The implementation is focused initially on UNIFEQ Europe’s apparel and uniform manufacturing plant in Kętrzyn, where GSDCost will establish standard minute values (SMVs) for core uniform styles, support line balancing and capacity planning, and provide the foundation for a new performance-related bonus scheme for production operators. GSDQuest will enable the company to generate fast, AI-powered first-pass Bills of Labour from garment images.

Founded in 2011, UNIFEQ Europe is an independent Polish family-owned manufacturer specialising in military and uniformed-services apparel, tactical equipment and individual ballistic protection. The company supplies armed forces and uniformed services across Poland and Europe, with recent major contract wins including the Swedish Police and the armed forces of Sweden and France.

With annual turnover exceeding PLN 240 million (approximately USD 60–65 million), UNIFEQ Europe is experiencing rapid growth and was recognised among Poland’s fastest-growing companies in the Forbes Diamonds 2025 ranking. The company is also investing millions of PLN in expanding its Kętrzyn operation, including a new ballistic protection production line, R&D department and in-house ballistic laboratory.

Standardised costing and production planning

As its order book has grown, UNIFEQ Europe recognised that its existing production standards and costing processes needed to evolve. Sewing-floor targets were based on historical and observed times rather than a standardised methodology, while production and piece-rate records were maintained manually in Excel. This made it more difficult to accurately measure performance, optimise line capacity and prepare reliable labour costings for complex defence tenders.

Piotr Kowalik, CEO of UNIFEQ Europe, explains how the investment will support the company’s expansion: “UNIFEQ has grown from a start-up into a supplier of uniforms, equipment and ballistic protection to armed forces across Europe, and today the order book of our sewing plant in Kętrzyn exceeds our current capacity. To scale up responsibly we need one objective language for time, cost and performance on the sewing floor – one that our technologists, planners, line leaders and operators can all trust. GSDCost gives us exactly that. Method-based standard minutes will allow us to balance our lines properly, cost tenders and new products accurately and quickly, and – importantly – reward our operators fairly for their real performance. We expect a sustainable, measurable improvement in productivity and a much faster costing process, which is essential as we recruit and train the new operators that our growth requires.”

Built on Coats Digital’s globally recognised GSD methodology, GSDCost enables manufacturers to establish scientifically accurate Standard Minute Values using internationally recognised motion codes and predetermined times. For UNIFEQ Europe, this will provide a common benchmark for costing, line balancing, capacity planning, operator performance and training.

Alongside GSDCost, GSDQuest uses AI to analyse garment images and automatically generate a first-pass Bill of Labour, helping UNIFEQ Europe reduce the time required to prepare labour costings for new styles and tenders.

The company will also use GSDCost to support the redesign of its bonus scheme, giving operators a transparent basis for performance-related rewards. As the Kętrzyn site expands, GSD-based methods and targets will also help newly recruited operators understand expected performance and shorten their learning curves.

Piotr Kowalik also emphasises the broader significance of the investment for UNIFEQ Europe’s manufacturing operations: “For us, the value of this investment goes beyond costing. We are building a manufacturing operation that needs to support significant growth, and that means giving our teams clear standards, reliable data and the right tools to make better decisions. GSDCost and GSDQuest will help us create a stronger connection between our engineering, production and commercial activities, while giving us a scalable foundation for the future.”

Further implementation and future expansion

UNIFEQ Europe’s next phase will include extending GSDCost into its sample room and tender pre-costing process, using GSDQuest for fast first-pass costing of new styles. The company also plans to use GSD standards to support the training of new operators and provide a common benchmark for its external production partners.

Hakan Canbolat, Regional Sales Manager, EMEA & N. America, Coats Digital, highlights the importance of consistent production standards during periods of rapid growth: “UNIFEQ Europe is a great example of a manufacturer that understands the importance of establishing the right foundations as it scales. Rapid growth brings enormous opportunity, but it also makes consistency, visibility and control across the sewing floor increasingly important. GSDCost gives UNIFEQ a trusted, internationally recognised standard for measuring time and performance, while GSDQuest brings the speed and intelligence of AI to the costing process. Together, they will help the company make faster, more informed decisions while creating a stronger foundation for productivity, workforce development and future growth.”

The investment marks an important step in UNIFEQ Europe’s digital transformation as it builds the capacity, processes and capabilities required to support its continued expansion across the European defence and uniform market.