Interaction of outdoor manufacturers with PPE brands
On January 22, within the framework of the 5th exhibition-presentation Sport Casual Moscow, a round table "Experience and prospects of interaction of Russian outdoor manufacturers with leading Russian brands of PPE (personal protective equipment) was held». The moderator of the round table was Vladimir Bogdanov, General Director of LLC «Bask».
The Round table was attended by representatives of manufacturers of clothing for outdoor activities and PPE, as well as editors-in-chief and journalists of professional media.
During the event, leading industry participants discussed the prospects for cooperation and joint developments, and also talked about the difficulties they have to face in their work.
Moderator of the round tableVladimir Bogdanov noted: "There are a number of sectors in the production of PPE that simply require the introduction of state regulation and standards. These are membrane fabrics, thermal underwear, the base layer of clothing, down, synthetic insulation, etc. — all this has not yet been regulated by GOST standards. The relevant work is underway now. But for standardization, it is necessary to organize an independent laboratory where products will be tested. It should be clear to both manufacturers and buyers what exactly and how it is checked, what standards exist. Today we will discuss these issues.
Marina Gambarova, Head of Procurement of non-project materials at Velesstroy LLC, stressed the importance of using high-tech workwear and shoes both to ensure the safety of workers at low temperatures and to improve their work efficiency. Russian manufacturers, including "Technoavia" and "Vostok-Service", fully cover the needs of the company "Velesstroy" in overalls and shoes, while the workwear produced in Russia is not inferior to Western analogues, especially clothing for low temperatures.
Marina Gambarova noted that manufacturers of workwear use market technologies, which makes it possible to reduce the weight of the work kit and increase labor productivity in difficult climatic conditions.
Deputy General Director for Production of the company "Technoavia" Sergey Melnikov: "Indeed, the sector requires standards. In addition, now various authorities are talking about a combination of high technologies and personal protective equipment, because it affects both productivity and people's safety. Nevertheless, in 20 years we have tried a lot and achieved a lot. Fabrics with various coatings and membranes were used and are still used. We were among the first to use new insulation materials, in particular "Tinsulate".
Head of the Product Marketing Department of the Vostok-Service Group of Companies Maria Yalovenko shared her experience of cooperation with Bask LLC: "Our company uses the experience and technologies of Bask, tested and proven by cold weather and expeditions. Special attention is paid to products for the fourth special climate zone, where the ratio of protective properties, ergonomics, functionality, fabric and insulation is important. In the assortment of outdoor manufacturers there are many models that both in functionality and ergonomics could be used as a PPE.
Commercial Director LLC «Factory of nonwovens «The whole world»» Alyona Gaberlandstressed that protection from the cold in Russia remains a factor that is equated with the protection of human life: "The minimum required values are laid down in the PPE standards, while many large, public and private companies lay down the requirement for both clothing and PPE in their internal regulations to fabrics, to accessories, to insulation. Basically, these requirements are prescribed in accordance with GOST standards, but the real working conditions are far from GOST. The PPE market intersects with the experience and expertise that manufacturers of clothing for extreme sports, for mountaineering, for the far North, for expeditions have.
There are two companies in Russia that have been experts in this market since the 90s, and who sponsor expeditions, exchange opinions on expert experience, and themselves have the highest expert experience. These companies need to be involved in the work of creating workwear of a different level. Russian workwear is in no way inferior to European in quality or design. And as for thermal protection, it is often better. The Russian standard for cold protection was the first in the world and the European standard was created on the basis of the Russian one. So it is the Russian expert experience that the whole world uses. It is necessary to combine the expertise of manufacturers of PPE with the expertise of manufacturers of clothing for extreme sports, for protection from the cold.
Vladimir Bogdanov, CEO of Bask: This is a very important question. The Russian outdoor group was established in 2005. You can scold the state, say that it does not do something. But everyone understands that if we don't do anything ourselves, no one in this state will do anything for us.
We already have a working group of 12 people, they are good specialists, we clearly understand what needs to be done. We need to harmonize about 10–15 GOST standards, add something of our own to them. What do we want to do? We want to organize a cluster that already has a name — CREW. This cluster should unite both fabric manufacturers and outdoor manufacturers, maybe even PPE, but its task is to create an intra-industry standard.
Vladislav Moroz, director of RedFox: "Generally speaking, over time, the experience gained in outdoor is absolutely necessary in PPE, in overalls, and we have been using this experience for a very long time, dressing rescuers, employees of various organizations, for example, ski cable cars. So the fusion of outdoor and workwear has already happened a long time ago. Now we just need to introduce all the developments into mass use and, in fact, use our experience.
Vladislav Ivanov, the company "Thermopol": "According to the results of today's event, following the results of the exhibition, one could note such a thing: outdoor is becoming more receptive to offers and to information that is declared directly by manufacturers. In addition, many foreign consumers have left the market. Why? Because Russian technologies have become the most relevant. Ten years ago, many companies perceived what was produced in Russia as something of poor quality. It was wrong. Now the situation has changed."
The participants of the event adopted a resolution on the results of the round table, which was sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.