Trade reports PROTECCIÓN LABORAL 73 | 4oTrimestre12 Ramón Canela, General Coordinator at Kentexport “We subject all production processes in Spain to quality controls” Company’s key aspects - 25 years’ experience in spinning, wea- ving, and clothes making - Produced in Spain - Registered, wholly owned brands: “Kentfire”, “Kentex” and “Kentlan” - Innovation (anticipating needs, qua- lity controls along the whole produc- tion process, to end products, tested and certified) - Permanent stock - Fast delivery - Interactive, well-structured website, downloadable sections, so users can create their own catalogue Kentexport is a company manufactu- ring textile products protecting against the cold, flames and acids. It initially made first-layer clothes protecting against low temperatures but in 1999 it expanded and started producing new items, for the cold-room industrial sector. More recently, it started producing sportswear that “expels” perspiration and humidity. Ramón Canela, General Coordinator at Kentexport, explains more about the company’s evolution. “Our products have always been widely accepted in our sector. We maintain our technical criteria and improve the design of clothing items so that body temperature is better managed. We also have a registered trademark in the community, for Kentlan fibres, fabrics and clothes. Today we are focusing on Spanish markets but are starting to export to some emerging markets in the BRIC, in small volumes but we are also registering our brand there. All of our products are born from our exper- tise and knowledge of fibres and production processes in terms of weaving so we subject all processes to quality controls, up to the final stage of finished products”. What are the major needs and require- ments of client companies? Who are your clients? “Cold is a field where you’ll always find variables that may be grouped, as tempera- ture, time of activity, type of activity or effort, wind speed, humidity, rain and snow, for instance. “In terms of protection against flames, needs may be more specific: protection against contact with flames, convective and radia- tion heat, molten metal splash, welding, etc. “Our clients are industrial PPE distributors supplying Personal Protective Equipment to companies and contributing solutions that protect workers against the cold, flames or heat. However, and because of the technical aspects, sometimes it is preferable to be in direct contact with end clients”. In what ways is training and education important to Kentexport? “Without a doubt, it is vital. We meet with the technical or sales teams of our client companies and mostly if we seek to introdu- ce our products in foreign markets. Because they will in turn offer their own clients the right advice. All of our fabrics and end pro- ducts are certified to European standards, and where compliance is not mandatory, we nevertheless certify them by means of tests carried out at officially recognized laboratories. This, because we want compa- nies, distributors and users to get clear, accu- rate, detailed information”. What is Kentexport’s near-future project? “Today we are working on a major interna- tionalization project and maintain mee- tings and make contact with distributors abroad, to export our sportswear products”. High-end clothes for foreign markets Kentlan has been operating in the “industrial cold” sector since 1999, with the Astana and Laponia product ranges, ideal as first-layer protection against extreme cold and humidity. The brand has applied all of the company’s knowledge and expertise to develop products that will be in contact with athletes’ skin. The passion for innovation has been materialized in a full series of product ranges (extreme, intense, moderate cold; snow sports, general sports, water sports, warm climate sports; for women; clothes protecting against flames). Among the outstanding novelties in the high-end or high-performance product range we find: - Oslo, a product range designed for winter activities in low temperature settings, close to freezing. Highly breathable material for intense work and sports. - K2, for snow sports and activities. A first-layer set (T-shirts, trousers, socks) ideal for snow sports and all other activities requiring breathability, evaporation of perspiration, and dry skin at all times. - K1, for water sports. Breathable, waterproof T-shirt adapting to the shape of the body, Ideal for cold weather for it is made from thermal microfibers, antibacterial. The T-shirt dries almost instantly for Kentlan fabrics absorb very little water. The key to Kentexport products is evaporation, so athletes feel dry at all times. Perspiration is “expelled” away from the body and absorbed by the second layer. Both skin and clothes remain dry. Kentlan clothes will absorb only 0.05% of the body’s humidity and perspiration so those who love water sports know they need not change clothes because Kentlan dries almost instantly. Thermal insulation also favours comfort, for Kentlan’s thermal relative conductivity is 6.0, one of the lowest today. All of this means athletes may train in winter, protected against the cold, and in summer, keeping dry and cool. 78