Strong demand for PPE, claims schoeller-works manager
New business unit manager at schoeller-works, Hendrikus van Es, says he sees huge potential for Schoeller’s workwear division internationally going forward.
He says: “The demand is for multi-norm clothing with, for example, heat protection and fire protection, high-visibility and rain protection, or protection from chemicals and anti-static properties. Additionally, the fashion aspect is playing an increasingly important role due to the greater flexibility and mobility of staff and the increasing number of female employees.
“Full-body system solutions still remain a central theme. Sustainability, in the sense of the change from linear to cyclical consumption and the reuse of products without toxins will gain ground in the workwear market in the years ahead, and will, in fact, become a standard requirement.
“Our origins in the sportswear area, the wide range of stretch fabrics with function, our innovative strength, the modular seven-layer clothing system and our cooperation with bluesign mean we are ideally positioned to cater to these trends.”
According to Mr van Es, the personal protective equipment (PPE) market continues to be the fastest-growing segment in the workwear industry.
“In the uniform and military wear sector we have successfully established ourselves with our modular seven-layer clothing system and the wide range of stretch fabrics,” he says. “We will be building on this experience to win over further customers for schoeller-works in the years ahead.
“Through our cooperation with Klopman and the development of the synergo collection we have a wide range in the area of corporate wear. The fashion aspect is also working in our favour, and therefore I see good growth opportunities in corporate wear too in the next few years.”
Mr van Es claims the subsidiary’s unique selling point (USP) is that all of its products are made at one site: “We have our own research and development department, experienced textile designers, a modern weaving mill and knitting factory as well as a very versatile finishing facility which also includes the membranes.
“This means that our team is very closely intermeshed and can therefore react quickly and flexibly to individual customer requirements. Every customer can find added value for his brands or have completely new workwear products developed, which have a genuine USP in terms of look, function or comfort.”
The brand will present its synergo, ceraspace and Pyroshell technology as well as developments in synthetic fabrics that offer permanent fire protection at the upcoming A+A 2013 trade fair, which will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from November 5-8.
