Personal Protective Clothing: Providing Performance, Safety and Comfort

July 2015 | 32 pages | ID: P5EF679A1F4EN
Textiles Intelligence Ltd

Abstracts

Personal protective clothing is one of the largest single segments of the performance apparel industry and is a major component of personal protective equipment (PPE). In most developed countries, PPE markets are characterised by their extreme competitiveness and maturity, and this has restrained their potential for growth. As a result, several PPE suppliers have been targeting developing markets in a bid to maintain their sales growth targets and enhance their global competitive position. Another challenge is to persuade workers to wear appropriate personal protective clothing whenever they face an occupational hazard. Workers are demanding increasingly that their protective clothing not only safeguards their health in the workplace but is also comfortable to wear - and manufacturers are responding accordingly. As a result, the use of high performance fabric with moisture management and thermal regulation properties has become widespread. Such factors have become powerful selling tools and are key to increasing compliance with regulations which call for the use of personal protective clothing. Furthermore, there is a drive for the personal protective clothing industry to become more sustainable by reducing consumption of petroleum-based materials and using sustainable raw materials and processes. This report provides an analysis of the PPE market and presents the key challenges facing suppliers of personal protective clothing. In addition, it includes detailed information on the main categories of personal protective clothing, the fibres and fabrics used in the manufacture of personal protective clothing and the latest product innovations in the sector. Furthermore, it provides information on the stringent standards and regulations enforced within the industry and provides an outlook for the future.

Contents

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

MARKET FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Factors affecting the market

SUPPLIERS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

MAJOR TRENDS IN THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING INDUSTRY

Comfort
Design and fashion
Design
Fashion
New product developments
Emerging technologies
Commitment to sustainability

KEY CHALLENGES FACING SUPPLIERS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

THE NEED FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Physical hazards in the working environment and their effects
Health-related hazards in the working environment and their effects
Protection of objects and equipment in the working environment

MAIN CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FIBRES AND FABRICS USED IN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING STANDARDS REGULATIONS

INNOVATIONS IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Ansell: HyFlex gloves for cut protection applications
Bulwark and Milliken: IQ Series flame resistant (FR) protective apparel
Coats: Flamepro flame resistant (FR) and cut resistant yarn
Coats: Signal flame resistant (FR) reflective tape
DSM: Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology material for ballistic protection
Fraunhofer-Einrichtung f?r Mikrosysteme und Festk?rper-Technologien: gloves which detect toxic substances
G&K Services: flame resistant (FR) knitwear
G&K Services: Vented flame resistant (FR) uniforms
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL): material which repels chemical and biological agents for use in military uniforms
Mount Vernon FR: amDry fabric finish for protective workwear
Mount Vernon FR: Amtex TC flame resistant (FR) fabrics
Mount Vernon FR: FlexTex flame resistant (FR) fabric for protective workwear
Mount Vernon FR and Carhartt: extremes arctic flame resistant (FR) workwear
National Safety Apparel (NSA): CarbonComfort flame resistant (FR) workwear
Schoeller: pyroshell flame resistant (FR) fabrics
Teijin Aramid: Twaron 550F1000 lightweight aramid yarn for anti-ballistic and anti-stab products
TenCate Protective Fabrics: TenCate Gemini XTL for firefighters’ turnout gear
TenCate Protective Fabrics: TenCate Millenia for firefighters’ turnout gear
Victor Group: Ecoshield environmentally friendly flame resistant (FR) fabric

OUTLOOK

List Of Tables

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Overview of the global personal protective equipment (PPE) market
Table 2: Types of hazards in the workplace and related personal protective equipment (PPE) options
Table 3: Key players in the global market for personal protective clothing and accessories, 2015
Table 4: World: workplace injuries, 2010-13
Table 5: World: use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by industry, 2013
Table 6: Key categories of personal protective clothing and their purposes
Table 7: Fibres and fabrics used in personal protective clothing

List Of Figures

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: A glove which has changed colour in the presence of a toxic substance
Figure 2: Pyroshell