The Colombian Miguel Caballero, recognized for designing and making safety garments that have even dressed 41 heads of state, now focuses its efforts on serving Ukraine, a nation on which the world has turned its gaze due to the invasion of Russia.
From his factory, located on the outskirts of Bogotá, Caballero is in charge of MC Armor, which he brought to life 30 years ago with 10 dollars, and which now has almost 700 employees who sew, glue, paint, assemble and deliver products that “protect people’s lives.”
Sheathed in a white coat, the businessman tells Efe that what is his at the moment with Ukraine It is not to profit from the war, but to save lives because there it is mainly exporting vests and helmets that protect the lives of doctors, nurses, journalists and other civilians. living in the horrors of invasion that began on February 24.
“Since the war began, they have requested products from us. It has been a very high demand and we have been serving it for civilian personnel, especially doctors, nurses and others from humanitarian organizations who are there caring for people and who, therefore, need protection. to develop their activities,” remarks the businessman who declares himself against warmongering.
Due to the situation in Ukraine the company joined the “We stand with Ukraine” initiative, that seeks to support the invaded.
After almost three weeks of conflict, the most serious in Europe since World War II, the balance is thousands of dead, millions displaced and Ukrainian cities reduced to ruins.
As the conflict has escalated, the Colombian company multiplies efforts to meet more than a hundred requests that the United States, Spain, England and Belgium have so far made to donate to Ukraine.
not profit from war
MC Armor, says Caballero, prides itself on the fact that all its production is “one hundred percent Colombian” and that, in addition to serving the government sector, it has also done so with the Military Forces, the Police and sectors of 23 governments around the world. .
“Now we have a great challenge and that is to meet the demand from Ukraine. A few days ago we were able to make the first shipment of 2,000 vests and 2,000 helmets. Soon we will be sending another 2,000 vests and another 2,000 helmets”, details Caballero, who is the executive president of the company.
When asked if his company profits from the war, he is blunt: “No.” And he explains: “I am not part of the war, we do not sell weapons, we do not sell ammunition, tank weapons, our mission is to save human life.”
He reinforces his argument by recalling that despite the Ukraine-Russia situation, the cost of his garments, such as vests, maintain the price of 500 or 600 dollars.
Exports to more than 50 countries
“If one is going to buy this in other countries like the United States, the garment does not go below 2,000 dollars. Our interest is not to profit from the war, but to help defend the people who are there with our garments,” he says.
Caballero products are today in 52 countries, markets that allowed it to grow last year in the midst of the pandemic by 21%, a figure that it hopes to equal, at least, this year.
“The fact that there is war does not mean that we live from war because the same thing happens to us with the transporters of values that we serve, which are from Chile to Mexico and we protect them all. We are a protection and prevention company”remarks Caballero, known as the “Armani” of armored clothing.
The company also makes clothing and other safety items for escorts traveling by motorcycle, for which there is a whole line.
No margin of error
In a section of the factory, now packed with vests, helmets, jackets, is María Rosalba Tapias Parra, who has been with the company for 30 years and is the “assembly and dispatch” coordinator of everything that is produced there.
Vests, t-shirts, jackets, overcoats, shirts, guayaberas and other garments that will protect the body from those who in the future They will dress them.
“In the assembly, which is where the armor pieces are put on the clothing so that it is armored, work is done, as in each production step, with great care. A poorly assembled part can cause a problem”, says Tapias as he checks a black vest that differentiates it from other blue ones that bears the “press” badge in white letters.
Beside him, other operators check clothes and accessories that “will save lives”, Tapias emphasizes that, with a soft voice, he affirms that for women what is assembled are jackets, vests and white t-shirts, which at the moment do not go to Ukraine but to other markets.
“In one day, between 600 and 800 vests can be assembled that must be carefully reviewed to avoid any problem”, says María Rosalba as she raises her hand to her head to give more force to her expression, because “here there is no margin for error”. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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