1DOWNPASS STARSARO Artländer
Premium: Small but brilliant

ARO® ARTLÄNDER GmbH, based in Lower Saxony, Germany, has been committed to its "passion fordown" since 1919. The traditionalist operates three fully integrated raw feather washing lines in northern Germany, and all products are “Made in Germany”. In addition to more than 100 years of core competence in this natural filling material, expertise in mattress production was added around 50 years ago.
The full-range supplier concentrates on the premium segment with its products and exports to Japan, Korea and other Asian countries.

Downpass talked to Peter Gumbel, managing director at ARO® ARTLÄNDER GmbH.
ARO® ARTLÄNDER GmbH has about 100 years of experience in development and production of sleep comfort. The company's product portfolio includes bedding for adults and children as well as mattresses.
What are the advantages of such a portfolio for the company's success?
In addition to the expansion of our core competence, the washing and sorting of feathers and down, it has

Photos: © ARO® ARTLÄNDER–1–

DOWNPASS STARS: ARO® ARTLÄNDERalways been the intention of the shareholders to position the company broadly in the market.
The specialization as a premium manufacturer in the Siberian down comforter segment (snow goose downin silk covers, highly fluffy Siberian wild duck down in batiste) as well as the orientation as a baby and children's bedding manufacturer were inevitably accompanied by the development into a "full-range supplier"in this field, and so for many years we have also been known in mattress production.
Following the strategy "small but brilliant", one building block has been placed on top of the other. Thanks
to its own variability and this wide range of products, ARO Artländer has succeeded in further expanding existing partnerships and establishing new connections both at home and abroad. Based on a passion for
down and feathers as loose goods, ARO Artländer GmbH has consequently developed further and today delivers all over the world.

ARTLÄNDER is very critical in purchasing its downand feathers and uses mostly goods from Siberia,
Ukraine and Eastern Europe, which collectors procure directly for the company. Why did you decide onsuch a restrictive procurement policy?
There are no compromises for ARO Artländer. Becauseof decades long partnership with our suppliers, partly
even joint ventures, we now benefit from these transparent and very well-established supply chains.
Please allow me to use another scene. A restaurant's
menu alone rarely provides as much information as alook into its kitchen. In other words, we want to knowhow, where and who works with this wonderful natural product that we ultimately refine.

Artländer is also a supplier to the exclusive hotel industry - the Corona crisis with its various lock-downphases was certainly a challenge. To what extent are sustainability criteria increasingly relevant for purchasing decisions in contract furnishing, and how is the company prepared for this?
As far as purchasing decisions are concerned, as in many other areas of life, there
has almost been a change of paradigm inthe hotel industry. The consumer seeks andexpects information about the origin andproduction of a product.

Photos: © ARO® ARTLÄNDER–2–

DOWNPASS STARS: ARO® ARTLÄNDERBedding is rightly no exception. ARO Artländer offers not only complete traceability for its products, but also
an internalized sustainability concept, which we implement and consistently pursue through many individual
projects, including our own, fully integrated wastewater treatment plant.

How important are independent certifications for your success, and why do you rely on the DOWNPASS
seal as a sign for animal welfare & quality?

The issue of animal welfare continues to takecenter stage. As a company, we would like to
do justice to this in its entirety. The traceability of the origins, their documentation andcontrol are indispensable today. Together
with our partners, we want to comply with alllegal and ethical requirements and wishes.
This is in our very own interest and so theDOWNPASS seal helps us with its clearlystructured framework and processes. Especially for our international business the highworldwide acceptance of this certificate is a
crucial point. Especially geared to the bedding industry, the DOWNPASS seal is an important certification for our company on theway to even more transparency and safety.
Peter GumbelManaging Director ARO® ARTLÄNDER GmbH

Source: Downpass e.V.

Photos: © ARO® ARTLÄNDER–3–