-resistant glass, transaction windows, and security enclosures for government, retail, and financial customers — directly competitive with USACE's ballistic and forced-entry solutions.
- 3M: 3M Safety & Security Window Films compete head-on with USACE in retrofit security laminate films for buildings, with similar UL/NIJ ballistic certifications and a substantially larger distribution and installer network.
- Riot Glass: Riot Glass markets retrofit security glazing panels and frames against smash-and-grab, forced entry, and ballistic threats, closely mirroring USACE's retrofit value proposition for retail and institutional buyers.
- Global Security Glazing: GSG manufactures certified ballistic and forced-entry resistant glass and laminates for schools, courthouses, and government facilities, competing with USACE's 300 Series and Polymatrix IGU on institutional and federal tenders.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell (Performance Materials): Honeywell supplies advanced materials and ballistic-resistant composites used in security glazing and personal protection, overlapping USACE's defense and high-security customer base at the materials level.
- Saint-Gobain: Saint-Gobain produces ballistic and security glazing through brands such as Vetrotech and SageGlass, serving the same federal, commercial, and institutional customers as USACE but with full glass-replacement products rather than retrofits.
Others
- Kuraray (Trosifol): Kuraray's Trosifol PVB and SentryGlas ionoplast interlayers are widely specified in laminated safety and security glass, positioning Kuraray as an enabling supplier competing on the same laminated-glass value proposition as USACE's BoPET approach.
- Eastman Chemical (Saflex): Eastman's Saflex PVB interlayers are the dominant laminated-glass interlayer used by ballistic-glass fabricators, making it an upstream enabling supplier to much of the same end market USACE serves with its BoPET-based alternative.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
USACE social profiles
Digital presenceUSACE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
USACE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
USACE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
USACE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
USACE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about USACE
What does USACE do?
USACE manufactures and sells proprietary glass security laminates (the 100, 200, and 300 Series Polymatrix products) that are retrofitted onto existing glass in buildings and vehicles to provide protection against bullets, bomb blasts, forced entry, and extreme weather. The company also supplies pre-fabricated ballistic insulated glass units (ACE Polymatrix IGU), DIY rapid deployment kits, and offers custom engineered security solutions and professional installation services.
Is USACE a public or private company?
USACE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was USACE founded?
USACE was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is USACE based?
USACE is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does USACE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Security Laminate Products are the primary driver. The others are professional Installation Services, custom Engineered Solutions and ACE Polymatrix IGU.
Who are USACE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Madico, Total Security Solutions, Armortex, 3M, Riot Glass and Global Security Glazing. Broad incumbents are Honeywell (Performance Materials) and Saint-Gobain. Others are Kuraray (Trosifol) and Eastman Chemical (Saflex).
Does USACE have an API?
No public API is recorded for USACE.
What industry is USACE in?
USACE's product category is Security Glass Laminates. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAHAE, Laminated Safety & Security Glass (PVB/SGP), with a secondary code of IMANACAD, Industrial & Protective Film Extrusion (Masking, Surface Protection, Barrier Films). Its NAICS code is 327215 and its SIC code is 3231.