Hohenstein Institute

The Hohenstein Group is an international research and testing services provider with the primary focus of bringing innovative products to market reliably, safely and sustainably through neutral testing, certification and development of textiles and textile products.

Hohenstein Group
Privately held company
IndustryTextile testing, inspection and certification
Founded1946
FounderProf. Dr.-Ing. Otto Mecheels
HeadquartersBoennigheim, Germany
Key people
Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecheels
Products
  • Certifications and Product Labels
  • HOSYcan compression tester
  • HUMskin
  • WATson testing device
Brands
  • Hohenstein Quality Label
  • Digital Fitting Lab
  • STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®
  • MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®
  • ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®
  • LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®
  • OEKO-TEX® Buying Guide
  • STeP by OEKO-TEX®
  • DETOX TO ZERO by OEKO-TEX®
  • UV STANDARD 801
Services
  • Customized and standardized testing of textiles, chemicals and leather
  • Comparative product testing
  • Compression testing/development
  • Fit/pattern development, 3D/4D scanning, 3D visualization/avatars
  • GMO and biodegradability testing
  • Hygiene testing/certification
  • Material parameter determination
  • Microfiber analysis
  • Odor management
  • OEKO-TEX® certifications and assessments
  • Performance testing
  • PPE testing/certification
  • Quality testing
  • Spectral/color/whiteness measurement
  • Supply chain communications/audits
  • Thermal and ergonomic comfort development
  • UV protection and certification
  • Washability and detergent testing
  • Wastewater and sludge assessments
Number of employees
1000+
Divisions
  • Biological testing
  • Chemical Testing
  • Clothing physiology
  • Clothing technology
  • Consumer testing
  • Textile testing
SubsidiariesHohenstein Textile Testing Institute, Hohenstein Academy, Hohenstein Institute America, Hohenstein Laboratories Bangladesh, Hohenstein Laboratories (Hong Kong), Hohenstein Textile Testing (Shanghai), Hohenstein India
Website
Hohenstein textile testing lab

Hohenstein was founded as a textile school in 1946 by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Mecheels, for whom the link between research and practical application was of prime importance. His son, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mecheels, developed Hohenstein into an international, inter-disciplinary research and service company and co-founded the OEKO-TEX® Association. Led by third generation Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecheels since 1995, Hohenstein has expanded its laboratory network, doubled in size and launched the Hohenstein Academy.

Over 1000 employees work at the headquarters in Boennigheim, Germany and its labs and contact offices around the world. The headquarters’ laboratories, offices and conference facilities are housed in Schloss Hohenstein, a historic Renaissance castle, with several adjacent modern buildings.

Applied Research

Hohenstein's private and publicly funded research projects focus on the practical applications of the interactions between humans, textiles and the environment. Goals include knowledge transfer through the Hohenstein Academy and textile industry advancements in safety, performance and sustainability. Projects range from studying human physiology on the International Space Station to improving comfort in bedding to analyzing body shape and fit in motion. Hohenstein is an innovation leader that partners with industry associations, leads standards setting committees and develops test methods on topics such as microplastics, thermal and water-vapor resistance, physiological effects of thermal insulation, liquid sweat, evaporative cooling, personal protective equipment and human ecological safety.

Testing and Certification

Hohenstein provides neutral and independent testing of quality and performance for both claim verification and innovative product development.

Areas of expertise include textile sustainability (GMO testing of cotton, microfiber analysis, biodegradation, wastewater analysis, chemical management), quality (material identification, textile and leather tests, chemical tests, audits, color, technical performance descriptions), functionality (comfort, compression, odor management, biocides) health (harmful substances, face masks, textile medical devices, medical compression, applied hygiene), fit (body size and shape measurement and scanning, change during motion, pattern development, 3D fitting, avatars and visualization, material parameters, fit testing) and care (industrial and domestic laundering).

Hohenstein certifications and product labels are based on over seven decades of applied research and account for real-use conditions. Manufacturers, brands and retailers use the 3rd-party product and process certifications to communicate independently verified claims.

  • Hohenstein Quality Labels Labels for Independent proof of product performance and high quality.
  • OEKO-TEX® System Hohenstein is a founding member and leading provider of�OEKO-TEX® services that enable consumers and companies to protect our planet by making responsible decisions.
  • STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Certification for textiles tested for harmful substances.
  • MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® Traceable label for textile or leather products that were sustainably produced in responsible workplaces and tested for harmful substances.
  • ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® Certification to manage and verify chemicals, dyes and auxiliaries and promote the use of greener chemicals in textiles and leather.
  • STeP by OEKO-TEX® STeP = Sustainable Textile (and leather) Production certification for environmentally friendly and socially responsible production facilities.
  • LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX® Certification for leather goods tested for harmful substances.
  • UV STANDARD 801 Product label that shows reliable proof of protection against UV radiation and the tested sun protection factor (UPF = Ultraviolet Protection Factor).
  • Hohenstein Hygienically Clean Certification for industrial laundries with the highest standards for hygienic processes.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) European notified body no. 0555 for testing and certification of PPE per regulation EU 2016/425.
    Hohenstein Quality Label

Accreditation and Quality

Hohenstein conducts internal auditing and round-robin control testing to ensure consistent results from each of its laboratories.

The Hohenstein laboratories in Germany, Hong Kong, India, Bangladesh and Hungary are accredited under ISO (ISO/IEC 17025:2000), as well as:

  • Certified third-party, independent laboratory for CPSIA compliance verification by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC ID #1058)
  • European notified Test and Certification Centre No. 0555 for Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • OEKO-TEX® certifications and labels - the International Association for Research and Testing in the field of Textile Ecology (Founding member)
  • UV Standard 801 - The International Test Association for Applied UV protection - (Founding member)
  • Internationally recognized test center for down and feathers by the European Down and Feather Association (EDFA) and the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB)
  • Licensed expert investigations of official reference samples in accordance with Article 240 of the Food and Commodities Act (LMBG)
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