Tactical innovation. TASMANIAN TIGER - CEO Andreas Schechinger in conversation.

In the fast-paced world of tactical gear, where precision and reliability are paramount, TASMANIAN TIGER has become a beacon of innovation and quality. The brand, based in Germany and increasingly recognized in the USA as TASMANIAN TIGER USA, has become a synonym for innovative tactical solutions. Recently, Laura Burgess Marketing had the honor of meeting Andreas Schechinger, the managing director and CEO of TATONKA GmbH. They spoke with him about the brand's core values, commitment to innovation, adaptability, integration of customer feedback, sustainable practices, technological advancement, and the outlook on new trends in the tactical gear industry.

TASMANIAN TIGER was founded in 1999 by TATONKA GmbH and is now a global provider of high-quality and professional military, tactical, and police equipment. Andreas Schechinger, the son of the company's founder, is responsible for all business decisions. He opens the conversation and explains TASMANIAN TIGER's philosophy, reflected in the mantra "form follows function - but we never compromise quality." As CEO, he emphasizes that TASMANIAN TIGER exclusively produces products for professionals - a commitment that sets TASMANIAN TIGER apart from other companies and is highly valued by customers worldwide.

When it comes to the development of tactical gear, Schechinger highlights the close collaboration between TASMANIAN TIGER and Proforce Equipment, the distributor of TASMANIAN TIGER in the USA. TASMANIAN TIGER is attentive to the needs of professional users, including organizations like Team 5, a non-profit foundation of SOFMED veterans that provides medical assistance in the most remote areas of the world.

The brand's commitment to innovation was particularly emphasized, and is exemplified by the versatility of the modular backpacks, especially for the medical field. TASMANIAN TIGER's approach allows users to customize their gear to their specific needs while ensuring compatibility with existing equipment. Schechinger knows that the same backpack can be used for tactical purposes one day and for medical purposes the next day by incorporating different inserts. This versatility ensures that TASMANIAN TIGER's products remain effective in a variety of scenarios faced by law enforcement, military, medical personnel, as well as civilian adventurers and outdoor specialists.

At the core of TASMANIAN TIGER's commitment to excellence is its own lean and collaborative corporate structure. As a small family-owned business, the TASMANIAN TIGER team works closely together at the headquarters in Germany. This close-knit environment is crucial and fosters a cooperative and responsive corporate culture. A key aspect of this culture is the direct gathering of knowledge from professionals and users who have experience with TASMANIAN TIGER gear.

Through this collaborative feedback loop, the German brand ensures that insights from a variety of sources, including international customers, dealers, and professional end-users, seamlessly flow to the product development team. This process is facilitated by a direct line of communication between product developers and national sales managers, ensuring that all inquiries and information are not only considered but also utilized for future developments. By fostering this direct contact, valuable input is prevented from getting lost in the shuffle, ensuring a comprehensive approach to product improvement.

Furthermore, the spirit of collaboration extends beyond traditional channels as the marketing team of TASMANIAN TIGER actively gathers feedback from various social media platforms. This feedback is also directly relayed to the development team, creating a sustainable information system that incorporates insights from a broad spectrum of users. Through this multi-layered approach, TASMANIAN TIGER is able to adapt flexibly to changing needs of its customers and continuously enhance its products, aiming to achieve not only optimal performance but true user satisfaction.

Since the founding of the TATONKA brand, all products have been manufactured in the company's own production facility Mountech Co. Ltd., which was set up in-house at the end of the 1980s and is still operated to this day. Andreas Schechinger himself travels to Vietnam several times a year for several weeks.

He emphasizes that TASMANIAN TIGER products are manufactured according to European production standards and social working conditions that represent the dignity and well-being of all the people working in the factories. Sustainability is also a key issue for TASMANIAN TIGER, as evidenced by the introduction of the SA8000 social standard at the factory in Vietnam. Schechinger stressed the practical approach of the brand, taking full responsibility for ethical working in their factories and ensuring transparency and accountability.

TASMANIAN TIGER is also aware of the role of technologies and during the product development phase, they focus on continuous development through multiple testing phases. From fit to wear tests, the brand ensures that each product delivers on its design and functionality promises. TASMANIAN TIGER wants to make sure that each product functions exactly as designed before it is delivered to the sales team.

And emerging trends? Andreas Schechinger personally questions them. Functionality and usability come from specific equipment requirements, not from short-lived trends. Therefore, TASMANIAN TIGER focuses on developing reliable solutions designed for a specific purpose and long life, rather than following any fashion trends.

The conclusion of our exclusive interview with Andreas Schechinger is: TASMANIAN TIGER is a brand dedicated to manufacturing high-performance tactical equipment based on quality, innovation, and user-centered design. The company's commitment to collaboration, sustainability, and technological progress ensures that it continues to set standards in the dynamic and demanding world of tactical solutions. TASMANIAN TIGER's unwavering commitment to excellence and adaptability solidifies its position as a leading company in the tactical equipment industry worldwide.

Ashley Burgess Gall

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LAURA BURGESS on the web

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