1. What are the advantages of Thermoplastic Resins in fly rods? 2. Orvis can make the lightest and strongest rods in the world as a result. 1.The technology is exclusive to Orvis.

2. How did we acquire Thermoplastic Resin technology? We hired US military scientists who had developed the technology for Apache helicopter rotor blades…

3. Features: It is the most advanced Attack Helicopter in the world. It can attack at 200mph and fly at 150 mph at ground level. Originally, it was too powerful for it’s own Rotor Blades. Using epoxy resins, they disintegrated quickly at high speed. New Carbon Composite blades using thermoplastic toughened resins extended blade life 4X, allowing increased payload, climb rate and cruise speed. US Apache Attack Helicopter

4. What do Thermoplastic Resins offer for Fly Rod design? And why should a fly fisherman care?

5. Often, in Materials, it’s what you can’t see that makes the Real Difference A single carbon fibre is ~1/5 the diameter of a human hair, and very brittle.

6. How the Carbon Fibres get along with the Resin is very important… RESIN CARBON FIBRE The Carbon Fibres are very brittle. The Resin needs to bond to them tightly and evenly to make a good fly rod.

7. Thermoplastic Resins allow for a much better bond and more efficient use of carbon fibres. Epoxy resins are “old” technology that fly rod makers have been using for years. ALL of our competitors use epoxy resins. You need lots of resin and lots of carbon fibres to make a good rod, but it will be heavier than… A rod made with Thermoplastic resins. You need less resin and fewer carbon fibres to make a good rod, and it will be very light. ONLY Orvis is using this “new” technology. Amazingly, thermoplastic resins also have the benefit of making the rod much stronger! How can we prove it? Take a look at the next slides…

8. “Old” Epoxy Resin Based Carbon Fiber Material “New” ORVIS EXCLUSIVE Thermoplastic Resin Based Carbon Fiber Material 2 2 Grams per square meter >20% lighter in weight

9. (The “Old” technology that our competitors use)

10. Notice the breakage load on the rod is 204 grams. And the rod broke.

11. (The “New” technology that Orvis uses)

12. Notice the load on the rod is 451 grams. More than double the load on the epoxy resin rod. And the rod didn’t break.

13. The difference is clear… Orvis produces the lightest and strongest fly rod on the world by utilizing the most technologically advanced resin system available. And none of our competitors use… That’s the difference.

14. How did we develop the new Helios rods? Mission: Make the lightest rod in the world. We asked 3 factories to compete: * 1. China * * 2. Korea * * 3. Orvis factory in Manchester, VT, USA *

15. FactoryAssembled Rod Weight Orvis2.32 oz China2.62 oz Korea2.90 oz 905-4 Mid Flex Rod

16. The Orvis rod factory in Vermont were able to make the lightest rod, and also the strongest. Orvis used a Thermoplastic Resin Scrim bonded to the Thermoplastic Main Flags to reduce weight and increase impact strength by 75%! All Zero G and Helios rods will be made in Vermont. The Secret Is The Bond!

17. ManufacturerSeries # of Sections Line WeightLength Listed Rod Weight (oz.) WinstonBIIx459'2.6 HardyAngel or Swift4 or 359'3.0 SageZ-Axis459'3.4 OrvisZero Gravity Tip459'3.4 St CroixLegend Elite459'3.6 * Helios 905-4 Tip 2.25 oz. *

18. ManufacturerSeries # of Sections Line WeightLength Listed Rod Weight (oz.) WinstonBIIx4993.8 SageZ-Axis4994.1 HardyZane4994.3 ScottS3s4994.5 OrvisZero Gravity Tip4994.8 * Helios 909-4 Tip 3.25 oz. *

19. 1998: Trident -- Epoxy Main Flag -- Epoxy Glass Scrim 2004: T3 -- Thermoplastic Main Flag -- Epoxy Glass Scrim 2006: ZG -- Thermoplastic Main Flag -- Epoxy Carbon Scrim ZG Helios 2008: Thermoplastic Main Flag -- Thermoplastic Carbon Scrim Each new generation of Orvis rods has incorporated new technology that has reduced weight and increased strength!

20. Sample #Desc.Weight (Oz.) 1FINALIZED HELIOS FRESH 0.55 2FINALIZED HELIOS SALT 0.68 3Orvis Power Matrix Freshwater 0.86 4Orvis T3 Freshwater 1.50 5Orvis Zero Gravity Freshwater 1.06 6Orvis Zero Gravity Salt Water1.68 Helios Freshwater Reel Seat Is At Least 30% Lighter Than Any Other Orvis Freshwater Reel Seat Helios Saltwater Reel Seat Is At Least 50% Lighter Than Any Other Orvis Saltwater Reel Seat

21. Orvis Snake Guides - Sizes Current Orvis ZG or T3 guides weight (grams) REC Recoil (RSNX.024 wire snakes) – as used on the Helios rod (grams) Pac Bay CSFG1 - (single foot) - (grams) Pac Bay XSNLG1 - wgt. - (grams) American Tackle- wgt. (grams) (light wire snake) 40.090 xx 4.50.100 0.090x 50.1100.0700.0900.0500.090 5.50.1800.0750.0900.0800.070 60.2000.0850.1100.1300.100 70.2800.1100.2000.140 80.2800.1200.200x 90.4500.160xx REC Recoil guides on the Helios rod are 50% lighter than guides on Zero G

22. Helios New Ferrule System Zero Gravity Carbon Flag Zero Gravity Mandrel Compound Tapers High Energy Tapers Helios Carbon Flag Helios Mandrel New Helios Ferrule System Advantages Better matched carbon flag to mandrel design = 25% more ferrule engagement. This results in better compaction, and truer inside Female Ferrule tapers for overall better fit. Better section to section balance, which allows female ferrules to be lighter.

23. 1. 1 st Thermoplastic Carbon Scrim rod 2. Tip-Over-Butt Rod - New ferrule system 3. Lightest rod Orvis has produced 4. Titanium stripping guides (won’t rust) 5. Lightest REC Recoil snake guides 6. Lightest reel seat Orvis has produced 7. New High Energy tapers 8. Lightest rod tube of 12K Woven Carbon 10. 25% More Ferrule Engagement It’s the lightest and strongest rod ever made!