DÜSSELDORF, Germany — November 18, 2025 — DuPont has announced the winners of the 2025 DuPont Innovation Awards, celebrating groundbreaking advancements in the personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response sectors.
This year marks the first global edition of the awards, which welcomed innovative products crafted from Nomex® or Kevlar® materials. The expanded initiative, held at the A+A trade show in Düsseldorf, recognizes the increasing necessity for multi-hazard protection in response to evolving safety risks.
Key themes from this year’s entries included the reduction of the environmental footprint of PPE, improvements in recyclability, and enhanced safety against unprecedented electrical hazards. Notably, firefighter safety was a significant focus, with many entries responding to the rising awareness of particulate dangers, particularly from incidents involving electric vehicles.
“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,” stated Stephanie Vrakas, DuPont’s global market leader for Personal Protection. “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.”
The awards’ judges scrutinized each submission based on essential criteria such as product performance, innovative design, quality of manufacturing, and commitment to environmental responsibility. Participants from all continents submitted entries across four categories: Nomex for Industrial PPE, Kevlar for Industrial PPE, Nomex Fabrics, and Nomex & Kevlar for Emergency Response.
The merging of multi-hazard protection and sustainability inspired two standout products in the 2025 DuPont Innovation Awards under the Nomex® for Industrial PPE category. Phenix protective clothing from the French company Groupe Mulliez-Flory utilizes Nomex Comfort fabric featuring EcoForce™ finish. This design protects workers in the oil, gas, chemical, and electrical sectors, enhancing durability while promoting eco-consciousness.
Spain’s Iturri S.A. developed garments made from post-consumer Nomex Recycled fabric for the oil and gas industry, incorporating 30 percent recycled content.
Another noteworthy winner in the same category was the Weldforce Welding Suit produced by Turkey’s İşmont Tekstil. This suit combines flame and heat resistance with increased mobility for demanding tasks.
SureWerx, based in the USA, secured recognition with the 40 Cal LAN Series Arc Flash Suit, designed for optimal comfort while meeting strict arc flash protection standards, suitable for workers in renewables, electrification, and other sectors.
In the Kevlar for Industrial PPE category, three of the winning entries were protective gloves, excelling in both performance and comfort. Swedish firm Ejendals created the TEGERA® welding gloves, offering heat and cut protection along with excellent fit and fingertip dexterity.
The Kevlar SoftShield 379 Level A9 Liner, developed by Pakistan’s Escorts Advanced Textiles, merges the highest cut protection rating (A9) with a soft Kevlar fabric reinforced with steel.
American manufacturer PIP Global Safety presented the ultra-light G-Tek® Paradox™ 21 Gauge (09-K3511) Cut Resistant Gloves, providing impressive dexterity, tactile sensitivity, and heat resistance.
France’s S.E.R.B. Regain Perform also made its mark with the Anti-laceration, Flame-Resistant, and Antistatic sleeve, designed for law enforcement, security personnel, and glass industry workers.
Firefighter protection prominently featured among many winners in the remaining categories. The Rambo Outershell Fabric for firefighter suits, created by Chinese company Ibena Shanghai, features Nomex spun yarn intertwined with Kevlar filament, yielding tensile strength 30 percent higher than conventional materials.
Nomex Xtreme Max from Türkiye’s Kipas Mensucat Isletmeleri A.S. offers firefighter suits exceptional mechanical performance, while the BarriAire Carbon Laminate Nano Flex Particulate Hood by the UK’s PGI Safety Ltd enhances protection for firefighters.
The Nomex Nano FlexLAM AIR hoods from France’s Alpex Protection Particulates introduce innovative air cushion technology between layers to boost breathability and thermal protection.
Sofileta’s 7158 Navy protective fire-resistant knit from France offers protection against electrical arc hazards and chemical liquids, meeting the EN13034 standard.
Lastly, Theodolf Fritsche GmbH of Germany produced Elastic Premium fabric for various protective garments, utilizing a distinct elastic yarn that outperforms traditional Elasthan in durability.
