Cologne, 23rd April 2014. The contract between the Zaanstreek-Waterland Fire Service (Za-Wa) and the LHD Group GmbH, a company of the LHD Group with headquarters in Cologne, was signed in Zaanstad, The Netherlands on 14th April. The contract encompasses the supply of 800 special LION V-Force® fire fighters’ protective suits over a period of four years.
The official signing of the contract took place in the course of festive reception at the fire service headquarters. Present at the ceremony were, among others, Frank Kuntz, Deputy Regional Commander of the Zaanstreek-Waterland Fire Service, Markus Berghöfer, Director International Sales LHD Group, Sascha Müller, Project Manager LHD Group und Harald Stempher, Sales Director of the LHD sales partner, Applied Research Laboratory Europe BV (A.R.L.E.). "In the course of the tender we carried out intensive wearing trials with various manufacturers in regard to various criteria. The LION V-Force® protective suit proved very good in all of the tests. However, what finally convinced us was the exceptional wearing comfort of the suit.” said Frank Kuntz in explaining the decision to choose the LHD Group.
The Zaanstreek-Waterland Fire Service is composed of the local fire services of the nine communities of the district of the same name. It is divided into four operative units with 27 fire stations located throughout the region and employs some 110 professional firemen and 660 voluntary firemen. As a regional fire service, it has to cope not only with fires but is also employed in the case of different emergencies and as rescue service. In order to be able to cope with the varying demands in services, the LHD Group developed a special suit especially for the Za-Wa Fire Service on the lines of the well proven model of the Amsterdam Fire Service. Exclusive use was made of innovative high-tech materials from Gore and TenCate in order to provide the highest level of protection while simultaneously designing the suit to be as light, breathable and comfortable as possible.
Sascha Müller, Project Manager at the LHD Group, together with the Dutch sales partner, Applied Research Laboratory Europe (ARLE) BV, now has his hands full to ensure delivery of the first batch for the Zaanstreek-Waterland Fire Service within a short time. “First of all, the measurement of all of the firemen locally has to be organized. For this purpose, and as part of our service, we will work on site with tailors and measure all firemen individually so that every suit will fit exactly when subsequently delivered. This is the prerequisite for good wearing comfort and the beginning of our promise of service.” states Sascha Müller.
