SteppTEX is a new company specialising in composite fabrics for the protective and outdoor wear markets, in addition to mattresses and technical applications.

Located in Absam, Austria, it has been formed as a joint venture between the German companies Norafin Industries and Trans-Textil, to continue operating the quilting factory previously run by Polyfill Produktions.

“We’re really happy to be able to continue and advance the new business with the established team in Absam,” says joint managing director Philipp Seidenglanz. “It gives SteppTEX access to decades of know-how and extensive experience in the manufacture of highly specialised quilted composites.”

Both partners in the joint venture are very familiar with the structures in place locally thanks to their previous long-standing cooperation with Polyfill.

“It is important to us that we maintain the supply structure we have in place, based on short transport routes,” says joint managing director Philipp Seidenglanz. “However, it’s also important that we’re able to retain the textile competence we have in the region. As internationalisation progresses, dependencies increase. We will continue to work against this trend and strengthen our regional structures.”

A SteppTEX specialism is the development of heat-protective composites with flame-retardant special yarns. Norafin produces high-quality, inherently flame-retardant spunlace and needlepunch nonwovens for use in protective apparel whileTrans-Textil has a portfolio of membrane laminates, insulation linings and seam sealing tapes, providing the key components for fire turnout gear with the highest degree of flexibility from a single source.

In addition to manufacturing its own products, SteppTEX is looking to expand its range of services in the demanding field of contract processing and allowing customers to provide their own materials to produce custom composites. It also gives them access to an extensive portfolio of over 1,000 in-house quilting patterns which they can use alongside their own designs.

“In terms of development, we can rely on the pooled expertise of our teams,” says  Hänsch. “We excel wherever individuality, speed and a regional supply chain are desirable, and in small and medium-sized production batches.”

Alongside its time-proven products, the team in Absam is already working on new solutions for heat and cold protection, official clothing, defence, outdoor products and technical applications.

The new company will be exhibiting at a mumber of forthcoming trade fairs, including Performance Days in Munich (October 29-30, at stand X12-14) and A+A in Düsseldorf (November 4-7 at stand 16J31), as well as at next year’s Enforce Tac in Nuremberg and Techtextil in Frankfurt.

www.stepptex.at