PRODUCTS GALLERY PPE: MATERIALS, MACHINERY AND TECHNIQUES FOR THEIR PRODUCTION ANTONIO A. GATTI Antonio A. Gatti: “Our team is perfectly intermeshed to offer fast, flexible responses to any of our clients’ needs” Two years ago, Schoeller Textil AG, Suiza created the schoeller-works division, with a determination to bring workwear manufacturers those fabrics that proved to be “highly functional, very comfortable, and produced as sustainable” in motorcycling and other sports”, states Antonio A. Gatti. Accordingtoyourexperienceatschoeller -works,whichmarkets reveal the highest potential growth rates for your fabrics in terms of uniforms/military clothing, corporate uniforms and protective clothing? Military uniforms are among our priorities, and we have been very successful with FMCS over the past few years. Corporate uniforms change all the time, and people gradually become aware of the need for functionality and style, combined. When it comes to protective clothing, safety is the priority for you need to comply with standards. As a USP, what do you offer potential clients? As the USP we can state, “It all originates in one single place”. For we have our own R+D with experienced designers in the textile sector, and a factory adapted to new technologies. So our team is perfectly intermeshed to offer prompt, flexible response to clients’ needs. Every client will find a different “added value” with us. What is the major challenge in terms of innovation and prices for workwear and uniforms, today? The sector is undergoing changes and manufacturers want innovative materials. Schoeller is able to develop and test functional clothing used in extreme sports, to transfer it to the sector of protective clothing. Functional, modern workwear has a positive impact on workers’ performance for they are able to concentrate much better and as a consequence, work accidents are reduced. In terms of economic challenges, it has been proved that when a company supplies the right workwear to its employees, absenteeism due to illness is significantly reduced and this saves money. 99