mb-microtec - Traser Military Watches and Gaseous Tritium Light Sources (GTLS)

mb-microtec ag, situated in the village of Niederwangen on the outskirts of the Swiss capital of Berne, is a family owned company that has 60 employees. It specialises in the development testing, manufacturing and supply of gaseous tritium light source (GTLS) for use in a number of products within the civilian, military and OEM industries.

mb-microtec provides the GLTS to a large number of OEMs for use in their products, such as watches, compass, map-readers, route markers, arch markers and gun sights. The company also assists in the development and manufacture of products to customer specification.

GLTS are glass forms produced from borosilicate glass (Pyrex) which are coated internally with phosphor and then filled with tritium gas. The forms are extremely safe, are hermetically sealed and are not affected by water, oil and most other corrosive materials.

Tritium

Discovered in 1934 by Ernest Rutherford, ML Oliphant and Paul Harteck, tritium (T, or H3) is the third isotope of hydrogen. It is unstable and disintegrates whilst sending out beta radiation (electrons) with a half-life time of 12.3 years. During this transition, each atom emits just one electron, which leaves the core with a maximum energy of approx 18 KeV. This energy is very low compared with other radioactive isotopes. The electron is unable to penetrate the human skin and can be stopped easily by a sheet of paper, making it extremely safe for use in the GTLS.

Traser watches for the military industry

mb-microtec is proud to be the manufacturer of the first watch to contain GTLS technology. Traser produce a large variety of watches including those designed for divers, military, police or special forces sector which are produced and tested according to the strict US MIL- G- 46374G.

As the watches contain the GTLS technology they are always ready to go and require no added light or energy source to make them glow. This means you can see your watch anytime, anyplace and in any light conditions. The watches are also available as a 'private label watch' giving you the opportunity to design your own unique personalised watches for your unit, company, regiment or corporation.

Trigalight technology for military watches

mb-microtec manufactures trigalights in a number of different shapes sizes and colours . A trigalight is a self-activated cold light source that requires no power supply or wiring. It is formed from borosilicate glass, internally coated with one of a range of phosphors and filled with Tritium gas. Trigalight products are intrinsically safe, and are unaffected by water, oil and most corrosive materials. Additionally trigalights are also:

• Filament free are highly resistant to shock, temperature and vibration
• Maintenance free and intrinsically safe
• Chemically inert
• Completely maintenance free
• Electro magnetic pulse (EMP) proof
• Long service life, guaranteed to last for at least ten years

Tactical inserts for gun sight illumination

Trigalight inserts are metal sleeved, sapphire crystal protected trigalights. These tactical inserts find wide use within the gun sight illumination sector. They are absolutely outstanding for reliability and require no external power source. They have even greater benefits when it comes to after sales costs, compactness and durability.

All tactical inserts are tested to withstand extreme shock and weather conditions and come with a ten year illumination warranty. Tactical inserts can be used at temperatures ranging from -94°F to 250°F, not only for a short period but for several years if needed.

Lynx system

The patented combination of fibre optics and trigalight GTLS make the lynx system possible. The lynx system is always ready, requires no other power or energy source and never needs to be adjusted for brightness. Based on simple physics it is one of the most reliable optical gun sighting systems ever invented. Fibre optics collect the surrounding light and guide it to the end of the fibre where it shows up as an illuminated ring (red or green depending on the fibre colour).

As soon as there is not enough surrounding light the trigalight GTLS starts to glow and shows up as a green dot on the sight. This process happens in real time with absolutely no time delay. There are no buttons, wheels, knobs, batteries or wires needed and you can forget metal mounting as every lynx system comes with an iron sight. You can holster or store your gun knowing that whenever you will need it again, your gun sight will be instantly ready for duty.