Drop Stitch Technology — Losberger De Boer's product name for their drop-stitch inflatable shelter modules. The underlying fabric construction is used industry-wide.

Is drop-stitch proprietary to one manufacturer?

No. Drop-stitch is a textile construction produced by several mills and used by multiple shelter manufacturers, as well as in paddleboards, boat decks and gym mats.

Can you build to an existing specification?

Send it and we will tell you point by point what we can evidence now, what needs testing, and what we would decline. That answer is free.

What is the main difference between suppliers?

Test documentation, certification coverage and delivery record. The construction itself is common ground.

SECOND SOURCING · FOR BUYERS WITH A SPECIFICATION ALREADY

Looking for a DST alternative

If you arrived here you probably have a specification and a budget already, and you need a second quote. This page is about how to compare them properly.

Короткий ответ

DST is Losberger De Boer's product name for drop-stitch inflatable shelter modules. Drop-stitch itself is a fabric construction, not a proprietary technology, and several manufacturers build with it. What separates suppliers is verified test data, certification coverage, delivery record and support — not the construction, which is common.

What to compare between suppliers

What to compare between suppliers
Compare on	What to ask for	Why it decides the bid
Working pressure	Measured value per wall grade, not a range	Determines air source sizing and structural verification
Fabric specification	Base denier, thread density, coating thickness — separately	A single gsm figure conceals all three
Tensile and tear strength	Third-party test report with standard and date	Technical bids cannot be completed without it
Fire rating	The standard, the body, the report number	EN 13501, NFPA 701 and GB are not interchangeable
Delivery record	Project list with country, quantity and date	The most common reason a second source is rejected
Support	Spares, repair training, response time	Deployable equipment fails in the field, not the warehouse

Where we are honest about our position

Losberger De Boer is an established manufacturer with a long delivery record and a certification portfolio built over decades. If your procurement requires a supplier with that history, they will win and should. Second sourcing makes sense where you want price tension, delivery capacity, or a supplier who will build to your specification rather than sell you a catalogue product.

We would rather say this plainly than pretend the comparison is even on every axis.

What a second source is actually for

Supply security, commercial leverage, and configuration freedom. Large programmes routinely qualify a second manufacturer for exactly these reasons, and the qualification usually turns on test data and manufacturing capability rather than brand.

What to send us for a like-for-like comparison

The specification you are working to, the quantities, and the delivery window. If your specification cites standards or test methods we will tell you which we can evidence today and which would need testing — before you build a schedule around it.

We would rather lose a bid on an honest answer than win one we cannot document.

Is a second source right for this programme

A second source helps when

Volumes are large enough that price tension matters
Delivery capacity is a schedule risk
The configuration differs from a catalogue product
Supply continuity is a stated requirement

Stay with the incumbent when

Procurement rules require a specific certification history
The quantity is small and qualification cost exceeds the saving
Delivery is immediate and no alternative can be qualified in time

Частые вопросы

What is DST?: Drop Stitch Technology — Losberger De Boer's product name for their drop-stitch inflatable shelter modules. The underlying fabric construction is used industry-wide.
Is drop-stitch proprietary to one manufacturer?: No. Drop-stitch is a textile construction produced by several mills and used by multiple shelter manufacturers, as well as in paddleboards, boat decks and gym mats.
Can you build to an existing specification?: Send it and we will tell you point by point what we can evidence now, what needs testing, and what we would decline. That answer is free.
What is the main difference between suppliers?: Test documentation, certification coverage and delivery record. The construction itself is common ground.

Страница обновлена 2026-08-28

Send us your specification

We will respond with a point-by-point read on what we can evidence today and what would require testing. No obligation and no price list at this stage.

Запросить материалы Все сравнения