Chairman
Andreas Weber
Head of Sales & Marketing
Heberlein Fiber Technology Inc.
Sales department
Bleikenstrasse 11
CH-9630 Wattwil, Switzerland
Phone +41 71 987 44 02
Fax +41 71 987 44 45
Email mailto:andreas.weber@heberlein.com
Review of 64th Swiss Section Meeting at ISA, Amriswil, Switzerland
24 members and friends of the TI Swiss Section accepted the invitation to the 64th Swiss Section Semi-Annual Meeting and to visit ISA Sallmann AG, Amriswil - a most memorable excursion to experience first-hand the production and marketing of bodywear.
The Swiss Canton of Thurgau, where ISA Sallmann AG is located, is mainly known for its apples and cider. Now one definitely can say after this visit to the 64th TI Swiss Section Meeting all participants associate the Canton of Thurgau with Swiss quality bodywear.
After welcoming the attendees Mr. Andreas Weber, Chairman of the TI Swiss Section, handed over to Mr. Andreas Sallmann, head of the company in the 6th generation.
It is hard to believe what a wealth of technical know-how, sensitivity for the customer's desires and creativity is required to produce a set of underwear and get it on the shelves at the selling point. All this information was brilliantly presented to the participants by Mr. Sallmann, spiced with several anecdotes which made the audience smile. The listeners learnt that wearing of underpants was customary just after the First World War. Also the humorous promotion methods were very convincing; e.g. the "concordance underpants" to the Swiss parliamentarians. Indeed, facts were also shown which encouraged the audience and the speaker to give some thought to the present situation. Such as the fact that the manufacturing costs for a pair of briefs is 7 times less in Cambodia than in Switzerland. Likewise, the search for qualified suppliers has become very difficult. In Switzerland only two finishers for knitted fabrics have survived, Schellenberg and Müller, with whom ISA works closely together.
ISA's complete production process starts in Amriswil with knitting on state-of-the-art circular knitting machines. Afterwards the knitted fabric is finished in one of the above mentioned dyeing companies; in Amriswil again the parts are cut from the fabric and are sent every week by truck to Portugal for tailoring.
During the subsequent tour of ISA's production facilities a further professional impression of the company's capabilities was given. With an excellent demonstration in the design department, a look at knitting, cutting and prototype sewing as well as a glimpse at the warehouse, an insight was provided into what is still possible in Switzerland with creativity and dedication.
The event was completed with refreshments and snacks, giving the opportunity to discuss with fellow participants, as well as with our host, that just seen and heard. As a gift Mr. Sallmann handed over to everyone personally a pair of ISA-briefs. TI Swiss Section Chairman Andreas Weber thanked him for giving us the opportunity to visit ISA and presented to him with a specialty from Toggenburg.
The 65th TI Swiss Section Meeting, which is also the 31st Annual General Meeting, will be held on 21st April 2010 at E. Schellenberg Textildruck AG in Fehraltorf. This company specialises in bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing of knitted fabrics and works together with ISA bodywear.
For the TI Swiss Section Committee
Uwe Nick
Committee member
Further information is readily available under www.isabodywear.ch and www.estextildruck.ch
