Friday March 19, 2021
Import of FFP2 masks
"German manufacturers look into the tube"
German manufacturers of FFP2 masks often have no chance against competition from the Far East – despite funding programs. Stefan Kön, Managing Director of Technisat, criticizes the unequal treatment and lack of transparency in the award of contracts.
More masks "Made in Germany" – that was the plan of Economics Minister Peter Altmaier. In order to boost domestic mask production, the federal government bears up to 30 percent of the costs incurred in setting up production facilities. The electronics manufacturer Technisat from Daun in the Eifel also took advantage of the funding and started manufacturing FFP2 masks. "It was said that the federal government awards firm contracts to the companies that invest in Germany. But that did not happen in retrospect," criticized managing director Stefan Kön in the podcast "Die Stunden Null".
Instead, the federal government continues to purchase a large part of the masks from the Far East: "We look inside the tube when it comes to placing orders," said Kön. The aim of the funding program was to make Germany less dependent on mask imports. In addition, there have been an increasing number of complaints in the past about counterfeit products and quality defects in the imported masks. Kön criticizes the lack of transparency in the tenders, which often bypass the local companies or do not take place at all. Instead, "the contracts would not be publicly awarded anywhere to well-known companies."
The European procurement guideline, which provides for the purchase at the lowest price, makes it difficult for domestic producers such as Technisat, whose masks are around 30 to 35 cents more expensive according to Kön estimates. Kön calls for all companies to be treated equally. "As a German company, we are always drawn to recourse relatively quickly. That is correct. But nonetheless, there are proven to be very many products on the market from the Far East that do not comply with the specified standards. And we ask ourselves: Why are the supervisory authorities not there awake and pull away from the market? "
Technisat produces around 13 million FFP2 masks per month, most of which the company sells through its own online shop and to specialist dealers. The mask production is now seen as a "second pillar" – because Kön assumes that the demand will remain high.
Listen to the new episode of "Zero Hour":
- What Stefan Kön does to land public contracts
- How Technisat's core business has been affected by the pandemic – and what was most in demand in the past year
- What Stefan Kön would like from politics in terms of corona management
You can find all episodes directly at Audio Now, Apple or Spotify or via Google.
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