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© 2013 Katadyn Products Inc. |
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 Editorial
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Dear Katadyn Friends
Have you ever tried out our new Trek’n Eat “Swiss type” cheese fondue? You can be sure to surprise your friends, family, and colleagues with it. Whether you are roaming with your kids through the woods in late autumn or embarking on your final bike trip before the great snow falls, you can prepare this fondue in no time and then enjoy its warmth spreading through your stomach and your soul.
From Swiss cheese back to our core business, the treatment of drinking water: In 2011, demand for our water filters and mobile desalination systems was as brisk as never before. Once more, this goes to show that we tend to rely on quality products in economically uncertain times. We are aware of this responsibility and will retain our Swiss production site despite high costs and exchange rate losses.
Demand has risen not only for our water filters for the outdoor and expedition segment and for coping with crises. Business is also booming with our industrial and communal water treatment systems based on UV sterilization. At the end of 2009, Katadyn expanded its business field in this area by acquiring a majority stake in the Aquafides company in Switzerland and Germany. Aquafides specializes in water treatment based on UV disinfection. Since one month, Aquafides has also been part of the Katadyn Group in terms of its web appearance, with a revamped website at www.aquafides.com.
I am thus saying goodbye for 2011. I wish you a Happy New Year and a roaring start into a positive and forward-looking 2012.
Please note that our offices and our production site will be closed between December 26 and January 2. Our entire workforce will be taking some well-deserved time off over the holidays. We will be back for you on January 3, 2012 and look forward to a successful 2012 – together with you. On behalf of Katadyn, I extend my warmest thanks to you for the smooth collaboration in 2011. The valuable inputs that we receive daily from our field sales people and the many users of our products in all corners of the world are the purest water we could wish for.
I wish you much pleasure reading this issue of our Newsletter!
Trix Ammann
CEO
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Did you know? |
Going abroad? – The germs are mostly in the drinking water
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As the temperatures drop in our regions, we long for warm and exotic vacation destinations. By far the most frequent health problems that people encounter when on holiday are related to water-induced diarrhea disorders. In many risk areas, they affect up to 80 percent of all tourists. Descriptions such as “Pharao’s Revenge” in Egypt, “Montezuma’s Revenge” in Mexico, or “Delhi Belly” in India clearly show how widespread this problem is. The main culprits that may turn drinking water into a food posing a health risk are bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. But pathogens that can survive in water also include parasitic protozoa such as Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amebic dysentery, or Giardia lamblia, which causes giardiasis. In popular areas also viruses may propagate in water, especially Hepatitis-A and -E viruses as well as Rota, Noro, Polio, and Adeno viruses. In order to filter bacteria from the water, a microfilter is required which has pores that are no larger than 0.3 microns. Possible filter media include ceramics, glass fibers, plastics, or activated carbon. Protozoa, which have sizes ranging from 1 to 15 microns, are much larger than bacteria and can be retained by microfilters with pore sizes up to 1 micron. In the echanical filtration process using a microfilter, the water always flows straight through the filter. The particles are retained on the surface of the filter. The advantage of ceramic filters is that they can be cleaned several times and then be reused. The flexibility of glass fibers allows the entire filter structure to be folded, which creates an extremely large surface area within a very small space. This gives glass fiber filters a very high contaminant absorption capacity. You can be certain to find the right filter covering your specific needs among the Katadyn filters. Hint: Katadyn recommends the use of Micropur Forte in combination with a water filter if viruses are suspected.
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Katadyn Hiker Pro: The perfect gift
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For years, the Katadyn Hiker Pro has been the most frequently sold microfilter in the U.S. outdoor market. For the 2012 market launch in Europe, we have packed the formerly gray-blue filter into a trendy black design. The Hiker Pro is small, weighs a mere 310 grams, and thanks to its large filter area has an outstanding pumping capacity. It reliably eliminates bacteria, cysts, and sediments from water. On trips, its cleanable filter protection feature allows you to easily maintain your filter. The filter protector also perceptibly extends the service life of the 0.3 micron glass fiber filter element. Its activated carbon filling improves the taste of the water and eliminates odors. Fastening and removing the intake and outlet hoses and using the filter together with a drinking system are child’s play, thanks to convenient quick-action couplings. Now the new Katadyn Hiker Pro is available on store shelves and in the Katadyn Webshop – just in time for Christmas.
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Marketing & Events |
Katadyn at the AidEx 2011
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On October 19 and 20, 2011, Katadyn attended the AidEx in Brussels, Belgium with its own booth. The trade show is addressed to specialists from the field of humanitarian aid who work in emergency and disaster relief aid organizations. For Katadyn, the AidEx turned out to be a great success, and the interest that our products aroused was overwhelming. The interesting talks that we had with numerous decision-makers from the field of humanitarian aid provided valuable insights into the needs and conditions of emergency and disaster relief aid. Also the Katadyn workshop on “Making Water Drinking Water with a special focus on Humanitarian Projects using portable water filters made by Katadyn” met with much positive response.
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SAFE Symposium, Reno Nevada, USA
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From October 22 to 24, Katadyn North America took part in the SAFE Symposium in Reno, Nevada. SAFE is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Oregon, USA. Its focus is on survival products, especially in the military segment, beside commercial applications. In addition to the US Air Force, air forces from all parts of the world were also present in order to gather information on the latest products, technologies, and studies in the survival sector. Interest focused on inflatable life rafts, parachutes, ejection seats, and similar products. The military versions of the manual Katadyn desalinator of types Survivor 35 and Survivor 06 have been used for years by the US Air Force. For Katadyn, the SAFE Symposium was also an excellent occasion to show the technicians in attendance how to properly use and maintain the desalinator.
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“Bouvet Guyane” rowing race
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At the end of January 2012, the extreme rowing regatta called “Bouvet Guyane” will start for the third time. Twenty-seven solo rowers will take part the rowing race, one of the world’s most grueling. The transatlantic crossing runs 4700 kilometers from von Dakar, Senegal to Cayenne, French Guyana. The arrival of the extreme sportspeople, who will have to rely on their own resources throughout the race, is scheduled for approximately mid-March 2012. The regulations prescribe that every participant must have a desalinator on board. In addition, some of the participants will also have freeze-dried Trek’n Eat meals with them. If you want to see what the last Bouvet Guyane regatta was like, visit this youtube video. And for getting a foretaste of the upcoming 2012 regatta, click here.
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Millet Expedition Project: 4. Night of the Expeditions
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On November 19, 2011, the fourth Night of the Expeditions took place in Chambéry, France, as part of the Millet Expedition Project. The event was organized by Millet, the French producer of high-quality gear and apparel for climbers and alpinists. The Millet Expedition Project supports young and ambitious adventurers in putting their projects to practice. Katadyn France is – among other things – also a partner supplying the selected expeditions with Katadyn water filters, Trek’n Eat meals, and Optimus stoves, beside other sponsors such as Polartec, Fischer Ski, or Julbo. During the Night of the Expeditions, the expedition members were offered the opportunity to present their adventures to a broader audience. The event was a great success that attracted over 900 persons to the Espace Malraux in Chambéry. More than just one young adventurer sitting in the audience is likely to have contemplated applying to take part in the Millet Expedition Project 2012 on the way home. You can see excerpts from a few films on youtube.
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Trek’n Eat fondue testing at Bächli Bergsport
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On Saturday, October 29, we offered the customers of our Swiss retailer Bächli Bergsport the opportunity to taste the “Swiss Style” cheese fondue of Trek’n Eat on the occasion of this retailer’s winter season start. Bächli Bergsport is the largest provider of mountain sports gear in Switzerland and the first name for anyone who likes moving around in the mountains. The chilly autumn weather was exactly what was needed to create a cozy fondue ambiance in the entrance section of the Bächli Bergsport dealership in Zürich-Oerlikon. This outdoor fondue, which was just recently launched, was prepared in true style in a Swiss fondue dish on the Optimus Hiker+ fuel stove. The appearance was the perfect eye-catcher for all customers who wished to get their outdoor winter gear in trim for the season at Bächli Bergsport. Many a customer entering the store cast a curious glance on the scene and smirked at all the people tasting, evaluating, and talking. Customers knew immediately that this fondue is something special and a true hit as an authentic outdoor fondue. So, if you are looking for the perfect gift for a fondue and outdoor aficionado, your search is now over.
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Katadyn supports the expedition leaders of Deutscher Alpenverein
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As an official partner of the German Alpine Association (Deutscher Alpenverein), Katadyn Germany provides the expedition cadre with Optimus stoves, Katadyn water filters, and Trek’n Eat expedition food and thus ensures that the alpinists are properly fed when far away from civilization. With its expedition leaders, the Alpenverein selectively develops young alpinist talent. Young climbers and alpinists are coached for a limitet period of time. They learn the basics enabling them later on to achieve an international top mountaineering standard on their own. Whether it is big-wall climbing in the Austrian Zillertal or crossing the Mont Blanc via the Freneypfeiler, the up-and-coming expedition leaders repeatedly demonstrate their mettle, relying on the products of Katadyn, Optimus, and Trek’n Eat. The photograph shows Max Dünsser and Reinhard Hones cooking in a tent in the Zillertal. Photo: Heinz Zack
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A young woman and the sea
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Almost 3500 nautical miles lie between Portimao, Portugal and her destination in the Caribbean, which translates into about 6500 direct kilometers. They are linked at the ends by the North Equatorial Current, which flushes its flotsam westward between 10° and 20° northern latitude at a surface velocity of about 0.5 knots. 34-year-old Janice from Germany has set herself the goal of crossing this rough patch with her rowing boat in order to do something to protect the seas. She set out for her adventurous Atlantic crossing on November 23, 2011. You can track the adventures of this plucky young lady on her riveting blog. Janice produces her drinking water with a Katadyn PowerSurvivor 40 E. In emergencies, it can also be operated by hand. In collaboration with outdoorfoodshop.de, Trek´n Eat and Peronin are also on board. You will find up-to-date photos and information at www.rowforsilence.com.
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Markets & Customers |
Katadyn ceramic filters for the flood victims in Thailand
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This autumn, Thailand was struck by a flood disaster with serious consequences. Large parts of the country, including the metropolis Bangkok, were inundated. Even today, the stagnant water poses an enormous risk of spreading diseases. A token of immediate humanitarian aid was given in the context of a relief project launched by Rotary Clubs in Switzerland and Thailand. Six hundred gravity filters equipped with Katadyn Ceramics were distributed within a very short time among numerous people affected by the disaster. The Rotary campaign met with keen interest in Thailand. Even the Thai premier minister Yingluck Shinawatra tasted some water filtered with Katadyn elements and thanked everyone involved in the effort.
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Sharp rise in tularemia in Norway
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Especially the central parts of Norway saw a disproportionate number of tularemia incidences this year (this disease is also called rabbit fever, deer-fly fever, etc.). In all, 75 persons contracted this infectious fever, which if left untreated may be fatal. This is the highest infection rate since 1970, when cases were registered for the first time. The pathogen that causes tularemia, Francisella tularensis, is a tiny rod-shaped bacterium. The Norwegian health authorities recommend people to refrain from drinking untreated water from lakes and rivers. But to allow tours in this magnificent outdoor paradise to be enjoyed without a care, we advise you to treat your drinking water with a Katadyn pump filter in combination with Micropur Forte disinfection tablets.
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Journeying in the Gobi desert with a Katadyn filter
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The "Wüstenwandern” company is a German travel agency specializing in hiking and caravan trips worldwide. The hiking trips and expeditions take you to the deserts of this planet. In October, Jerome Blösser and his guests crossed the southern part of the Gobi in Inner Mongolia. The caravan encountered holy lakes, solitary desert monasteries, and the highest dunes on our globe. As everywhere else, water means life also in this desert, but it is not always of the best quality. The Katadyn MyBottle drinking bottle with integrated virus filter proved to be just what was needed for the tour.
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Aquafides with new website
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Aquafides, the specialist for UV water sterilization in the field of industrial and communal water treatment, now presents its products on an entirely revamped website. At the end of 2009, the Katadyn Group expanded its business field in this segment by acquiring a majority stake in Aquafides Switzerland and Germany. Now the Aquafides site has also been adapted to the web appearance of the Katadyn Group. The site provides lots of detailed information on the individual UV systems. Via the Download Center, you can quickly and easily download documents such as certificates, technical data sheets, and installation diagrams. Since the end of October, also the youngest family member of the Aquafides system series, the 8AF400T UV system with eight UV lamps, has been certified to ÖVGW and DVGW. The website will be updated to include MF and EK-Products which are manufactured and distributed by Aquafides under license.
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Katadyn in-house News |
Plant vacations from December 26 through January 2
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From December 26 through January 2, the production plant and the offices of Katadyn Produkte AG in Wallisellen, Switzerland will be closed. The entire workforce is taking well-deserved time off between Christmas and New Year. On Tuesday, January 3, 2012 we will all be back again for you, looking forward to a successful 2012!
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Katadyn Germany strengthens sales organizationOn October 1, Nadine Marschall joined the office sales team of Katadyn Germany. Nadine is a multitalented sports fan and – among other things – a federal league faustball player. We are happy to have found Nadine for our team and wish her a smooth start in our organization. Beside taking charge of Central and East Europe, Henning Schlenker will also assume overall responsibility for sales in Germany. The sales structure has also been strengthened – by the new team members Steffen Fuchs and Marcel Rickerich. Steffen Fuchs is the new contact for the Camping/Caravan markets and individual customers in the Water segment. Marcel Rickerich will look after Service and Sales Administration. |
New headquarters and production plant of Katadyn Produkte AG
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The workforce of Katadyn Switzerland celebrated the topping-out ceremony at our company’s new headquarters in Kemptthal at the start of October. Chairman of the Board Adrian Schmassmann provided information on the building-related and strategic developments and imparted a sense of striking out for new frontiers. The new building structure is a major investment in the future and a response to the rise in demand for our drinking water treatment products. On a surface area of 8,500 square meters, new production halls, a warehouse, and offices will be housed. The building has now been completed and the outer facade already painted. The move from the current site in Wallisellen to Kemptthal is scheduled for the period between September 14 – 23, 2012.
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Katadyn Trade Show Calender 2012· Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, USA (January 19 – 22, 2012)
· Boot Düsseldorf, Germany (January 21 – 29, 2012)
· Sport Fair Kielce, Poland (February 15 – 17, 2012)
· Fishing & Hunting Moscow, Russia (February 15 – 19, 2012)
· Wind & Water, Warsaw, Poland (March 1 – 4, 2012)
· IWA Nürnberg, Germany, (March 9 – 12, 2012)
· Eurosatory in Paris, France (June 11 – 15, 2012)
· Outdoor Trade Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany (July 12 – 15, 2012)
· Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City, USA (August 2 – 5, 2012)
· AidEx in Brussels, Belgium (October 24/25, 2012) |
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