DuPont has announced the winners of its 2025 Innovation Awards for Thermal and Mechanical Protection, highlighting developments that address the growing complexity of risks faced by industrial workers and emergency responders. This year marks the first time the awards have been held as a global programme, open to new products incorporating Nomex or Kevlar fibres or fabrics.
The awards took place during the A+A exhibition in Düsseldorf, reflecting rising international interest in multi hazard protection as risks evolve across sectors.
Across all categories, several themes dominated the entries. Many focused on reducing the environmental impact of protective equipment, improving recyclability and addressing new high risk electrical environments. Firefighter safety also featured strongly, particularly in relation to particulate exposure and hazards linked to electric vehicle fires.
Stephanie Vrakas, Global Market Leader at DuPont Personal Protection, said the awards brought together innovations from every region for the first time. She noted that the winners had delivered integrated, multi hazard solutions that improve protection while advancing sustainability. Entries were judged on criteria such as performance, manufacturing quality, design innovation and environmental responsibility.
Submissions came from every continent and were assessed across four categories: Nomex for Industrial PPE, Kevlar for Industrial PPE, Nomex Fabrics, and Nomex and Kevlar for Emergency Response.
In the Nomex for Industrial PPE category, two winners focused on combining multi hazard protection with environmental progress. Groupe Mulliez Flory’s Phenix protective clothing is made from Nomex Comfort fabric with EcoForce finish, offering durable protection for oil and gas, chemical and electrical sector workers while improving sustainability metrics.
Iturri SA’s Nomex Recycled garments for the oil and gas industry use a fabric containing 30% recycled materials. Also recognised were İşmont Tekstil’s Weldforce Welding Suit, which delivers heat and flame resistance with improved mobility, and SureWerx’s 40 Cal LAN Series Arc Flash Suit, an ultra-lightweight garment meeting the highest arc flash requirements.
In the Kevlar for Industrial PPE category, three winners developed next generation protective gloves. Ejendals’ Tegera welding gloves provide heat and cut resistance with improved fit and fingertip control. Escorts Advanced Textiles’ Kevlar SoftShield 379 Level A9 Liner combines the maximum cut rating with a soft Kevlar based steel reinforced fabric. PIP Global Safety’s G Tek Paradox ultra light gloves offer dexterity, tactile sensitivity and heat protection. S.E.R.B. Regain Perform was also recognised for its anti laceration, flame resistant and antistatic protective sleeve suited to security and glass industry work.
Firefighter protection defined the remaining categories. Ibena Shanghai’s Rambo outershell fabric uses Nomex spun yarn and Kevlar filament to deliver tensile strength 30% higher than conventional materials. Kipas’s Nomex Xtreme Max fabric enhances mechanical performance in firefighter suits. PGI Safety’s BarriAire Carbon Laminate Nano Flex particulate hood and Alpex Protection Particulates’ Nomex Nano Flex LAM AIR hood improve breathability and thermal protection through advanced layering.
Sofileta’s 7158 Navy fire resistant knit protects against arc flash and chemical splashes, while Theodolf Fritsche’s Elastic Premium fabric offers high durability with a unique elastic yarn suitable for multiple protective garment types.
