uvex starts in-house production of respirators

To ensure the supply of high-quality respiratory protection products, uvex safety group is investing in in-house production for FFP2 respirators together with Fackelmann. With its production facility in France, the Fürther company is also becoming more independent of global supply chains.

"To meet the persistently high demand for respirators during the coronavirus pandemic, uvex is leveraging its manufacturing expertise and has been producing its own FFP2 masks for several weeks now", explains Stefan Brück, CEO of UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co, KG. "The production equipment and filter materials come from Germany, while the protective masks are produced in France — This combination not only ensures first-class product quality, but short transport routes also make an im-portant contribution towards protecting the environment and sustainability".

With an in-house production rate of 71 percent, 43 percent of which was in Germany, the respiratory protection product group at uvex safety was one of the few lines that was not manufactured in-house, but together with partners in China. Due to the increased demand and stringent requirements brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the supply chain has been temporarily interrupted again and again in recent months. To avoid this problem in the future and ensure faster availability of the protective masks, uvex is now relying on the production site in Europe. Together with the Hersbruck company Fackelmann, uvex has built up a production facility in Bussang/Vogesen, France, in recent months, which started production in December. The production capacity of the plant is in the double-digit million range.

uvex respiratory protection "Made in Europe"
The first model to be manufactured by uvex in-house is the FFP2 flat-fold mask uvex silv-Air lite. The excellent fit and the seal around the nose area provide dependable protection, as well as the unique advantage of effectively preventing spectacles from fogging up. An external and independent standardised test conducted by accredited certification body BSI has shown that its secure fit is as reliable as that of the high-quality FFP3 protective masks. The optimised, two-piece horizontal folded shape of the mask means it holds its shape, while the enlarged filter surface and large interior of the mask significantly reduce breathing resistance. Weighing in at just seven grams, the flat-fold mask offers reliable protection and a great fit, even when worn for long periods.

About the uvex group
The uvex group brings together three globally active companies under one roof: the uvex safety group, the uvex sports group (uvex sports and ALPINA), and the Filtral group (Filtral and Primetta). The uvex group is represented by 49 subsidiaries in 22 countries, but proudly focuses its manufacturing operations in Germany. 60 percent of its 2900 employees (as of FY 2019/20) are employed in Germany. uvex is a global partner to international elite sport and equips a host of top athletes. The guiding principle — protecting people — is the mission and the duty of the company. To this end, uvex develops, manufactures and distributes products and services for the protection of people in sports, leisure and at work.

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