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WEDNESDAY

THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

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December 7, 1988 News 985-2131 Classified 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 56 pages 25¢

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Newtsulit

NEWS photo Neli Lucente

GOING TO record depths and headed for new international sates heights is International Hard Suits
Inc.’s Newtsuit atmospheric diving system. The suit, with diver-technician Bruce Fuoco, successfully
completed its first manned underwater dive to 1,000 feet in the North Vancouver company’s test facility
last Thursday and has received international certification.

I systems go for
roduction

WORTH SHORE FIRM
GETS CERTIFICATION

INTERNATIONAL HARD Suits Inc. (IHS!) will almost
double its workforce over the next year as it moves into
commercial production of its revolutionary Newtsuit at-
mospheric diving system following last Thursday's interna-
tional certification of the suit and successful completion of
its first manned underwater test dive to 1,000 feet.

Thursday’s dive took place in
the North Vancouver company’s
underwater test facility and was
witnessed by representatives of
Lloyds Surveyors, which provides
international certification approval
for diving equipment. The test
marked the final step in the suit's
cértification process and cleared
the way for Newtsuit production.

IHSI general manager Aris
Morfopolous said the suit, which
has successfully completed
shallower manned dives, perform-
ed better than its prototype
predecessor in Thursday’s test
because of such design improve-
ments as increasing the size of the
suit’s torso for better diver mobili-
ty.
The Newtsuit will now be
delivered to Japan's Fuji Co. Ltd.,
which purchased two of the
$300,000 suits in March.

Morfopolous said Fuji plans to
demonstrate the suit to the Japa-
nese Navy,
buyer.

IHSI will move into expanded
facilities next week to begin com-
mercial Newtsuit production and
plans to produce 20 suits in 1989.

Morfopolous said the company

another prospective

By TIMOTHY RENSHAW
News Reporter

has firm orders for 19 suits, warth
approximately $5.7 miltion.

“Things are really rolling,” he
said.

The aluminum Newtsuit, which
enabies divers to work at depths of
up to 1,000 feet without having to
undergo decompression, was
developed by IHS1 president and
Can Dive Services Ltd. founder
Phil Nuytten from 1979 to 1986.

In addition to its Japanese
clients, HHSI has signed deals to
sell the suit to the Canadian Navy
and Dragerwerk AG of Lubck,
West Germany, the world’s largest
manufacturer and distributor of
diving technology.

IHSI is also scheduled to dem-
onstrate the suit for a second time
to the U.S. Navy next April.

Morfopolous estimated Newtsuit
sales over the next six years could
range up to $60 million.

IHSI’s current 12-person
workforce, he said, will increase to
approximately 20 by the end of
next year to accommodate com-
mercial suit production.

ROCK band Neo Morte
. under the spotlight.