C2i Advanced Technologies, Inc

Just who are these guys?

Over 170 years ago, a quiet New York luggage maker got an idea that transformed the idea of protection for the fledgling fire suppression service in America. His name was Henry Gratacap, and his invention was the New Yorker fire helmet, made from the same impregnated leather with which he manufactured fine sea-worthy luggage. His invention needed a visible means of identifying the fire fighters, so he contacted a neighboring businessman who made shields, badges and military insignia to help him solve this problem. The result was called a “Frontispiece”, now reduced to “Front Piece”, a large emblem-like shield worn on the front of this new helmet, with a handsome phoenix eagle head jutting out from the helmet’s crown to hold the front piece upright where all could see the emblem of the fire company emblazoned. The gentleman who developed these front pieces was William Cairns. He and his bother Edward bought the leather helmet process from Gratacap, and set out to become the country’s leader in provisioning fire fighters for their dangerous job. That company was Cairns & Brother, and for 170 years the company, an American family business, survived all manner of challenges to its existence, to continue to produce the helmets and their front pieces, and to add so many other new products to serve their customers, America’s bravest.

C2i hails from this family business and tradition. Chris Coombs, founder of C2i Advanced Technologies, a Cairns family member, was a participant in the Cairns & Brother Company.  His dedication to our customers, and the traditions of creative engineering to advance fire fighter safety, never died. Maintaining his contacts and friendships among the men and women he had so enthusiastically befriended and served, Coombs was still close to these ties when the idea behind GARTS took hold.  The same inventive problem solving that had seen the advancement of head protection, shifted paradigms in protective clothing and breathing apparatus, and initiated thermal imaging in the fire service for the first time, had found itself alive and well, and relating again to a real need among fire fighters.

C2i has a new mission that is unusual, and has as its base the great friendships that Coombs has made and kept among all of the manufacturers serving the fire industry. Our new mission is to advance the protection our fire fighters can expect from their gear not by competing, but by complementing and cooperating with the manufacturers who build the components impacted by our inventions and products. GARTS is an excellent example of this. Rather than enter into competition on clothing, C2i has actively promoted GARTS among all of the manufacturers, and welcomes all to adopt this incredibly effective little invention.

Our mission is to listen, learn, and solve equipment and protection problems for fire fighters, police members, first responders, even soldiers. In fact, wherever mankind have to deal with hostile and challenging work environments, and need advances in protection, we will be seen, working quietly, making a difference for the dedicated and courageous men and women we serve. You will see what we do not only in new products we make where there are no competing products. You will see our creative genius in the features and products made by your favorite gear makers.

Our mission is to make you safer, better protected, more comfortable, less stressed, and with all of that, better at what you do. The founders’ slogan still adorns our halls: "We make protective gear as though our lives depended on it!”