Crewsaver celebrates 60 years
Marine safety equipment manufacturer Crewsaver is celebrating 60 years of pioneering lifejacket innovation in 2017, having first launched to the market in 1957.
Based in Gosport, Hampshire, the company designs and manufactures bespoke safety equipment for several countries’ Special Forces, and the aviation and oil industries. Crewsaver is the only company to hold an exclusive contract to supply lifejackets to the UK government’s Environment Agency and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Crewsaver is now part of Survitec, a provider of safety survival solutions, having been acquired along with the rest of the Cosalt marine division in 2011.
From the Crewsaver Lifevest in 1959 inflated by a ‘non-returnable mouth inflator’, to the Fusion 3D Workvest range launched in 2016, the company’s products have changed beyond recognition while remaining at the forefront of lifejacket safety, design and regulatory compliance.
Heavy gauge PVC has made way for lighter, more flexible fabrics, with Crewsaver’s core values of comfort, style and performance informing each stage of the design and engineering processes.
Crewsaver pioneered the design of gas-operated air-only lifejackets in the 1980s and its Crewfit range soon became the recognised industry standard. Crewfit remains the go-to range for seafarers everywhere and has undergone constant improvements and innovations in the last few decades.
The manufacturer is marking its anniversary with the launch of a limited edition lifejacket – the Crewfit 180N Diamond – which will be given away to lucky competition winners at events such as the Southampton Boat Show.
David Duffin, Sales Director at Crewsaver said: “Not many safety companies can call on six decades of heritage and we are proud to be considered the first port of call for individuals and companies seeking the very latest in cutting-edge lifejacket technology. Performance has always been the most important of our core values and all our products are rigorously tested to give users the ultimate reassurance that they will work as intended when needed most.
“That said, comfort is also key to us and ergonomic considerations are high on the agenda when designing our kit to ensure that users can still operate freely when wearing our products. And there is no shortage of style involved either, with a number of high profile design influences shaping the way our kit continues to look instantly iconic.
“Our latest ranges incorporate the successful components that have helped us make our name, while adding in the latest available technology to ensure they are as cutting-edge as possible. And it is this attention to detail and commitment to innovation that will mean we remain at the forefront of lifejacket technology for decades to come.”