What Respirex does

Respirex International Limited is a UK-based manufacturer of chemical, particulate, and respiratory protective clothing and equipment with operating history dating to 1960 and a current 101–250 employee footprint. The company serves industrial, emergency-response, military, and hazardous-materials end-users across more than a dozen vertical segments including fire and civil defence, chemical manufacturing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, nuclear, maritime, chemical transport, water utilities, military, and health authorities. Customers include both reusable-equipment fleets with 10–15 year service lives and single-use disposable users.

The product portfolio covers EN Type 1 through Type 6 chemical protective clothing, comprising gas-tight suits (GTL, GTB, GTR, GTA series), splash suits (SC1, SC4, Splashmaster), air-fed suits and hoods with integral breathing and cooling air systems (Simplair, ActiveAir), chemical workwear, particulate garments, CBRN equipment, and protective footwear (Hazmax, Isotec, Workmaster) plus Kemblok welded gloves. Technical differentiation rests on the proprietary Chemprotex™ family of chemical-barrier fabrics, integrated glove-to-suit sealing, and an extensive permeation database that supports the PermaSURE™ toxicity modeller application. Manufacturing is anchored at the Redhill, Surrey headquarters and extended through the wholly-owned WorkMaster Boots (West Sussex) and MFC International (Tonypandy, South Wales) subsidiaries.

The commercial model combines direct quote-based enterprise sales with a global distributor network spanning at least 14 countries, supplemented by testing and annual servicing of reusable gas-tight suits. Pricing is quote-driven and not publicly disclosed, and demand generation is concentrated at CBRN and safety trade shows across Europe, North America, and Asia. Multiple EN, SOLAS, ATEX, EU 2016/425, and UKCA certifications support regulatory compliance across the served verticals.

Name

Respirex

Legal name

Respirex International Limited

Website

https://respirex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Respirex International is a UK-based manufacturer, founded in 1960, of chemical, particulate and respiratory protective clothing and equipment, including gas-tight suits, splash suits, air-fed suits, CBRN equipment and protective footwear, serving emergency services, chemical, pharmaceutical, nuclear, military and maritime customers worldwide through its proprietary Chemprotex fabric family and PermaSURE modelling tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Protective Equipment (Chemical Protective Clothing)

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical-Resistant & Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing (CRAAALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF), Disposable Protective Apparel (Coveralls, Gowns, Shoe Covers) (CRAAALAM), Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)

Keywords

• Chemical protective clothing
• Gas-tight suits
• CBRN equipment
• Protective footwear
• Respiratory protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Tunbridge Wells

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Protective Clothing & Equipment Sales: Respirex generates revenue primarily through the sale of chemical protective clothing, gas-tight suits, splash suits, protective footwear, gloves, and related accessories. Products range from single-use disposable garments to high-end reusable suits with 10-15 year shelf lives. Pricing is quote-based for most products.
2. Testing & Servicing: The company offers product testing services and servicing for reusable gas-tight suits, including annual pressure testing required for safety compliance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Respirex designs and manufactures high-performance chemical, particulate, and respiratory protective garments and equipment for industrial and emergency response applications. The product portfolio includes gas-tight suits, splash suits, air-fed suits, CBRN equipment, chemical protective boots and gloves, all built on proprietary Chemprotex barrier fabrics. The company also offers testing, servicing, and supporting digital tools such as the Permasure toxicity modeller app.

Product overview

Respirex International is a leading manufacturer of chemical, particulate, and respiratory protective solutions with over six decades of expertise. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of protective clothing and equipment organized across multiple product categories: Gas-Tight Suits (GTL, GTL ESD, GTB, GTR, GTA series) providing Type 1 protection against gaseous chemicals; Splash Suits (SC1, SC4, Splashmaster) offering Type 3 and Type 4 liquid-tight protection; Air-Fed Suits and Hoods (ActiveAir API, ActiveAir AutoFlow, Simplair series) with integral breathing and cooling air systems; Chemical Workwear including one-piece suits, jackets and trousers, aprons, and neck cloths; Powered Air Systems; Particulate Garments; CBRN Equipment; and Protective Footwear including Hazmax, Isotec, and Workmaster boot ranges. The product range is complemented by software and service solutions including the PermaSURE toxicity modeller app and Chemline incident support service. Respirex Group includes Workmaster Boots and MFC International (inflatable rescue equipment). Products are certified to multiple EN standards and EU 2016/425 PPE regulation, with manufacturing facilities in Redhill, Surrey, UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WorkMaster Boots: High-performance protective footwear brand, part of the Respirex group of companies, based in West Sussex.
• MFC International
• Chemprotex
• Kemblok Gloves
• Hazmax Boots
• Permasure

Products and services

• ActiveAir API Suit Single-use Type 3 liquid-tight one-piece suit with integral breathing and cooling air system providing positive pressure protection against particulate and liquid chemical hazards.
• ActiveAir AutoFlow Suit Single-use Type 3 liquid-tight one-piece suit with reusable, removable air system providing high-level protection against particulate and liquid chemical hazards.
• GTL Gas-Tight Suit Type 1A-ET single-use, regular robustness encapsulating gas-tight suit designed to protect emergency responders against toxic, corrosive gases, liquids and solid chemicals, manufactured in Chemprotex 400 fabric.
• GTB ET Enhanced Robustness Gas-Tight Suit Type 1A-ET fully encapsulating enhanced robustness reusable gas-tight suit covering both wearer and breathing apparatus, available in Viton/Butyl/Viton, ChloroTex, and Viton Laminate materials.
• SC1 Single-Use Splash Suit Single-use Type 3 liquid-tight chemical protective suit manufactured from Chemprotex 300 fabric for use with breathing apparatus worn outside the suit or full facemask and filter.
• Splashmaster Coverall Lightweight Type 3 liquid-tight limited re-use hooded coverall designed for use with full face mask and filter, manufactured from Chemprotex 300 with spun-bonded lining.
• Simplair A.E Suit Reusable Type 2 non-gas-tight air-fed suit with integral cooling designed for use with breathable air from external compressed air source, available in range of chemically resistant fabrics.
• GLS 300A Gas-Tight Suit Single-use fully encapsulating Type 1A gas-tight chemical protection suit covering wearer and breathing apparatus with choice of permanently attached gloves and sock feet.
• Hazmax Boots Proprietary chemical safety boots with heat and flame resistance (FPA variant), integrated into gas-tight suits for complete protection.
• Kemblok Gloves Proprietary chemical barrier laminated gloves permanently welded to suit sleeves, providing integrated hand protection without leakage points.
• ServiceTech Maintenance, testing and annual pressure testing services for reusable gas-tight suits to ensure continued safety compliance.
• Permasure Toxicity Modeller App Mobile application for modelling chemical toxicity and permeation data to help customers select appropriate protective equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products meet Type 1 through Type 6 EN standards for chemical protective clothing
• +2 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DuPont: DuPont is a diversified specialty chemicals giant whose Tychem and Tyvek product lines are direct competitors to Respirex's chemical protective clothing (and Respirex even uses DuPont Tychem TK fabric in its GTR suits). DuPont is the most relevant incumbent competing in Respirex's core chemical protective clothing market.
• Honeywell: Honeywell's Personal Protective Equipment division offers a broad portfolio of chemical, respiratory, and fall protection equipment that overlaps significantly with Respirex's product range. As a Fortune-100 industrial conglomerate, Honeywell competes across nearly every category Respirex addresses, from gas detection to chemical suits.
• 3M: 3M's Safety & Industrial business provides respiratory protection, protective coveralls, and chemical suits that overlap directly with Respirex's gas-tight and splash suit offerings. 3M is one of the largest global PPE manufacturers with extensive brand recognition and distribution reach.
• Ansell: Ansell is a global leader in protective gloves and chemical protective apparel, with the AlphaTec brand offering gas-tight and splash suits that compete directly with Respirex's gas-tight suits and Kemblok gloves. Ansell is comparable to Respirex in being a specialty PPE manufacturer serving chemical and emergency response end markets.
• MSA Safety: MSA Safety is a US-headquartered safety equipment manufacturer offering gas detection, respiratory protection, fire and chemical protective equipment. Its proximity suits and chemical protective apparel overlap with Respirex's gas-tight suits and CBRN equipment in serving first responders and industrial customers.
• Delta Plus Group: Delta Plus Group is a French-headquartered global PPE manufacturer offering protective gloves, clothing, footwear, and fall protection, with product lines overlapping Respirex's Hazmax boots, Kemblok gloves, and chemical workwear. As a European mid-cap PPE specialist, Delta Plus is comparable to Respirex in geography and breadth of offering.

Direct peers

• Drägerwerk: Dräger is a German-headquartered specialist in gas detection, respiratory protection, and chemical protective suits (CPS) for emergency responders and industry. Its chemical protective clothing product line directly competes with Respirex's gas-tight suits, and Dräger shares a similar specialty, technical-PPE positioning with strong European emergency services presence.
• Lakeland Industries: Lakeland Industries is a specialty manufacturer of chemical protective clothing, disposable garments, and high-end chemical suits serving industrial and emergency response markets globally. Lakeland is one of the closest direct peers to Respirex in terms of product focus, customer base, and size.
• Kappler: Kappler is a US-based specialty manufacturer of chemical protective suits and hazmat apparel, with product lines (ProVent, Frontline, DuraChem) directly comparable to Respirex's Chemprotex-based suits. Kappler competes with Respirex in the chemical industry, emergency response, and military/CBRN customer segments.

Regional players

• UVEX: UVEX is a German-based safety equipment manufacturer known for protective eyewear, gloves, and protective clothing. UVEX's chemical protective gloves and workwear lines overlap with Respirex's Hazmax boots and Kemblok gloves, and UVEX is comparable as a European specialty PPE brand with similar end-customer focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/respirex-international-limited

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Respirex