21 May 2015

New Approach Supports the Textile and Clothing Industry in Europe and North Africa

Fuerth, Germany – Intertek (LSE:ITRK), a leading provider of quality and safety services to industries worldwide, announced a strategic collaboration with logistics company Meyer & Meyer and textile and clothing consultant WKS Textile Solutions to provide end-to-end supply chain solutions to importers, distributors and discounters in the textiles and apparel, sporting goods, footwear and automotive industries throughout Germany, Italy, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, as well as the Northern African region.

Together the three companies have developed an innovative, holistic approach to the optimisation of international sourcing and quality assurance systems, while minimizing diverse process risks, enabling companies to rely on interdisciplinary solutions from a single source. The services address compliance with legal requirements and coordination of closely inter-linked sectors such as logistics, quality assurance and on-time delivery. Potential hazards from non-independent controls – from product or materials irregularities to bribery, – as well as inconsistent quality levels caused by using service partners for different sourcing regions, will be eliminated. In addition, varying interpretations of standards or processes based on cultural differences, as well as barriers to communication, will be reduced.

"Procurement logistics and quality assurance are no longer separate areas. The ability to test in the country of origin, during the transportation and logistics process, as well as in the destination country, is imperative for our customers, as well as transparency into shipment and order quantity. The cooperation of Intertek, Meyer & Meyer and WCS delivers these necessities to our customers," says Jan-Jörg Müller-Seiler, Country Manager Intertek D-A-CH, on the importance of this unique collaboration.

The bundled services of the three companies cover the entire global supply chain, with Meyer & Meyer and WKS securing the logistics issues of transport, customs clearance, storage, order picking and distribution, and allowing independent sample checks in their own logistics centres. Intertek complements these processes with its global services, from compliance with social and environmental aspects in the manufacturing countries, the qualification and training of vendors in the sourcing and target markets, to quality control, sampling systems (AQL) and a large number of certified physical and chemical laboratory tests.

"With this cooperation, we extend once more our portfolio as an internationally operating system supplier for the benefit of our customers. They will benefit significantly from interlocking power packages of the three business partners," assesses Dr. Wilfried Holtgrave, CEO of WKS Textilveredlungs-GmbH.

"As a fashion logistics specialist, we offer our customers services along the entire textile value chain. Quality and laboratory services are an essential element here. This we can provide our customers with the cooperation on a global scale from now on," says Ruediger Bentrup, Managing Director, Meyer & Meyer Transport Logistics GmbH & Co. KG.

The textiles and apparel industry will benefit from the global network, comprehensive industry expertise and tailored solutions offered by the collaboration of Intertek, Meyer & Meyer and WKS. By reducing management and coordination costs and risks, textile and apparel companies can better protect their brand, achieve customer loyalty and move products to market faster.

 

Contact:

Christian Kleinert, Director Marketing & Communication, Intertek Holding Germany
Phone +49 711 27311449
Mail: christian.kleinert@intertek.com

Julia Lehrmann, Leader Public Relations, Meyer & Meyer Holding GmbH & Co. KG
Phone +49 541 9585-108
Mail: jlehrmann@meyermeyer.de

Bernhold Emme-Zumpe, Leader business area Laboratories & Quality Assurance WKS Textilveredlungs-GmbH
Phone +49 5945 890
Mail: b.emme-zumpe@wks-textil.de

 

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 38,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide.

Visit www.intertek.com

 

About Meyer & Meyer

Meyer & Meyer is a family-owned and run company headquartered in Osnabrueck, Germany. As a leading European provider of fashion logistics, it offers its customers services that cover the entire value chain: from raw materials and production logistics, to warehousing, quality assurance and finishing, to delivering finished goods to the point of sale. In addition to fashion logistics, it also provides customized logistics services for footwear, automotive accessories and consumer electronics. With about 2,000 employees, Meyer & Meyer controls logistics activities in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Visit our website www.meyermeyer.de for further information.

 

About WKS

WKS is an owner-managed group of companies based in Wilsum. Being an internationally operating system provider of quality management in the area of fashion- and lifestyle-products the company offers comprehensive textile solutions to its customers in the textile and clothing industry and in trade. The service portfolio includes fabric inspection, removal of color deviations, repair of yard goods and garments, the complete range of washing and dyeing procedures as well as special effects. Additionally the WKS Textilveredlungs-GmbH conducts finishing of garments including quality controls and physical-technical and chemical-technical tests in the officially accredited textile laboratory.

The WKS Group is represented with locations in Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and the Dominican Republic and is offering its services all over Europe.

Visit our website www.wks-textil.de for further information.