sportFACHHANDEL 08_2018 Leseprobe

26 | OUTDOOR | DAC Pole 8.2018
DAC POLE FROM SOUTH KOREA
Korea’s Hidden Champion
Among tent producers, the name DAC (Dongah Aluminium Co) has stand for very robust, reliable and
lightweight tent poles for 30 years. Now, the South Korean company for the first time is exhibiting at the
OutDoor trade fair in Friedrichshafen.
Text: Andreas Mayer
It’s the right
time for DAC
to take a more active
role in supporting
the European
outdoor market. We
want to popularize
the brand name DAC
and to promote it as
an ingredient brand.
But first of all, we
want to celebrate
our 30th anniversary
with our friends and
partners.« Jake Lah
There are hidden champions in many industries.
These companies are hardly known by
the public, but have a high significance and
an excellent reputation within their sector. DAC is
such a company in the
outdoor business. The
list of tent producers
using poles of DAC
includes the leading
players of the industry:
Bergans, Black Diamond,
Exped, Fjällräven,
Hilleberg, Jack
Wolfskin, Marmot,
Mountain Hardwear,
MSR, The North Face,
Vaude and many more.
The South Korean company
stands out with its
verticality, the complete
development, production
and control of the
product in house. No
other pole producer has
optimized the production
steps in the aluminium
processing at a
comparable level. DAC
does not consider itself
as mere pro duction
facility. Additionally,
the Koreans conduct
research, create own
designs and intensively
work together with
their partners on the
end product tent – from
connecting elements to
elaborately crafted and thought-out tent pegs.
High quality tent poles made by DAC in South Korea.
Environmentally friendly anodizing process at the DAC
production facilities in Incheon.
Jake Lah, founder, CEO, owner and driving force
of DAC, is a passionate tent designer himself. His
striving for perfection culminates in the Wind Lab,
a wind channel on the roof of the headquarters. The
channel is even big enough to test family tents in it.
the DAC Wind Lab is powered by a 500 horsepower
electric fan that can generate wind speeds up to 160
km/h (100 mph). More than 30 major tent brands
along with the UNHCR and many military organizations
have utilized the Wind Lab.
However, Mr Lah does not only focus on making the
most lightweight as well as sturdiest tent poles; the
eco-friendly production
and finishing of the
aluminium is also dear
to his heart. „Anodizing
aluminum has
traditionally not been a
clean operation. It took
eight years to develop
our Green Anodization
process, which
significantly reduces
the use of harsh chemicals,
including nitric
and phosphoric acids
from the process. It is
critical for reducing
our environmental impact,
safeguarding the
health of our people
and maintaining the
quality and tolerances
of our products. The
anodizing of aluminium
is an environmentally
harmful process.
We have been working
on our Green Anodizing
for eight years
and now we are able to
anodize the majority
of our goods without
nitric and phosphoric
acid“, Lah explains.
Whereas many
consumers still associate ruthless environmental
pollution and appalling working conditions
with industrial production in Far East, for the
family-owened business of Incheon sustainability
is a key component in everything they do from employees
to workplace to production. This includes
an own company orchestra, garden, goldfish pond
and works of art in the entire building which rather
looks like an architectural masterpiece than an
industrial production facility.