What uvex group does

uvex group is a German family-rooted manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sports/leisure protective gear, founded in 1926 by Philipp M. Winter and headquartered in Fürth, Germany. The company operates through four business groups — uvex safety group (occupational PPE), uvex sports group including ALPINA (ski, cycling, and equestrian helmets and goggles), Filtral group (Filtral and Primetta eyewear brands), and UD2C group (direct-to-consumer e-commerce) — under nine distinct brand identities spanning 49 subsidiaries in 23 countries. With approximately 2,900 employees, 64% of whom are based in Germany, uvex maintains a vertically integrated value chain producing roughly 80% of safety value added in its own factories through in-house development, design, engineering, and quality management.

The product portfolio covers head-to-toe occupational PPE — safety helmets, eyewear, hearing protection, respiratory protection, gloves, safety footwear, and workwear — plus sports helmets, ski goggles, consumer sunglasses, and reading glasses. Technical differentiators include MIPS-integrated sports helmets, anti-fog lens coatings, PFAS-free footwear materials (transitioned November 2025 ahead of EU 2026 regulation), 100% recycled PET monomaterial padding, and bio-based polyamide from castor oil for prescription safety glasses. The company runs an in-house uvex academy for occupational safety training and offers individualized PPE solutions for optics, otoplastics, and orthopedics.

uvex generates revenue primarily through enterprise B2B sales to large industrial employers across automotive, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing (protecting over one million automotive workers worldwide), supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce via uvex-group.shop and brand-specific online stores, retail distribution of consumer sunglasses and reading glasses at airports, department stores, drugstores, and petrol stations, and athlete sponsorship-driven demand in sports segments. The company is majority-owned by private equity firm Warburg Pincus following its July 2025 acquisition at an enterprise value of approximately €800 million, with founding families Winter and Grau retaining a significant minority stake and remaining operationally involved.

Name

uvex group

Legal name

UVEX WINTER HOLDING GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://uvex-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

uvex group is a German manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sports protective gear, founded in 1926, operating through nine brands across 49 subsidiaries in 23 countries. It serves industrial employers in automotive, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, plus sports and consumer eyewear markets, with approximately 2,900 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Optical Goods Retailers (456130), Footwear Manufacturing (31621), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Protective Gear Retail (Helmets, Goggles, Pads, Back Protectors) (CRAMAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bike Apparel, Helmets & Protective Gear Retail (CRAMAHAC), Helmets & Protective Headgear Retail (Motorcycle/ATV/Snow) (CRAMANAB), Eye Protection & Goggles Retail (CRAMANAJ), Sports & Outdoor Accessories Manufacturing (Performance Gloves/Headwear) (IMAOAFAI), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Personal protective equipment
• Occupational safety products
• Safety helmets
• Sports eyewear
• Protective footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

Fürth

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices33 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Occupational Safety Products: uvex safety group generates revenue through selling comprehensive PPE including hearing protection, breathing masks, protective goggles, helmets, gloves, safety shoes, and workwear to industrial customers. Nearly 80% of uvex safety's value added is generated in its own factories.
2. Sports and Leisure Products: Revenue from ski helmets, cycling helmets, equestrian helmets, goggles, and sports eyewear sold to consumers and sporting organizations worldwide. Around 1,100 top athletes use uvex products.
3. Eyewear (Sunglasses and Reading Glasses): Primetta brand generates revenue through sunglasses and reading glasses sold at airports, department stores, drugstores, and petrol stations. Filtral brand also serves this market.
4. Direct-to-Consumer Online Sales: UD2C GROUP GmbH handles direct online commerce through uvex-group.shop and brand-specific e-commerce platforms, selling directly to end consumers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

uvex group manufactures and distributes personal protective equipment (safety helmets, safety eyewear, hearing protection, respiratory protection, safety gloves, safety footwear, workwear) for occupational and industrial use, alongside sports helmets, goggles, and eyewear for skiing, cycling, and equestrian activities. The company operates through nine brands (uvex safety, uvex sports, ALPINA, Filtral, Heckel, HexArmor, Hiplok, laservision, Primetta) and sells via enterprise B2B sales, direct-to-consumer e-commerce (uvex-group.shop), retail outlets, and a global network of 49 subsidiaries across 23 countries.

Product overview

The uvex group is a German manufacturer of protective equipment operating under four divisions: uvex safety group, uvex sports group (encompassing uvex sports and ALPINA), Filtral group (Filtral and Primetta), and UD2C group for direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The company offers nine distinct brands spanning occupational safety products (safety helmets, eyewear, hearing protection, gloves, footwear, workwear) and sports/recreational products (ski helmets, cycling helmets, equestrian helmets, goggles, sunglasses). Key product lines include the uvex safety SBUs organized by body part (Head, Eyewear, Gloves, Footwear, Workwear) and uvex sports divisions covering equestrian, wintersports, cycling, and eyewear. The portfolio also includes specialized offerings like laservision for laser protection, HexArmor for industrial protection, and individual customized PPE solutions for optics, otoplastics, and orthopaedics. The company maintains production primarily in Germany and Europe as part of its 'Made in uvex' philosophy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• uvex safety: Occupational safety products including hearing protection, respiratory protection, safety glasses, helmets, gloves, and safety footwear.
• uvex sports
• ALPINA
• Filtral
• Primetta
• Heckel
• HexArmor
• Hiplok
• laservision

Products and services

• uvex safety (Occupational Safety PPE) Comprehensive occupational safety products including hearing protection, breathing masks, protective goggles, safety helmets, safety gloves, safety shoes, and workwear for workplace protection from head to toe. Sold primarily through enterprise B2B sales channels to industrial customers.
• uvex sports (Sports Helmets and Goggles) Sports helmets and goggles for skiing, cycling, and equestrian sports, featuring MIPS technology and advanced protection for professional and recreational athletes. Around 1,100 top athletes use uvex sports products.
• ALPINA Sports Helmets and Goggles Sports brand specializing in helmets and goggles for winter sports and cycling, known for quality and innovative design.
• Filtral Sunglasses and Eyewear Sunglasses and eyewear brand offering stylish designs with UV protection for everyday use, sold at airports, department stores, drugstores, and petrol stations.
• Primetta Sunglasses and Reading Glasses Sunglass manufacturer with over 90 years of tradition, offering sunglasses with 100% UV protection and reading glasses in various styles, sold at airports, department stores, drugstores, and petrol stations.
• Heckel Safety Footwear Safety footwear brand specializing in protective shoes for industrial and occupational use, primarily serving the French market.
• HexArmor High-Performance Protective Equipment High-performance protective equipment brand offering advanced safety solutions for industrial applications, particularly known for safety gloves.
• Hiplok Bicycle Security Products Cycling locks and security products for bicycle protection, serving urban mobility and cycling security needs.
• laservision Laser Protection Eyewear Laser protection products and safety eyewear specialized for laser-intensive environments and industrial laser applications.
• Individual PPE (Optics, Otoplastics, Orthopaedics) Customized individual premium solutions combining high innovation with individual adjustment to the wearer for eyes (optics), ears (otoplastics), and feet (orthopaedics).
• uvex academy Occupational Safety Training In-house training centre for occupational safety providing education and awareness programs for industrial customers and safety professionals.
• uvex-group.shop Direct-to-Consumer Online Shop Direct-to-consumer online shopping platform for uvex products available 24/7, operated by UD2C GROUP GmbH, selling branded products at retail and outlet pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million workers in automotive industry protected worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cofidis (cycling team)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026uvex is equipment partner for Cofidis cycling team for three seasons until end of 2028. uvex supplies helmets and glasses to both men's and women's teams including uvex surge aero MIPS helmet and uvex race 8 time trial helmet. Partnership includes feedback loop where riders provide product optimization insights based on daily racing experience.
• Baker Tilly Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbHminorOthersExternal ombudsman service for uvex group's whistleblower system. Provides confidential reporting channel for employees, suppliers, agents, and subcontractors to report violations of the uvex group's Social Standard.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• POC Sports: POC manufactures premium cycling and ski helmets with proprietary safety technologies, including MIPS-integrated designs. Direct competitor to uvex sports in the cycling and winter sports helmet categories, serving similar professional and consumer athlete segments.
• Ansell: Ansell is a global leader in protective gloves and industrial PPE, directly comparable to uvex safety's gloves SBU. Both companies serve medical, industrial, and life sciences end-markets with hand protection solutions.
• Petzl: Petzl manufactures helmets, headlamps, and protective equipment for work-at-height and climbing applications. Overlaps with uvex's safety helmet SBU and sports helmet divisions (ski mountaineering, climbing) in both occupational and recreational end-markets.
• MSA Safety: MSA Safety manufactures head-to-toe PPE including safety helmets, respiratory protection, and protective eyewear for industrial customers globally. Direct comparable to uvex safety across the same B2B occupational safety end-markets including construction and manufacturing.
• Bollé Safety: Bollé Safety is a direct competitor in occupational safety eyewear, goggles, and protective headgear. Both companies serve industrial B2B customers with PPE including safety glasses, helmets, and hearing protection across similar geographies and channels.
• Smith Optics: Smith Optics produces sports helmets, goggles, and sunglasses with proprietary lens technologies. Direct overlap with uvex sports' wintersports, cycling, and eyewear product lines, including ChromaPop anti-fog/contrast lens technology.

Broad incumbents

• Würth Group: Würth is a global distributor and manufacturer of PPE, tools, and fastening materials for trades and industrial customers. Overlaps with uvex safety's distribution into construction and trades B2B channels across Europe.
• Salomon: Salomon manufactures ski helmets, goggles, and winter sports footwear with similar premium positioning. Direct overlap with uvex sports' wintersports division and ALPINA brand, though Salomon operates across a broader ski/snowboard hardgoods portfolio.
• Honeywell Personal Protective Equipment: Honeywell's PPE segment manufactures head, eye, hearing, hand, and foot protection across occupational and tactical markets. Competes broadly with uvex safety across multiple SBUs as part of Honeywell's diversified industrial conglomerate.
• 3M Personal Safety Division: 3M's Personal Safety Division is a global incumbent in PPE including respiratory protection, hearing protection, and safety eyewear. Competes with uvex safety across multiple occupational SBUs but as part of a much broader industrial conglomerate portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@uvexgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/uvexgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/uvexgroup
• TikToktiktok.com/@uvexgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uvex-group

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries34 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about uvex group