ABOUT SALUS
At Salus, everyday we interact with sailors, paddlers, kayakers and water enthusiasts of all ages. Relationships like these allow us to appreciate what is important to you. Inspired by these passionate users, we began Salus because we saw a desire for Personal Flotation Devices that fit your individual needs. Our patented manufacturing process eliminates the hard square edges found in traditional PFD construction, making our vests soft, pliable and comfortable for your every movement. Comfort, style, function and attention to detail are all apart of what makes our vests unique!
Water-play looms large in the collective Canadian psyche. Perhaps it is because we are a nation rich in water with over 31 thousand freshwater lakes & rivers covering almost 8% of our country. Or perhaps because we have the longest coastline of any country in the world. Whatever the root, our nation’s passion for water-play inspired the humble beginnings of Salus Marine Wear Inc.
In 1999, in the basement of his home in Waterloo Ontario, Steve Wagner designed the first Salus PFD, focusing on comfort, quality, function, style and attention to detail.
Today, the Canadian manufacturer services paddlers, sailors, active families, and rescue professionals in Canada and around the world with its award-winning PFDs. Known as an industry innovator, Salus’ patented PFD designs have garnered industry accolades and international attention. That said, innovation in design is not the only thing that sets Salus apart.
Every Salus PFD is made in Canada, in our Waterloo Ontario factory. Using the same attention to detail and quality that earned Salus its reputation as an industry leader, each PFD is cut, assembled and sewn by Canadians who take exceptional pride in their work. Take a look through the photos below at some of the behind the scenes action showing how we make your favourite PFDs!
In the increasingly competitive international landscape, a commitment to keeping manufacturing jobs in Canada comes with a challenge. Not only do Canadian manufacturers have to compete with low-cost manufacturing facilities in Asia, but as more companies move their facilities offshore and the domestic supply chain dwindles, North American made fabrics and components become difficult to source.
Being a Canadian manufacturer has its benefits too. Quality control is immediate: from materials to workmanship, addressing potential problems occurs within minutes, not days. Further, Salus’ commitment to environmental responsibility is easily monitored and maintained. Committed to the “reduce, reuse, recycle” model, Salus first employs energy and resource efficient methods of production, then invests in re-use projects for the by-products of production, and finally sends the balance of “scrap” materials into recycling programs rather than sending them to landfill. The idea is to avoid waste to begin with and then to find creative ways to turn potential landfill into useful products, a practice that is virtually impossible to monitor with off-shore production.
Quality control, environmental responsibility, creating jobs for Canadians: all are reasons to be proud to be a Canadian manufacturer. For Salus, the most important reason to manufacture in Canada remains the people. From worker to customer, from paddling enthusiast to champion sailor, people are the inspiration for Salus’ designs, innovation, and commitment to staying true to their Canadian roots