Company name: T4E: Training 4 Engagement
Headquarters: Fort Smith, Ark.
Signature Product: Replica pistols that utilize liquified CO2
Website: https://www.t4eguns.com/
1. Where did your company name originate from?
T4E is a brand born of the creative marketing minds of Umarex USA in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and those of UMAREX in Arnsberg, Germany. It stands for Training for Engagement.
2. What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
We originally marketed replica paintball markers for recreation under the UMAREX umbrella. As more and more people started using the markers to supplement their firearms training, the offering was revamped and launched as T4E with an emphasis in the training sector.
3. What is your signature product and how does it work?
Our signature product is a line of officially licensed replica pistols that utilize liquified CO2 instead of ignited gun powder. When the CO2 is released by use of a valve that opens when the trigger is squeezed, it turns into a pre-determined amount of high-pressure gas. When the gas is behind a projectile like a paintball, rubber ball or dust ball, it forces it down the barrel and into its target while simultaneously cycling the slide. Utilization of T4E platforms, Umarex CO2 gas and T4E projectiles is a fraction of the cost of running other simulation type training rounds – meaning departments and agencies can perform force-on-force training more frequently.
4. Why do you believe your products are essential to the police community?
T4E training platforms are essential to law enforcement departments, security agencies and federal entities that have identified the need to train more and spend less of their budget. The low cost of initial investment, maintenance and operation makes them ideal when organizations need to implement force-on-force training on a more frequent basis.
5. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
UMAREX, the company behind T4E, is an expert in air powered shooting equipment. Our challenge with T4E has been getting our available platforms in the hands of the training decision-makers.
6. What makes your company unique?
T4E is a brand marketed worldwide by a family-owned company. We are unique because of our long-standing firearm brand license partners that allow us to produce replica training platforms with their official trademarks such as Smith & Wesson, Heckler & Koch and Walther.
7. What do your customers like best about you and your products?
Those that have implemented T4E training markers talk most notably about their dependability and ease of maintenance – combined with the fact that when using rubber projectiles, the pain is still felt when mistakes are made in a force-on-force scenario training experience.
8. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community?
T4E is honored every time a local jurisdiction or police department chooses to add T4E training platforms to their training regimen. Choosing to train more frequently while spending less of their community’s money shows that they both care about being properly trained to serve, as well as being good stewards of the funds they are entrusted with. It’s our privilege to provide tools that help facilitate trust between law enforcement and residents.
9. Do you support any charitable organizations within public safety or the community? Tell us more.
Umarex USA financially supports the youth of our local community by giving to the Children’s Emergency Shelter of Fort Smith, Arkansas. We also support the national Student Air Rifle program that exposes youth to the shooting sports, while instilling in them a respect for guns and a discipline for safety. In 2022, we gave to the FOP Lodge 8.
10. Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share about you or your company?
Our company, UMAREX, was founded in 1972 and in 1979 our first license deal was with the holders of the rights to the character Sherlock Holmes.
11. What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?
T4E is redeveloping its M4 training platform to increase its dependability and quality. We are also working closely with another UMAREX company brand, P2P – Prepared 2 Protect, to offer pepper ball pistols as a less lethal device.