JULIUS-K9® dog equipment has been highly successful, with many unique advantages. The products were originally designed to meet the needs of police, ambulance and search dog teams. Subsequently they became globally popular products in the consumer marketplace, with the high quality and professionalism of the equipment being recognised, and the designs becoming part of every-day dog fashion. K9® and IDC® dog harnesses, and Color&Gray® collection collars, leashes and dog harnesses now make the life of over a million of dogs and owners more comfortable and safe.
The secret of the success of the range lies in the details of the design and manufacture. The hard plastic buckles and clips are made from carefully selected Swiss materials that have been rigorously assessed in tensile and load tests, while the high quality German straps ensure adequate load capacity, durability and product longevity, even when used several times daily.
Julius-K9® specifically sought out and chose a top German manufacturer for these straps, with ÖKO-TEX certification, so that the finished products would not only be high quality, but also made with environmental friendly materials that would be safe when used in continual contact with dog and human skin.
Julius Sebö, the leader of the Hungarian company says: “Over the years, we have created products with optimal ergonomic design and aesthetic appeal. It was important to us to maintain the quality of our patented products by using dependable German manufacturers using Europe-sourced textile products, rather than untraceable materials imported from distant markets.”
The chosen manufacturer, Pfeiffer GmbH, was established as a family business by Helmut and Christel Pfeiffer back in 1961, just like JULIUS-K9® started as a family business in Hungary some decades later. The collaboration between the two companies aims to attain the optimal combination of modern technology with traditional values, acting as a flagship for the textile industry in the European Union.
Pfeiffer, with 50 years’ experience in elastic and static strap manufacturing, contributes significantly to the stability of the strapping, which is the most important part of JULIUS-K9® dog harnesses. Ongoing innovation means that there is a continual focus on improving the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing process and the final products.
The German company originally primarily manufactured straps for the clothing industry, but since 2000, the emphasis has moved towards light industrial products providing technical solutions to common problems. The company is flexible enough to adapt rapidly to changes in the demands of customers and markets, so it was not a problem for them to meet the rapidly growing expectations of JULIUS-K9®.
In 2002, the daughter of the founders, Anke Pfeiffer took control of the company. She had already been working for almost 15 years to create a new chapter in the company’s production systems.
In 2016, Pfeiffer GmbH took possession of a new plant in Hückeswagen, allowing a significant boost in production capacity. In the same year, the new office buildings and warehouse of JULIUS-K9® had been completed. Close by, a European-level logistics center was built, employing over 400 staff. Both companies are constantly expanding, and they agree on the importance of having employees who are committed for the long term.
As Anke Pfeiffer says “Our employees represent 12 countries, coming from different backgrounds, with a range of languages, cultures, religions and mindsets. Mutual trust, stable working conditions and fairness in the workplace are essential in such an environment, helping our companies to meet our long-term goals and satisfy our client’s interests. Competent and committed employees are a key part of the success of the company, with consistent quality control to guarantee that German standards are maintained. 95 per cent of our products have the ÖKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, and a dedicated work force is needed to ensure that this high quality continues into the long term.
The cooperation of Pfeiffer and JULIUS-K9® is a textbook example of high quality German-Hungarian collaboration.The real winners of this ambitious and progressive alliance are the dogs and owners who use the finished products in their day to day lives.