Wollsdorf confirm pioneering role

Wollsdorf of Austria continue to set standards in the field of quality as the first leather-producing company worldwide to achieve the ISO/TS 16949 certificate. In order to gain this they needed to fulfill the strictest and most comprehensive inspection criteria in the field of quality. Wollsdorf Leder tell us that they are the first leather-producing company to gain this quality award and as early as 1993, they were the first European company to be awarded the DIN OSP 9001 certificate. In 1997 the comprehensive environmental management system DIN EN ISO 14001 was introduced and in the course of the certification, the environmental management system was successfully audited. ISO/TS 16949 is an international set of regulations concerning quality in the automobile manufacturing sector which has come about from the union of VDA 6.1 European standard and the American QS 9000. These technical regulations include 332 individual requirements compromising all corporate areas and tasks. Wollsdorf Leder were audited by TUV Saarland (Germany). Managing director Gerhard Krammer says: 'We work for large international company groups in the automobile manufacturing sector and quality demands have the highest priority here. We have now achieved the highest possible target and we're extremely proud of it.' Wollsdorf Leder expect an increase in turnover of 25% for the current financial year. This turnover will exceed the 900 million schilling mark for the first time (US$60.45 million). At the moment a work force of around 480 is employedbut is expected to increase. Important names, such as Audi, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Ford, Porsche and Jaguar, can be counted among the customers of the enterprise.