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LATEST NEWS

Golden Glove Award Ceremony

Posted: 9th February 2011

Southcombe Brothers were delighted to win the Livery's coveted Golden Glove Award for 2011 for Innovation, which was presented by The Master, Mr Roderick Morriss, at the Livery Luncheon at the Carpenters' Hall on Tuesday February 8th for their Firemaster® Ultra fire-fighting glove using Pyrohide® leather, which will be extensively used by the South Eastern Consortium of Fire Brigades, beginning this Spring.

Amongst Southcombe’s party guests present at the luncheon were Michael Southcombe - Chairman, David Southcombe - Managing Director, Peter Dawson - Director Cosalt Plc, who won the contract as the prime vendor with Mrs Arlene Hackett, Mrs Suzanne Prince from W.L Gore who supply Crosstech® inserts used in the production of the gloves, Ian Moses PPE Manager – Grampian Fire and Rescue Service and Jeremy Dawkins, Executive Sales for Fire-fighting Gloves from Southcombe Brothers who collected the Award on behalf of our Company.  The award is made annually by a special Committee of the Livery under the Chairmanship of John Spanner, past Master.

Firemaster Ultra wins Golden Glove award

Posted: 15th October 2010

Southcombe Brothers, the Somerset based glove manufacturer, has been awarded the 2011 Golden Glove Award for Innovation for their Firemaster^® Ultra fire-fighting glove. The award is given annually by The Worshipful Company of Glovers of London in recognition of design, development and manufacturing excellence in hand wear.

“We are delighted to receive the Golden Glove Award this year” said David Southcombe, Managing Director of Southcombe Brothers. “Firemaster® Ultra is a great asset to our range and the award is a real credit to the team at Southcombe Brothers, not only the designers but also the staff that are involved in the numerous processes that go into making and selling the glove. We are extremely proud to receive this award on their behalf.”

Firemaster^® Ultra is the latest, most technical advanced fire-fighting glove in Southcombe Brothers’ range of protective gloves and has been dual certified to both European and North American standards.

Incorporating a thermally protective and cut-resistant lining with breathable waterproof membrane; the outer shell of the glove is made from Southcombe Brothers’ Pyrohide^® leather produced in its own tannery in Somerset. Pyrohide^® is a world-class, top-grain, aniline cowhide made from a proprietary formula to provide exceptional levels of protection from fire, heat, water and liquid chemicals. Made with an innovative 3D curved fingered pattern, each glove is made with 40 different pieces to provide a level of fit and protection that the industry has previously never experienced.

Following a competitive tendering process and extensive evaluation, Firemaster^® Ultra was recently chosen by the South East Consortium to serve fourteen county fire brigades in the region. They join other brigades in Scotland and Yorkshire who currently wear the Firemaster^® Ultra.

“We would deem it to be the best glove currently available in the world today,” wrote Ian Moses, PPE Manager at Grampian Fire & Rescue.

Firemaster ^® Ultra is also going down well with fire fighters across the pond in North America. Mike Ray, Fire Chief of Bellingham Fire Department in Washington, recently confirmed that following the delivery of Firemaster^® Ultra, the department “are able to provide a better fire-fighting force due to your gloves. The increase in dexterity allows the fire-fighters more feel and function than they have ever had before.”

 

Bath Rubgy Training Day at Bristol Airport

Posted: 1st September 2010

Leading west country Aviva Premiership side Bath Rugby spent the day at Bristol Airport recently for a team building and leadership training day, hosted by the airport’s fire training team, and sponsored by leading PPE suppliers including Southcombe Brothers who supplied the 36 man squad with firefighter gloves for the occasion.

Bath Rugby’s players were put through their paces on the airport fire-ground, taking part in training drills designed for specialist aviation firefighters. Fully kitted out with operational PPE, their challenges included crawling through a confined space while wearing breathing apparatus, climbing ladders while carrying a casualty, and tackling real flames on the Airport’s 767 simulator.

Players including captain of England Rugby’s summer tour, Lewis Moody, British and Irish Lion, Simon Taylor, and Bath captain, Luke Watson, took part in the training day, with the squad dividing into three groups to add an element of competition!

Justin Lane, Fire and Safety Coordinator at Bristol Airport, said:  “We know fire-fighters can face hazardous challenges as individuals, and sometimes have to put their lives in the hands of their colleagues. This means teamwork and trust form a key part in their training and development. Sportsmen also need to know they can rely on their team mates under pressure, so it was fascinating to see the Bath players respond to the testing scenarios we placed them in through the course of the day.”

Steve Meehan, Head Coach of Bath Rugby said: “The fire-fighters here at the airport really have to rely on each other and work closely as a team, as do the players when they are out on the field. This was  a great team building exercise for the players. You can never underestimate the value that a change of scenery and experience can bring. We will all knew a little more about each other by the end of the exercise."

Sky News were on hand throughout the day to capture the teams at work which was later broadcast with extracts also being shown on the BBC’s local Points West news.

 

OAFC Toronto

Posted: 10th May 2010

Many thanks to those numerous visitors who visited  our booth at the recent Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs 58th Annual National Fire and Emergency Expo. Held this year in the Radisson Suites Toronto Airport Hotel the show was a first for Southcombe Brothers and we were delighted by the reception that we received. 

As ever the NFPA structural fire glove range was on display and attracted a lot of attention. Of particular interest was the re-engineered Firemaster® Ultra's with KOVENEX® lining which is now available in Lime Green in North America.

Southcombe Brothers will return to the North America for the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore in July.

Indianapolis FD select Firemaster 4

Posted: 13th January 2010
Southcombe Brothers today announced that the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) has purchased nearly 1,700 pairs of the company's Firemaster® 4 Kovenex® gloves following months of rigorous testing. Safeguarded by Kovenex, Southcombe's Firemaster 4 combines Kovenex's inherent flame-, tear- and cut-resistant properties with Southcombe's patented water- and chemical-resistant PYROHIDE® to maintain the gloves' NFPA 1971-2007 certification and EN659 rating, as well as increase the gloves' dexterity and performance, and most importantly, the user's safety.

According to Mark Holmes, quartermaster at IFD, numerous attributes ultimately led to IFD's selection of Southcombe gloves as its firefighting glove of choice. Winning attributes include: high-quality Pyrohide leather; demonstrated longevity; superior feel and dexterity; ease of donning and doffing; and the gloves' unique ability to resist water and corrosive chemicals.

Holmes stated that many department personnel tested five different gloves as part of a comprehensive evaluation that lasted approximately nine months. Firefighters tested the gloves for donning and doffing, fit and functionality.

"It is rare that we have the luxury of having so many of our actual firefighters thoroughly test vital components of their personal protective equipment," said Holmes. "After extensive testing, it was clear that the Southcombe Firemaster® 4 Kovenex gloves gave our firefighters the best chance to protect patients and victims, and safeguard themselves during dangerous rescue situations."

David Southcombe, managing director at Southcombe, said he is honored by this unprecedented decision by the IFD, and noted his company's Aurora, Illinois.-based distribution facility and key partnerships with U.S.-based companies such as Waubridge Specialty Fabrics, manufacturer of Kovenex, as integral reasons for the company's success.

"For more than 160 years, we've engineered some of the finest gloves in the world for all types of occasions and purposes, and we're pleased to be the Indianapolis Fire Department's glove of choice," said Southcombe. "Our craftsmanship and sophisticated, proprietary technologies, as well as our ability to serve the global market are enhanced by strong partnerships with safety industry leaders such as Waubridge Specialty Fabrics, as well as our distribution operations in America."