A Northern Ireland-based body armour specialist has enjoyed impressive growth over the last five years and has quickly gained recognition as an innovator in the field.
Peter Gilleece was inspired to rethink body armour after learning how cumbersome and unsafe traditional designs were, particularly for women and diverse body types. Using his mechanical engineering expertise, he developed lighter, better-fitting armour made from Kevlar and carbon fibre.
Mechanical engineer Peter's goal to revolutionise the body armour industry with a commitment to safety, sustainability and inclusivity led to the creation of Vikela. The former air cadet created Vikela in order to solve a problem after some friends in the military shared stories of wearing armour that weighed between 12kg and 15kg.
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“I was hearing a lot of the same issues around carrying this excess weight from the bulletproof plates in their jackets for long periods of time. I knew that these people were very fit and healthy and if they were struggling it was pretty hard going if that's the kit you have," he told Belfast Live
Peter's ambition to create sustainable, flexible and fully recyclable PPE has resulted in a line of revolutionary protective gear, including the company’s flagship APIS stab protection range.
The Bangor-based business leverages patent-pending materials and SLS 3D printing technology to manufacture flexible, lightweight and fully recyclable personal protection equipment (PPE), mainly for the security industries - military, police, private security and global defence sectors.
Today Vikela is a leader in the industry and the world's first producer of 3D-printed body armour that offers equal protection for all genders, many size options, and is also 100% recyclable. Its flagship APIS stab protection range is the world’s first flexible stab vest that not only exceeds current safety standards but also addresses a critical gap in protection for women by testing male and female armour equally.
Peter says the rise in knife crime, especially in urban areas, is a pressing concern for those in high-risk roles: “Our aim is to create products that provide the necessary everyday protection without compromising comfort or sustainability. Your first thoughts go to the police or military who have to wear it for long periods of time and it can cause a lot of issues such as back pain.
“There was a nurse stabbed at a hospital in Manchester a couple of weeks ago so all sorts of staff need different levels of protection at the moment. We want to give people the level of protection they deserve when out and about.”
The rapidly expanding company has recently relocated from a 1,000 sq ft site near the Belfast docks to a 20,000 sq ft facility in Bangor. Backed by a £1.3m investment, the new Co Down headquarters will enable the company to expand its production, broaden its market reach and continue innovating in the PPE industry.
Over the next five years, the new headquarters will house multiple functions, including head office operations such as IT, finance and operations, as well as expanded production and warehousing facilities. Currently, Vikela employs three full-time staff and two temporary workers, but by the end of 2025 it plans to increase this number to 15, with a five-year goal to grow its workforce to 50 employees.
With distribution channels already established in the UK, America and Japan, Peter says Vikela is on track to become a recognised global leader in body armour: “Bangor offers everything we need for our next chapter — space for expansion, ease of access for both local and international clients, and an environment rich with business opportunity. We are proud of how far we have come and are excited about what the future holds.”
The UK’s longest-running index of the most promising new startups, the Startups 100, has released its 2025 lineup which this year includes Vikela. The Startups 100, run by Startups.co.uk, showcases the top 100 young UK businesses which exhibit innovation, solid financials, opportunity in their market, a great concept and a strong customer base or following.
Editor of Startups.co.uk, Zohra Huda, said: “Who says you need to be born in the capital to succeed? This year’s Startups 100 index proves that inspiration, innovation and ingenuity is in abundance in Northern Ireland with Eolas Medical and Vikela leading the charge in spite of the challenges of the post-Covid and current economic landscape. Watch out London.”
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