DuPont recognises Nomex and Kevlar developments for industrial safety

DuPont announces 2025 global PPE awards

DuPont has announced the winners of its 2025 DuPont Innovation Awards for Thermal and Mechanical Protection at the A+A show in Düsseldorf, Germany, recognising new personal protective equipment and emergency response products using Nomex and Kevlar.

The company stated that this is the first global edition of the awards, open to new products made with either Nomex or Kevlar fabrics or fibres.

According to DuPont, the wider scope reflects growing demand for multi hazard protection as risks change across industrial and emergency response environments.

Entries highlighted efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of personal protective equipment, improve recyclability and address electrical hazards faced by workers.

Firefighter safety featured strongly, with several submissions focusing on particulate exposure and emerging risks from electric vehicle fires.

DuPont said entries were received from all continents across four categories covering Nomex for industrial personal protective equipment, Kevlar for industrial personal protective equipment, Nomex fabrics and Nomex and Kevlar for emergency response.

Judges evaluated submissions on product performance, design, manufacturing quality and environmental responsibility.

Stephanie Vrakas, Global Market Leader at DuPont Personal Protection, said: “DuPont is proud to recognize the winners of our Innovation Awards that bring together Nomex and Kevlar innovations from all regions for the first time.

“These award recipients have developed innovative solutions for the Industrial PPE and Emergency Response industries through all-in-one, multi-hazard solutions that protect workers and firefighters more effectively while advancing sustainability.”

Industrial PPE winners focus on multi hazard risks

DuPont reported that four products were recognised in the Nomex for industrial personal protective equipment category.

Phenix protective clothing from French company Groupe Mulliez-Flory uses Nomex Comfort fabric with EcoForce finish to protect workers in the oil and gas, chemical and electrical sectors.

The company said this range aims to handle multiple hazards while maintaining durability and supporting sustainability objectives.

Iturri in Spain developed post-consumer Nomex Recycled garments for the oil and gas industry using fabric that includes 30% recycled materials.

Another winner in this category was the Weldforce Welding Suit from Turkish manufacturer İşmont Tekstil, which combines flame and heat resistance with enhanced mobility for demanding tasks.

DuPont added that the fourth winner, the 40 Cal LAN Series Arc Flash Suit from US-based SureWerx, is an ultra-lightweight suit designed to provide comfort while meeting the highest arc flash protection requirements in renewables, electrification and related sectors.

Kevlar based gloves and sleeves recognised

In the Kevlar for industrial personal protective equipment category, three of the four winners were protective gloves.

Swedish company Ejendals was recognised for its TEGERA welding gloves, which combine heat and cut protection with a focus on fit, comfort and fingertip control.

Escorts Advanced Textiles in Pakistan received an award for the Kevlar SoftShield 379 Level A9 Liner, which DuPont described as offering the highest cut protection level with a soft Kevlar based fabric reinforced with steel.

US manufacturer PIP Global Safety won with its ultra-light G-Tek Paradox 21 Gauge (09-K3511) cut resistant gloves, designed to deliver dexterity, tactile sensitivity and heat resistance.

The fourth winner in this category was an anti-laceration, flame-resistant and antistatic sleeve developed by French company S.E.R.B. Regain Perform, described as suitable for law enforcement, security personnel and glass industry workers.

Firefighter protection and emergency response entries

DuPont stated that firefighter protection was a key focus across the remaining categories, which covered Nomex fabrics and combined Nomex and Kevlar applications for emergency response.

Rambo Outershell Fabric for firefighter suits from Chinese company Ibena Shanghai uses Nomex spun yarn interwoven with Kevlar filament to deliver tensile strength reported as 30% higher than conventional fabrics.

Nomex Xtreme Max, developed by Kipas Mensucat Isletmeleri in Türkiye, provides firefighter suits with high mechanical performance.

UK-based PGI Safety was recognised for its BarriAire Carbon Laminate Nano Flex Particulate Hood, which offers enhanced particulate performance for firefighter head and neck protection.

French manufacturer Alpex Protection Particulates received an award for its Nomex Nano FlexLAM AIR hoods, which use an air cushion between layers to increase breathability and thermal protection.

New fabrics target arc, chemical and garment performance

Further winners highlighted by DuPont included a protective knit and an elastic fabric aimed at wider protective clothing applications.

French company Sofileta won recognition for its 7158 Navy protective fire-resistant knit, which can protect workers against electric arc hazards and chemical liquids in line with the EN13034 standard.

German company Theodolf Fritsche received an award for its Elastic Premium fabric for protective garments, which uses an elastic yarn described as more durable than Elasthan in service.

How DuPont awards affect PPE decisions

Procurement officers responsible for industrial personal protective equipment can use outcomes from the DuPont Innovation Awards to track product developments spanning multi hazard garments, cut resistant gloves and arc flash suits.

The recognised garments and gloves cover workers in oil and gas, chemical and electrical sectors and those handling welding, cutting and glass operations.

Fire and rescue chiefs, emergency and disaster response managers and equipment specifiers can review firefighter hoods and outer shells highlighted by DuPont as addressing particulate exposure and mechanical performance.

The firefighter focused products include outer shells that increase tensile strength and hoods designed to balance particulate filtration with breathability and thermal protection.

Electrical contractors and safety officers may have particular interest in the arc flash suits and arc protective knits recognised in the awards.

These products are described as combining high arc protection with lighter, more comfortable designs that still meet demanding protection levels.

For organisations with sustainability objectives, the post-consumer recycled Nomex garments and fabrics with recycled content indicate how suppliers are starting to integrate recyclability and resource use into protective clothing design.