About Us

Our Mission

At Explotrain we strive to produce the best, most reliable, and safest battlefield effects, training aids and blast simulators available on the market. We understand training is constantly evolving to adapt to the emerging threats encountered on the battlefield and incidents which are becoming more prevalent throughout the world.

Our mission at Explotrain is to help instructors develop the groundwork to promote learning, increase awareness, and cultivate a foundation based in safety by generating an environment which will create the necessary psychological training scars needed for knowledge retention.

To support instructors, training centers and various agencies, Explotrain has designed a line of battlefield effects, IED training aids, blast simulators and training classes to meet the needs of each unit’s specific requirements. Click HERE to view our products.

Our History

Our company has become an industry leader in the non-pyrotechnic simulation of IEDs, VBIEDs, battlefield effects and explosive effects. Originally developed for EOD training at NAVSCOLEOD in 1999, our simulators are now used world wide.

In 2015, Explotrain began introducing a full line of comprehensive IED training aids developed by EOD technicians for a variety of scenarios. Each Inert Functional Improvised Explosive Device has been designed and tailored to meet the unique training needs of a particular unit.

Every X-O™ explosive simulator uses a precisely controlled blend of oxygen and propane ignited within an open ended cylinder to produce a safe, but very realistic simulated explosive blast. Both the safety and realism have been tested and confirmed by sound pressure and blast over-pressure measurements.

X-O™ explosive blast simulators are available in several different sizes and configurations to fit a variety of training needs: small vehicle or building mounted units, mid-sized one man portable simulators designed for ease of concealment or extended use and larger devices for simulating VBIEDs or roadside bombs for training mounted troops.

Every X-Series explosive simulator can be command fired or victim operated. Wireless control options include the ability to control up to ten devices at a distance of up to 600 meters from a single remote. Victim operated scenarios can use hardwired triggers or Inert Functional IEDs that are identical to actual devices except for an inert explosive charge and the use of our X-CAP transmitter in place of an actual blasting cap.

C. Dean Preston
President

Mr. Preston took over operations as president of Explotrain in July 2006, expanding the product line from the single Model X-01 Explosive Blast Simulator he designed as an engineer working for Unconventional Concepts, Inc. to the wide variety of training products and solutions offered today.  As president for the past ten years, Preston, 50, is responsible for the continued growth of Explotrain and its response to customers’ needs from customized product development to expanding markets and business partnerships domestically as well as overseas.  He has been instrumental in driving Explotrain to offer its customers the ability to train more effectively and realistically by taking advantage of both technological advances and an improved understanding of the psychological implications of training methodologies.

Previously, Preston worked in product development and medical research as an engineer in the areas of combat casualty care, spinal surgery, and orthopaedic trauma where he holds multiple patents and publications, both as a researcher and a medical illustrator.  He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a MS in Bioengineering from Clemson University whose football team are currently the national champions in football.  Go Tigers!

Mike Chapman, Shop Foreman
Production and Fabrication

Mike came to Explotrain in 2010 with over 25 years experience in the manufacturing industry.  His background included the machine maintenance on all types of mechanical and electronic equipment used in the printing industry and later evolved into the management of that aspect of the business for the entire Southern Region of the largest check printing company in the country.

Mike has an AS degree in Electronics Engineering and holds several Certificates of Completion in the computer related industry.  He uses his broad knowledge of mechanical and electronic systems to ensure the Explotrain X-O series of simulators and related accessories are manufactured to the highest degree of quality and workmanship he is accustomed to.  He is responsible for the day-to-day scheduling and activities in the Explotrain Manufacturing Shop to ensure all orders are manufactured and shipped in a timely manner. He works closely with the President of Explotrain, Dean, in the engineering and prototype development of new products.

Mike holds an FCC Amateur Extra class ham radio license and enjoys amateur astronomy, photography, flying his drone, and spending time on the beautiful Florida beaches.