HexArmor begins phase two of strategic partnership with uvex safety group, expanding PPE offerings
Grand Rapids, MI, January 20, 2021 – Four years after beginning their strategic partnership with German-based personal protection equipment (PPE) provider UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG, HexArmor has begun phase two of their stakeholder agreement, effective January 1, 2021.
Phase two of the agreement involves UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG becoming the majority stakeholder of HexArmor. This next step allows an even closer collaboration between the two safety companies, further aligning future initiatives, resources and global customer support and puts UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG and HexArmor collectively in the top 10 of PPE manufacturers globally.
"Our partnership with the UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG has exceeded our expectations, we’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to achieve together,” said Steve VanErmen, Founder and CEO of HexArmor. “When we started this journey four years ago, we all believed that we shared values and standards that would have an impact on both organizations, but I don’t think either of us expected just how positive the relationship would be.”
Stefan Brück, CEO of the UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG, agrees: "The collaboration between UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG and HexArmor has developed into a real success story over the last four years. Numerous synergy projects have surpassed our expectations, such as launching eye and head protection under the HexArmor brand in the United States (U.S.) and marketing HexArmor products throughout the uvex organization.”
HexArmor will continue to be headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan under their current leadership team. UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG will remain headquartered in Fürth, Germany, with a focus on growing the HexArmor team in the Americas.
“Two of the most forward-thinking companies in PPE technology coming together represents an extraordinary advance for our industry. Both brands have continuously blazed new paths in the safety space, setting new standards for what PPE could and should be. With this move, we’ll be able to extend our global reach, helping protect our customers wherever they are,” said VanErmen.
“Through this partnership, we’ve successfully developed our business model further, gained new customers, and tapped into additional industries,” VanErmen said. “We’ve launched several new PPE products that have seen enormous success in North and South America – specifically our industry-leading safety eyewear, the VS250 and MX300 models – with permanent anti-fog coatings, and our Ceros head protection with magnetic Click-and-Go anti-fog face shield and earmuff accessory options.”
In the 1990s, UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG sold the rights to the uvex brand in North and South America together with the U.S. business. The 2016 partnership with HexArmor marked the re-entry into the world's largest personal protective equipment market after more than 20 years. In North and South America, HexArmor is a proven leader in industrial safety and has provided the UVEX SAFETY GROUP GmbH & Co. KG with an excellent team and starting point for introducing their extensive range in the U.S. under an established brand.
“Within the next month, we’ll be launching cutting-edge, patented hearing protection – our simpleFit, accuFit, safeComm, and K-Series lines. The amount of detail and technology behind our new hearing products is unlike anything people have seen in our market before. It’s an exciting time for our company and our customers,” stated VanErmen.
"HexArmor stands for innovation and performance, especially in the USA, but also in many other countries," said Brück. “We are delighted to be able to link our activities even more closely together and to firmly establish and continue the rollout of our joint claim of ‘protecting people’ on both sides of the Atlantic."
“Both companies have grown and learned so much from each other and continue to do so on a daily basis. This next phase will deepen our partnership and help us offer more of our best in class, innovative solutions around the world… and if you know anything about HexArmor, you know we like to challenge the status quo in PPE technology,” VanErmen said.