| Workware Profile |
For many years, Workware was a general safety product distributor selling to end users in the north west of England. Over the years we began to import our own range of products such as waterproof clothing, wellington boots and safety footwear, which we supplied to Agricultural dealers in Scotland and the northern half of England and Wales.
In 1997 while visiting a trade show in Paris, we met 2 young guys trying to sell a range of chainsaw clothing under the name of SIP Protection. As a company, SIP had been manufacturing men's work trousers for the best part of 80 years, giving them a great knowledge of the shape and styling trousers had to be to be strong enough to work in, yet comfortable at the same time. Somewhere around 1980, Madame Flock who oversaw the production of trousers asked if she could make a pair of trousers with chain saw protection for her husband who was employed in the forest. After a short time her husbands work colleagues were asking for the same and a new division of SIP began.
EN 381 which is the standard for chainsaw clothing was introduced on July 1st 1995. Manufacturers had been working towards achieving this unified standard for several years, and most had simply achieved the standard by increasing the number of layers of protection. SIP however, had established their markets in Southern Europe where heat was a great problem. Instead of just increasing the number of layers they took a step back and developed and patented their own anti-cut material which achieved the required standards with only 6 layers. This combined with a superbly built trouser gave huge advantages to users. To get from a standing start with an unknown brand to where we are today was not easy, but as always good products eventually sell themselves and success follows. Over the following years we introduced many SIP firsts to our industry. The first to achieve class1 with only 6 layers, the first with a triple stitched crotch, the first to introduce flexible outer fabrics, the first to achieve class 1 with only 5 layers of protection, and the first to achieve class 2 protection with only 6 layers. These facts along with continual research and development clearly show Sip's commitment to our industry.
Once we had SIP firmly established, Komet heard about our success and contacted us with a view to Workware becoming the UK distributor for their range of harnesses which included their all new Butterfly. When we introduced it in 1998, it was scorned by many as not being tough enough for the job. The problem was that no-one had ever seen such a lightweight harness with its quick connecting buckles and its revolutionary sliding bridge. But, there are always climbers who push boundaries and are prepared to try rather than listen to opinions of others who resent change. The rest as they say is history. The Butterfly became the biggest selling harness ever with more competing climbers wining competitions in Butterfly's than any other harness. 2 years later the Dragonfly came out which was a seat version of the Butterfly and which also became hugely successful. To this day, there has never been a harness copied by so many as the Butterfly, this gives testament to the amazing forward thinking design team at Komet. Their latest creation the Morpho, promises to be as important a step forward as the Butterfly and has several entirely new features. In 2000 we met up with Haix. After standing at trade shows talking to so many arborists and listening to the problems they had with their boots, we set out to find a manufacturer who could produce what users wanted. Haix were the first with one piece uppers which removed all the problems of seam failure. They were the first with a waterproof membrane allowing climbers feet to stay dry all day. The technical features of the first Haix chainsaw boot the Tibet Forest are still unsurpassed by other manufacturers. Haix became so dominant in the market that all other chainsaw boot manufacturers had to improve their quality or face falling out of the market forever. Haix now have 6 chainsaw boots in their range and continue to show their commitment to excellence and to the chainsaw industries.
After the success of our first 3 product lines it was just a simple case of listening to the people using our products to improve what we already had and to develop additional types or style. Sip's Freedom trousers were a direct result of requests from UK climbers, many small features in design came about as a result of feed back. The continual growth in the range of Haix boots and Komet Miller harness continues to be driven by the most important people in the market, the people who use it.
We continue talking, but more importantly listening to user's wants, needs and desires. Technical advancements in raw materials mean new possibilities. Research and development never ceases behind the scenes. Our product range and brands have continued to grow with companies such as Samson, Corona, Jameson, Vallorbe and others. We continue to search world markets for new and exciting additional products to make your working life safer and easier. We will never throw away quality to save pennies, we will never compromise the trust and loyalty we have been given by so many people in our industry and we will continue to bring you the best possible products and value that we can. |
