Anyone with "DIR Zone" gear in the US?

[Ron Brandt]

I don't get what you are saying...

The brass/glass SPGs are all made by the same company in Italy.

And there *are* American manufacturers of backplates, wings, BCs, etc.

Yes,I realize the spg's are mage in Itally.

The majority of products are imported into Canada and the US are Tiawan made...don't kid yourself here...they are the best made and have OEM branding on the product.

I had a quote from one US "oem" manufacture that gave me a quote on 100 wings at the same price ea as as US branded distributer would sell me on a quantity of five.

I would love to know who,in Tiawan "dir zone" and other OEMers actually have make the product.



Ron

 

[KOMPRESSOR]

I don't get what you are saying...

The brass/glass SPGs are all made by the same company in Italy.

And there *are* American manufacturers of backplates, wings, BCs, etc.

Yes I think I made a point of the SPGs not being "made" by DIR Zone, as is the matter with the rest of the bunch of "brands"! And they are made in Italy, as you've correctly stated. (Not in Taiwan).

Regarding DIR Zone wings, I have noe idea where they are manufactured. -Except I don't think they are US made. Perhaps they actually are made in Germany for all I know. The quality of it I know is excellent, since I have friends with hundreds of dives with them without any sign of wear. And there's just that "something" when you hold it in your hands when it's new also... I've had an Eclipse for a year/60 dives, and I've loved every minute of using it! It works, and quality is fine. But any of you out there who has picked up a new AGIR wing in the shop know what I'm talking about, don't you?! :14:

It's different... It's just... MORE!

 

[KOMPRESSOR]

Yes,I realize the spg's are mage in Itally.

The majority of products are imported into Canada and the US are Tiawan made...don't kid yourself here...they are the best made and have OEM branding on the product.

I had a quote from one US "oem" manufacture that gave me a quote on 100 wings at the same price ea as as US branded distributer would sell me on a quantity of five.

I would love to know who,in Tiawan "dir zone" and other OEMers actually have make the product.



Ron

Waddayaknow! I found a tag on the wings that states "Made in EC", which over here can only mean IT IS MANUFACTURED IN EUROPE.

And here you have it. It's made in Checkia by Planteko:

http://www.dtd-dive.cz/katalog.php?k=kompenzátory



Perhaps you can create your own "brand" in the US with these wings! "Brandt's Zone"? What u say?! Do I get a commission?!! Ha ha!

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

...
And here you have it. It's made in Checkia by Planteko:

http://www.dtd-dive.cz/katalog.php?k=kompenzátory

Perhaps you can create your own "brand" in the US with these wings! "Brandt's Zone"? What u say?! Do I get a commission?!! Ha ha!

I'm taking a flyer here based on pixelated images (high zoom), but if you want to buy these wings in the US, you would have to look no further than Golem Gear

Compare:
Golem Gear:

DTD/DIR Zone:

Looks like extremely well made gear - I would love to get some in my grubby paws! In fact, I plan to...

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[StSomewhere]

The majority of products are imported into Canada and the US are Tiawan made...don't kid yourself here...they are the best made and have OEM branding on the product.

I don't know what kind of crap you are diving, but my backplate and wing were made in the USA.

I had a quote from one US "oem" manufacture that gave me a quote on 100 wings at the same price ea as as US branded distributer would sell me on a quantity of five.

If you're going to the lowest bidder I think a certain company from Vietnam would probably "out-cheap" the stuff made in Taiwan.

Best of luck.

 

[JS1scuba]

Yes I think I made a point of the SPGs not being "made" by DIR Zone, as is the matter with the rest of the bunch of "brands"! And they are made in Italy, as you've correctly stated. (Not in Taiwan).

Regarding DIR Zone wings, I have noe idea where they are manufactured. -Except I don't think they are US made. Perhaps they actually are made in Germany for all I know. The quality of it I know is excellent, since I have friends with hundreds of dives with them without any sign of wear. And there's just that "something" when you hold it in your hands when it's new also... I've had an Eclipse for a year/60 dives, and I've loved every minute of using it! It works, and quality is fine. But any of you out there who has picked up a new AGIR wing in the shop know what I'm talking about, don't you?! :14:

It's different... It's just... MORE!

DIR Zone products are not made in Taiwan. The wings are made in eastern europe, the inflators and exhaust valves are made in Italy. The plates are made someplace in-between. We messed with distribution of this line here in the states last year. The product is robust and well made, in some places its too well made. The only problem we saw was that it was priced to high by the time we brought it in and delt with the Euro dollar conversion and the cost of import shipping.

It's common practice in the dive business to have a fabricator make product for a company. There are actually only about 10 companies that truly make their own products in their own factories (BC's, regs etc) And even then some parts are all sourced from the same place. Other than Aqualung/Apeks, DiveRite, Zeagle, Halcyon, and Deep Sea Supply.... all the rest have their wings made by an outside fabrication house someplace in the world. FYI Agir wings are made in the states, so are OMS, DeepOutdoors, Dive Systems and others. So the quality of those products is all excellent since they all come from the same place.

Hope this helps you ---

cheers

 

[KOMPRESSOR]

Tchekkia is part of the European Union, and isn't really "Eastern Europe" any more. Wether the US sold Agir wings are manufactured in the US I cannot tell. On the Agir homepage their slogan is: "the Swedish manufacturer of high quality divegear and accessories". And I have never anything but thay make their own wings. In Sweden... If this is not so, we'll certainly have a storm of protests from buyers when they hear Agir is exploiting cheap labour in the US

Anyway, I have a pair of Agir spring heel straps. Halcyon, go do your homework! I'd say the Agir straps are certainly expensive. I paid 100 USD for them (incl 25% sales tax...). But the just don't come any better than this!

So don't always think US made is better, although I understand anyones wish to keep business within their own country. (What's that? Did anyone whisper "inflator"?... :14: )

 

[StSomewhere]

Kompressor, I'm not implying that US made is necessarily better, in fact my regs are made in the UK. I just bristled at the assumption that all scuba gear is made in Taiwan. Obviously there's some other places turning out quality stuff, probably higher quality since "low cost provider" isn't the primary tenent of their business model. That's the stuff I try to stay away from. YMMV.

 

[KOMPRESSOR]

Kompressor, I'm not implying that US made is necessarily better, in fact my regs are made in the UK. I just bristled at the assumption that all scuba gear is made in Taiwan. Obviously there's some other places turning out quality stuff, probably higher quality since "low cost provider" isn't the primary tenent of their business model. That's the stuff I try to stay away from. YMMV.

No problemo, and I hope people can see my tounge-in-cheek here!

It's just that when not made in Taiwan, "Eastern Europe" tends to sound not much better. Probably not JS1scuba's intention, but others may certainly see it that way. And you guys certainly can't have enough "Made in the USA" tags on your gear, or so I've heard...

We've clearified some facts here regarding the marketing of DIR Zone products in the US under the brand name Golem Gear. Since I know for a fact DIR Zone, or DTD , holds excellent quality, Golem Gear cannot be worse. So perhaps I should as wether any of you dive with Golem Gear then?

 

[StSomewhere]

We've clearified some facts here regarding the marketing of DIR Zone products in the US under the brand name Golem Gear. Since I know for a fact DIR Zone, or DTD , holds excellent quality, Golem Gear cannot be worse. So perhaps I should as wether any of you dive with Golem Gear then?

No, not currently but I know its available here: http://www.salvodiving.com