The Hohenstein Institute is an international research and service centre. About 240 employees work at its headquarters in Boennigheim, Germany primarily on the development, testing and certification of textile products. Its laboratories, offices, storage and conference facilities are housed in the historic Renaissance castle of Schloss Hohenstein and six adjacent modern buildings. The Hohenstein Institute is represented by branch offices in all the textile-producing regions of the world.

The Hohenstein Institute was founded in 1946 by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Mecheels, for whom the link between research and practical applications was of prime importance. His son Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mecheels continued to lead the Hohenstein Institute along the same lines and developed it into an inter-disciplinary research and service company. Since 1995, the third generation has taken over in charge of the family company, in the person of Stefan Mecheels.

Research

The main aim of the institute's commissioned research and publicly sponsored research projects is to open up new areas of application for textiles in medicine. There have been many research highlights, resulting especially from a partnership with the Textile Research Council, Textil e.V.

Testing and certification

The Hohenstein Institute carries out neutral and independent testing and evaluation of product quality and performance in its accredited laboratories. The test results are documented in the form of various certificates and quality labels, such as the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for textiles tested for harmful substances.

The Hohenstein Institute laboratories are accredited under ISO 17025. It has also received other accreditation

Accreditation

Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...

s and licences for different aspects of its work.

1. Accreditation under DIN ISO/IEC 17025:2000
2. European notified Test and Certification Centre No. 0555 for Personal protective equipment
   Personal protective equipment
   Personal protective equipment refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in...
   
    (PPE)
3. Member of the International Association for Research and Testing in the field of Textile Ecology (Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and 100plus
   Oeko-tex standard
   Oeko-Tex Standard 100 or Öko-Tex Standard 100 is an international testing and certification system for textiles, limiting the use of certain chemicals...
   
   )
4. Member of Oeko-Tex International (Oeko-Tex Standard 1000
   Oeko-tex standard
   Oeko-Tex Standard 100 or Öko-Tex Standard 100 is an international testing and certification system for textiles, limiting the use of certain chemicals...
   
   )
5. Member institute of the International Test Association for Applied UV protection
   Sun protective clothing
   Sun protective clothing is clothing specifically designed for sun protection and is produced from a fabric rated for its level of ultraviolet protection. A novel weave structure and denier may produce sun protective properties...
   
   (UV Standard 801)
6. Internationally recognised test centre for down and feathers, recognised by the EDFA (European Down and Feather Association) and the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB)
7. Licensed to carry out expert investigations into official reference samples in accordance with Article 240 of the Food and Commodities Act (LMBG)

External links

• Hohenstein Institute
• www.oeko-tex.de
• http://www.waeschereien.de
• www.bioregio-stern.de
• http://www.organische-chemie.ch/chemie/2009feb/wundauflagen.shtm
• www.rw-textilservice.de
• http://schattenblick.net/infopool/medizin/technik/mz8en571.html
• http://www.textilforschung.de