Portwest

Portwest
Private
Industry Textiles
Founded 1904 (1904) in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
Founder Charles Hughes
Headquarters Westport, Ireland
Brands
  • Araflame
  • Bizflame
  • Bizweld
  • Modaflame
Number of employees
 6,000
Website portwest.com

Portwest is a clothing company based in Westport, Ireland that specializes in the design and production of protective clothing, including high visibility, flame resistant workwear, safety footwear, work gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE). Portwest was founded by Charles Hughes in 1904, in Westport. The Hughes family still own and manage the company. Portwest employees 6,000 people worldwide and sells 3,000 safety distributors and national retailers in more than 84 countries.[1]

History

The origins of Portwest began in 1904 when Charles Hughes commenced his business as a small retail shop in Westport, Co. Mayo. Padraig Hughes, nephew of Charles Hughes, joined the business in 1936. After the death of his uncle in 1949, Padraig took over the running of the company until his retirement in 1988. [2] For 52 years he oversaw the development of the wholesale business, the building of Hotel Westport, and the development of Westport Clothing company (now Portwest Ltd) and Carraig Donn Industries Ltd. The Hughes family still own and manage the company. The Hughes Group trading companies include: Charles Hughes Ltd, Hotel Westport Ltd. and Portwest Group. Portwest employees 6,000 people worldwide and sells to over 3,000 safety distributors and national retailers in more than 84 countries.[3]

Today, Portwest has warehouses in Britain, Poland, Ireland, Dubai, as well as a recently opened facility for the North American market in Kentucky[4] It has sales offices in the Ireland, UK, Poland, France, Germany, Middle East, and the United States.[5]

Products

Portwest specializes in the design and manufacture of workwear, protective clothing, footwear, gloves and personal protective equipment under the brand names Araflame, Bizflame, Bizweld, and Modaflame. Products meet international safety standards including ISO, EN, GOST, ANSI and NFPA. Portwest has sales offices and warehouses in USA, UK, Ireland, Poland and the UAE, manufacturing facilities in Asia and customer support in 84 countries.[6] Their products are used in a variety of industries including: oil and gas, mining and cement, service and hospitality, transportation, law enforcement, and security.

References

  1. ↑ "50 new jobs announced for Portwest's Westport base". The Mayo News. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/scion-of-prominent-business-family-in-connacht-1.1143667
  3. ↑ "50 new jobs announced for Portwest's Westport base". The Mayo News. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2014/0318/603073-portwest-mayo-jobs/
  5. ↑ "Trade Mission to Texas - Company Profiles". Enterprise Ireland. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Trade Mission to Texas - Company Profiles". Enterprise Ireland. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
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