Page 2 - The Tent Handbook 2017

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2017 marks the 46th year of the Hilleberg company, but it also represents another impor- tant milestone for us, as well: this year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our factory in Estonia. An integral part of our company, the Estonian facility is also a big piece of who we are and how we think about tents and about our business, and we are very proud of it.
When we were planning to move our production in the late 90s, we considered many op- tions. In the end, we decided that our quality, our heritage, and our future would be best served by building our own facility, with our own standards, in Europe, and to incorporate its operation into our company. A er quite a bit of research and travel, we chose Estonia, and more speci cally, Rapla, a small town about 50 km/31 miles south of the Estonian capi- tal of Tallinn.
Estonia was a key part of the textile industry in the old Soviet Union, so we found a ready workforce of skilled sewers. Equally importantly, Estonia is a country whose laws and eth- ics re ected those of Sweden, and we wanted our new factory to have the same standards of quality and of working conditions.
Early in the process of creating the new factory, my father, Bo Hilleberg, had contracted with a consultant, Juta Heinvee, to help nd us the right place and the right workers. He was so impressed with her e orts that he hired her to set up and run the factory, something she has done – and continues to do – with great success. Many of our other Estonian employees have been with us for nearly the entire time, as well. In fact, we recently calculated that one of our tent inspectors, who has been with us for 19 years, has set up and inspected at least 65,000 tents!
The factory has grown as we have, and it has allowed us to stay true to our beliefs in quality and function, and its sta are an integral part of our Hilleberg “family.”
2017 also sees some product additions and changes. In our Red Label series, we’ve added the four-person Kaitum 4 and Kaitum 4 GT. Their space, comfort and relatively light weight make them perfect for backpacking families or for those who need lots of gear for their ad- ventures – or for those who just enjoy lots of space!
In our Yellow Label line, we have redesigned our Anjan, Anjan GT and Rogen models by re- placing the double opening pole sleeve and 9 mm Lock Tip pole system with single opening sleeves and standard 9 mm poles. We’ve retained the models’ full-time venting by incorpo- rating catenary patterning into the bottom of the outer tent walls, and the resulting con- struction is easier to pitch, especially in windy conditions.
We wish you the best for 2017, and when you’re out in the backcountry, look for us!
Petra Hilleberg
CEO of the Hilleberg Group & President of Hilleberg, Inc.
The Hilleberg family. From left to right, Bo, Petra, Renate and Rolf, and, in front, the third Hilleberg generation – one of Rolf’s daugh- ters Alexandra, on a recent backpacking trip.