FALCK 2011
Ambulance professionals face challenges every day. They never know what
to expect. There may be an alarm for a traffic accident on a busy motorway,
a heart attack in someone’s home or a street fight. Their job requires a lot
of knowledge and the ability to stay calm. And it requires clothing that works
in all situations and weather conditions.
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Prevention and assistance
Our formula for
good business
It’s quite simple really. Everybody wants to do
good business, and everybody wants good customer relations. For Taiga, these aspects are
especially important. This is because all the
knowledge we gain about our customers’ everyday
work experiences helps us improve and develop
our clothing systems. For this reason, we are
especially keen to do good business.
Falck was founded in 1906, and is Scandinavia’s largest provider of emergency and rescue services. Since the company started, its mission has
been to prevent accidents, illness and crises, provide fast professional
assistance in emergencies and rehabilitate ill and injured individuals.
Jan Wigren, Area Manager
“We placed very high demands on Taiga”
Jan Wigren is area manager at Falck in Linköping, Sweden. He knows how important
it is for ambulance staff to have comfortable clothes that they feel secure in.
Specific needs and requirements
Our collaboration with Falck is a good example
of this. First of all, Falck is a customer whose
employees face tough challenges, both in terms
of their job tasks and the weather conditions.
Consequently, they have specific requirements
for their clothing. For example, ambulance
professionals need clothes that protect them
against liquid-borne contagion and hazardous
liquids that may be present at accident scenes.
Also, considering their working hours and working environments, high visibility is crucial.
Collaboration where everyone wins
In light of these considerations, we sat down
together with Falck and analysed their needs.
Then we developed an optimal clothing system with
outstanding functionality and a long lifespan for
high cost-effectiveness. Now Falck’s employees
have clothing tailored to their work – and we have
gained new knowledge and a satisfied customer.
Last but not least, good equipment is a prerequisite
for optimal patient care. This is an example of
good business that benefits everyone concerned.
“Our ambulance staff face tough challenges. They work in
challenging weather conditions, and are also at risk of contagion and dangerous chemicals,” explains Wigren. “Because
their job assignments may be a matter of life and death, they
need to feel they can rely on their
equipment. Clothing is important
here. Taiga’s TMB Block (Taiga Micro
Biological Block) protects them against
liquid-borne contagion and many
hazardous chemicals.
Naturally, Taiga is delighted to collaborate with Falck. As
a customer, Falck makes full use of Taiga’s high quality
and knowledge of materials and how weather conditions
affect people’s performance. In addition, Taiga gains
important knowledge through the collaboration, explains Taiga’s sales manager
Johannes Unsgaard.
“Understanding our customers’ daily work
situation and work environment is crucial
for our product developers,” he says.
“Rain can always find ways of penetrating
even the most waterproof garment. Our job is to prevent
this from happening.”
“We know their
clothing works
well and can take
tough wear”
Falck made high demands when choosing Taiga. Naturally,
the clothing systems must be windproof and waterproof,
provide high visibility and have pockets and holders for the
staff’s equipment. But Falck also required outstanding
delivery reliability, accessibility and service.
“We also largely chose Taiga for their quality. We know their
clothing works well and can take tough wear. Our collaboration
has worked very well. They listen, ask questions and offer suggestions. We also find it important to collaborate with a
partner that constantly develops its clothing. Taiga does
this. Their clothes are also well-priced in relation to their
durability,” says Wigren.
Name: Jan Wigren
Age: 44
Occupation: Area manager
Interests: Sports, music
Favourite music: Funk, West coast rock
Ann Rydholm CEO Taiga
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Fredrik Blixt, ambulance nurse
“The hardest thing of all is
seeing relatives’ reactions”
“You never know what you’ll see when you arrive. It’s best to expect the worst
– then it can only be better.” Fredrik Blixt is an ambulance nurse at Falck.
Fredrik Blixt first had the idea of becoming an ambulance
nurse during his military service. As a firefighter, he often
rode in the ambulance and discovered that he enjoyed
the unpredictable aspect. He liked being first at the scene
and helping people and not really knowing what to expect
when he arrived.
“I’ve worked at a hospital, but I felt closed in there. Your
whole working day follows a set routine. I like the variety
of my job as an ambulance nurse. No two days are alike.”
Of course, Fredrik’s job entails certain risks and challenging
experiences. People often ask him how he copes with seeing
all the terrible accidents. But the most challenging aspect is
not what he sees. It’s not the blood or the dreadful injuries.
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“What’s hardest is the emotional aspect, seeing the desperation of relatives who have lost a husband, a wife, a sibling
or – worst of all – a child. That’s really difficult,” he says.
Naturally, good equipment is a fundamental prerequisite
for ambulance nurses. Everything must work perfectly.
This also applies to one’s clothing. The clothes’ function is
very important to Fredrik.
“My clothing has to protect me from blood and other body
fluids. It must also be breathable, warm in winter and have
practical pockets for storing equipment. It was good to wear
Taiga last winter when the weather was cold with a snow
storm and a strong southerly wind.” But despite the challenging environments and tasks, Fredrik is never afraid.
“Afraid is the wrong word. You need to respect the situation.
Of course, if there’s a knife threat involved, you have to
protect your partner and yourself. But usually, the job is
very rewarding. People are always pleased to see you when
you arrive!”
Name: Fredrik Blixt
Age: 30 år
Occupation: Ambulance nurse
Interests: Football, choir singing, outdoor activities
Favourite music: Everything
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HOW WE CREATE
GOOD COLLABORATION
WHY Falck CHOSE TAIGA
Good business happens when people think along the same lines and understand each other. But to make sure
One of the reasons Falck chose Taiga is our Climate Protection Systems™. The system is based on the layer-on-layer
your gut instinct is right, and that everyone ends up satisfied, we apply a simple and effective business philosophy.
principle. Taiga Climate Protection Systems™ means that we offer clothing with functions developed for specific
Nothing fancy, no complex business models – just common sense from start to finish.
needs. In Falck’s case, the specially developed system is Taiga Micro Biological Block, which protects the wearer
against liquid-borne contagion and many hazardous chemicals – a strong sales argument.
Dry
The layer that wicks moisture from the
skin and keeps the wearer dry
ANALYSIS
SUGGESTIONS
orders
DELIVERY
FOLLOW-UP
You might find exactly what
you want in our range without assistance. If you can’t,
we’ll be happy to sit down
and review your needs –
your working methods, the
jobs you perform and your
future requirements – both
at individual and operational level.
After performing a
thorough analysis together, Taiga will develop
and suggest a clothing
system adapted to your
needs and preferences in
terms of colour, design,
material and function. We
will present our suggestions along with clothing
samples or material and
colour swatches.
After presenting the suggestions and making any
necessary modifications,
we agree on an order.
After the order is placed,
we keep you updated
about the delivery status
so you know the delivery
dates and can plan your
activities accordingly.
Before delivery, we always
perform a final quality
check to ensure that the
delivered clothing system
meets your requirements.
If you have ordered a particularly large or complex
clothing system, we will
be happy to visit you and
explain all the benefits of
the system to your
employees.
After you’ve been using
your clothing system for a
while, we will contact you
to follow up on how things
are going. You may have
questions about certain
functions or which jobs
certain clothes are most
suitable for. During the
follow-up, we also review
possible future needs.
Secure
The layer that protects the wearer against the elements
and, in Falck’s case, against liquid-borne contagion
and hazardous chemicals
Warm
The layer that insulates and produces
heat in the clothing system
Hawk t-shirt
Fairfield POLO SHIRT
ruby AMB SOFT SHELL
Eagle Thermal shirt
Wilmore AMB BASE JACKET
Eagle
THERMAL LEGGINGS
Trader AMB PANTS
YOUR REASONS
FOR CHOOSING TAIGA
knowledge
commitment
safety
Knowledge is crucial. Taiga has
plenty of it. We know everything
about materials and production,
protection requirements and the
human body’s reactions to wind
and weather. So far so good.
But it’s equally important for us
to always understand individual
customer needs. We combine
product knowledge with
customer understanding.
Everything Taiga does is based
on specific expertise. We have
a close-knit team of employees
who are all experts in their fields.
We are passionate about our
work, and about Taiga’s position.
This commitment is a guarantee
we offer our customers.
This is how one customer defined
what Taiga means to her:
“People on a skiing holiday use
decent technical clothes. The
people who work on the ski
slopes in all weather conditions
choose Taiga.” This is the level of
quality, security and knowledge that
goes into our concept of safety.
Rescue TMB REFLEX
JACKET AND PANTS
ACCESSORIES
Our head, hands and feet are especially sensitive. Ambulance
staff must be able to rely on staying warm and dry.
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Crosby BELT
Hopedale SOCKS
Point hope GLOVES
Nome HAT
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IPM Ulricehamn. Photos: Sören Håkanlind & Henri Kokko
When we started Taiga in 1982, our ambition was to make really excellent working clothes.
Since then, we have been a forerunner in developing clothing systems for working in most types
of climate and environment. Over the years, we have established a broad network of contacts
with some of Sweden’s leading test laboratories for work clothing. We also have our own test
chambers for cold and rain. Furthermore Taiga collaborates with mountain rescue teams, polar
researchers, universities and work environment specialists. In collaboration with these partners
we develop our clothing systems with new garments, details, benefits and functions.
Function
High-vis
Power
Ambulance
Clothing that allows maximum
freedom of movement, whether
you’re working in bitter cold in
a raging blizzard or under a
hot sun.
The clothing in the High-Vis
range keeps the wearer warm
and dry and provides exceptional visibility in the dark and
in bad weather.
Clothing that protects the
wearer against the elements,
meets and exceeds current
fire resistance requirements
and prevents static electricity.
Comfortable clothing for all
weather conditions that protects
against liquid-borne contagion
and hazardous chemicals such
as petrol, battery acid, fire extinguishing foam and chlorine.
TAIGA AB,
PHONE: +46 340-66 69 00
BIRGER SVENSSONS VÄG 14, BOX 20,
FAX: +46 340-66 69 22
SE-432 21 VARBERG, SWEDEN