ABCorp partners with BATS-TOI to manufacture ‘The Mercado’

American Banknote Corporation (ABCorp), one of the longest-standing manufacturing service providers in the US, has entered a partnership with sports technology startup BATS-TOI to manufacture ‘The Mercado’ – the most advanced multisport headgear on the market, using 3D printing technology.

Initially designed to protect wrestlers against head injuries, The Mercado has evolved into a next-generation smart multisport headgear capable of incorporating diagnostic sensors to monitor brain wave activity and two-way communication to provide a combination of safety and performance enhancement that was previously unavailable.

“ABCorp has a history dating back more than 225 years of providing Essential Critical goods and services to world-class companies and federal, state, and local government agencies in more than 120 countries worldwide,” said William Brown, Chairman and CEO of ABCorp. “Many of our relationships date back decades, if not centuries, and we do not enter strategic partnerships impulsively. We are pleased to announce our new association with BATS-TOI for the latest generation of smart multisport headgear.”

“From day one, our focus and purpose at BATS-TOI has been to revolutionize head safety for serious and recreational athletes through innovative design and engineering,” said Mario Mercado, founder and CEO of BATS-TOI. We worked with our partners at HP and ABCorp to develop a groundbreaking system and process to 3D print The Mercado at scale, as a best-in-class multisport headgear that provides superior protection and performance against head injuries. The Mercado has been recognized as the official wrestling headgear of the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), and our partnership with ABCorp will ensure we deliver on our commitment to the highest quality standards, not only for wrestlers but for all athletes that need superior head protection to keep them in the game.”

Manufacturing will take place in ABCorp’s 125,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility and will be powered by the HP MJF Systems – which will enable ABCorp to 3D print complex end-use parts with speed and accuracy. ABCorp offers design and high-volume production capacity under a single roof, with the flexibility of multiple base materials including polymers and stainless steel. All production takes place in ABCorp’s highly secure, FDA-registered facility with HiTrust certification and HIPPA compliance to ensure the security of BATS-TOI’s confidential and sensitive projects.