Demand explodes for INNOTEX personal protective equipment designed for firefighters and first responders
INNOTEX, leader in the development and manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters and first responders, acquired Technofil, a manufacturer established in Laurierville, Québec. This decision allows INNOTEX to increase its production capacity and support its expansion projects.
Specialized in the production of uniform pants, Technofil adds to the knowhow of INNOTEX’s team, which totals 250 employees divided among four plants – three in Québec (Richmond, Warwick and Laurierville) and one in Alabama, in the United States.
“For the past five years, our sales have risen at a remarkable annual rate of 15%. The demand for our products has increased significantly and continues to grow. We are well positioned to pursue our North American expansion. The acquisition of Technofil adds timely support to our growth plan,” says Claude Barbeau, General Manager of INNOTEX.
INNOTEX clothing, designed primarily for the fire-retardant PPE market, protects firefighters and first responders in hundreds of fire departments, including some of the biggest in North America, and Hydro-Québec line crews.
INNOTEX’s light, durable and comfortable products are the result of several decades of unequalled experience in the technical clothing field. INNOTEX has combined its expertise in extreme sports and fire-retardant materials to manufacture protective gear with exceptional performance.
“Since 2018, we have invested over $2 million in modernizing our facilities and equipment and in our R&D activities, with the aim of offering our customers the ultimate in performance and innovation. We have deployed a continuous improvement program according to LEAN or value-added manufacturing principles in all our production units to increase our productivity and efficiency,” Mr. Barbeau points out.
The new Laurierville manufacturing facility, bringing together workers who are both skilled and experienced, will have the primary mission of making ENERGY certified protective equipment, one of INNOTEX’s flagship products.
“TechniTextile Québec is delighted at this promising announcement for the sector and for the Québec economy. INNOTEX's unique expertise allows it to imagine and manufacture highly-reliable protective products, recognized for their remarkable durability and performance,” said Dany Charest, General Manager of TechniTextile Québec, the Cluster of excellence in technical textile materials.
Source: Lollie Gagnon, Director, Communications Marketing & Customer Experience
Crédit photo: Innotex
