Procaps

Procaps was a Canadian paintball ammunition manufacturer established in 1998 by Richmond Italia. Based in the Montreal area of Quebec, the company specialised in manufacturing paintballs and became associated with the Diablo, Draxxus and DXS product ranges.[1][2]

Procaps also developed the Diablo Direct distribution network, acquired the VForce protective goggle brand and operated AirTech Industries, which was associated with the development of the original Matrix electronic paintball marker.[3][4]

The company's assets were acquired by GI Sportz in December 2011, returning its manufacturing operations to a business led by Italia.[5][6]

History

Establishment

Procaps was established in 1998 by Richmond Italia, a former professional paintball player and commercial field operator.

The company specialised in the manufacture of soft gelatin capsules for paintball ammunition.

Its original products were marketed under the Diablo brand, including Blaze, Inferno, Hellfire and Brand X.

Diablo paintballs began appearing at American tournaments during spring 1998.

By the Paintball World Cup in October that year, Procaps was promoting its products through a dedicated trade-show presence.[1][7]

Diablo Direct

In January 1999, Procaps announced the establishment of Diablo Direct, a North American distribution organisation created in cooperation with several established paintball distributors.

The business was intended to connect Procaps' manufacturing operations directly with regional wholesalers supplying retailers and commercial playing fields.

The initial partners included:

Craig Miller, responsible for the company's headquarters and northeastern distribution.
Paul Bollenbach, representing the southeastern United States.
Dan Bonebrake, responsible for western distribution.
Ed Poorman, responsible for the Rocky Mountain region.
Richmond Italia, representing Procaps.

The organisation initially operated through six North American warehouses.[1]

Diablo Direct subsequently expanded its activities beyond paintball ammunition to include protective equipment and other products.

VForce acquisition

In 2000, Diablo Direct became the exclusive distributor of VForce protective goggles.

During 2001–2002, Procaps' AirTech division acquired the VForce trademark and associated moulds from Leader Industries.

The acquisition was announced in a contemporary company press release archived by WARPIG.[3]

VForce subsequently became an important part of Procaps' equipment portfolio.

Its products included the Armor, Shield, Vantage, Profiler and Grill goggle systems.

A 2009 United States federal court decision documented that VForce goggles distributed by Procaps were manufactured by Vision 2 International.

The court records therefore distinguish ownership and distribution of the VForce brand from the physical manufacture of its protective equipment.[5]

Matrix paintball marker

Procaps was also associated with the original Matrix marker through AirTech Industries.

The Matrix was an electronically controlled paintball marker developed during the late 1990s.

Early prototypes appeared during 1999, with the marker making its tournament debut at Skyball 2000.

The production design was publicly introduced at the 2000 Paintball World Cup.

The Matrix subsequently became an established platform in professional tournament competition.[4]

Draxxus and National Paintball Supply

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Procaps and National Paintball Supply disputed the rights to the Diablo trademark.

National Paintball Supply had previously used the Diablo name for a paintball marker.

The disagreement was resolved through negotiations between Italia and National Paintball Supply owner Eugenio Postorivo.

In 2002, Procaps introduced the Draxxus name for its paintball ammunition.

The companies formally announced a distribution alliance on 29 April 2002.

Under the arrangement, National Paintball Supply regained the Diablo name, while Procaps' established ammunition products were marketed under Draxxus.

The agreement combined the National Paintball Supply and Diablo Direct distribution networks, with products shipped from six United States locations.[2]

X-Ball

Procaps was closely associated with the development of X-Ball.

The format was created by Richmond Italia in 2002 and introduced timed matches, multiple scoring opportunities and player substitutions between points.

The first X-Ball competition was held at the 2002 International Amateur Open in Pennsylvania.

Procaps supported the event through its Draxxus brand and contributed to the organisation of the inaugural X-Ball Nations Cup.[8]

The format subsequently became an important part of professional tournament paintball, including the original National Xball League.

Reorganisation in 2005

In March 2005, the assets of Procaps Encapsulation and AirTech Innovations were acquired as part of a restructuring that established Procaps L.P.

The new entity held the VForce trademark and continued the manufacture of paintball ammunition.

A related distribution business, Procaps Direct Inc., began operations during 2005.[5]

Procaps also changed its American distribution arrangements.

The previous agreement with National Paintball Supply ended in July 2005, with Procaps subsequently distributing its ammunition and VForce products through Procaps Direct.

National Paintball Supply was permitted to sell its remaining Procaps inventory.[5]

According to a company announcement published in January 2012, an investment firm had acquired a majority interest in Procaps during 2005, while retaining the original management team for a period.[9]

Acquisition by GI Sportz

Following financial difficulties, Procaps L.P. entered a receivership process.

Its assets were subsequently acquired by GI Sportz, a Canadian paintball manufacturer established by Richmond Italia and other industry participants.

United States patent assignment records document the transfer of Procaps intellectual property from receiver Raymond Chabot Inc. to GI Sportz, effective 20 December 2011.[6]

On 17 January 2012, Procaps announced that its operations had returned to the management of Richmond Italia.

The announcement identified Draxxus, DXS and VForce as continuing product brands.[9]

By February 2012, Procaps was operating as a subsidiary of GI Sportz, manufacturing paintballs under the GI Sportz and Draxxus brands and supporting the wider company's distribution operations.[10]

The Procaps manufacturing business was subsequently integrated into GI Sportz.

Following GI Sportz's restructuring in 2020, the group's assets and operations were acquired by Kore Outdoor.[11]

Products and brands

Procaps manufactured or distributed several major paintball equipment ranges.

Brand or product	Description
Diablo	Original Procaps paintball ammunition brand
Draxxus	Paintball ammunition brand introduced in 2002
DXS	Paintball ammunition associated with the Draxxus range
X-Ball	Tournament paintballs manufactured by Procaps
VForce	Protective goggles and replacement components
Matrix	Electronic marker developed through AirTech Industries

The company's ammunition products were supplied for recreational paintball, commercial playing fields and professional tournament competition.

Significance

Procaps contributed to the development of specialised paintball ammunition manufacturing during the late 1990s and 2000s.

Its Diablo Direct organisation helped establish a distribution network linking a dedicated paintball manufacturer with retailers and playing fields across North America.

The company's acquisition of VForce and association with the Matrix marker expanded its involvement beyond ammunition manufacturing.

Through Richmond Italia's development of X-Ball, Procaps was also connected with a major change in professional tournament formats.

Its manufacturing operations and established brands subsequently became part of GI Sportz and Kore Outdoor.

References

External links