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Summary
The global personal protective equipment (PPE) market experienced significant growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with sales surging to a market value of US$68.5 billion in 2022. This was largely due to increased demand for surgical masks and other protective gear. However, as the pandemic wanes, the demand for PPE is expected to decline to US$64 billion by 2027, resulting in a CAGR of -1.3% over the 2022-2027 period. Despite this, innovations and regulatory pressures are anticipated to sustain demand. The market is dominated by Europe and North America, which together account for nearly three-quarters of the global market share, while Asia, especially China, is witnessing growth due to heightened safety concerns. Notable market players include 3M, Honeywell, and Ansell Ltd. In France, the PPE market was estimated at 1.3 billion euros in 2020, demonstrating strong growth over the past decade, although the industry and construction sectors—which make up two-thirds of PPE orders—have faced a drop in activity due to the pandemic, with respective activity losses of 89% and 79% at the peak of lockdowns.
Trends and Insights into the Personal Protective Equipment Market
In the realm of personal protection, the market for personal protective equipment (PPE) has shown remarkable resilience and growth, exhibiting less susceptibility to economic downturns and a consistent demand influenced strongly by regulatory frameworks. This sector encompasses a wide spectrum of products that aim to shield individuals from diverse workplace hazards, including gear for head, eye, face, hearing, and respiratory protection, as well as protective clothing and footwear. A notable surge in the PPE market was catalyzed by the global Covid-19 pandemic, catapulting the industry's worth from around US$48 billion in 2018 to an estimated US$68.5 billion in 2022. However, post-pandemic predictions suggest a mild contraction, with forecasts placing the market value at about US$64 billion by 2027.
In France, the market's growth trajectory over the past decade has been impressive, witnessing an increase of just under 80% between 2009 and 2020. Local players in the French market have been leaning on innovation and design to maintain a competitive edge, especially in face of imports from countries with lower wage structures. These local firms are focusing on producing high-visibility gear suitable for extreme weather conditions and even integrating smart technology into PPE, thereby enhancing worker safety proactively.
Comfort and ergonomics, coupled with a sportswear-inspired aesthetic, have also become paramount, as elucidated by a survey where 86% of companies stressed these attributes as the primary reasons for their choice in PPE. Delving into customer sectors, construction and industry in France represent the majority of the PPE demand, correlating with high statistics of occupational accidents in these fields. Despite showing a trend of stable or slightly increased salaried employment, factors such as innovation in supply and emerging needs continue to revitalize these sectors' demand for PPE.
The value chain of the PPE market is also going through an evolution, with significant mergers and acquisitions underscoring a trend of market consolidation. This trend is aptly illustrated by the acquisition activities of companies like Delta Plus Group, which strengthened its market position through strategic purchases across various countries and specializations within the PPE domain.
In the breakdown by business sector, major segments of the PPE industry include protective clothing, hand protection, foot protection, and respiratory protection. While the data are somewhat dated, industry professionals corroborate the relevance of these figures, citing the most growth in the sectors of hearing and respiratory protection.
Profiling the Major Contenders in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Arena
In the domain of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a few key enterprises stand out prominently due to their significant contributions and market presence. These organizations are integral to driving the industry forward, with their continual focus on innovation, user comfort, and regulatory compliance. Below we delve into the characteristics and operations of these industry leaders.
- 3M – A Titan in Innovation and Safety 3M has been a long-standing pioneer in the PPE market, boasting a broad portfolio of products designed to ensure worker safety across various industries. Known for its commitment to innovation, 3M remains at the forefront of the industry by continuously developing new technologies and solutions that enhance the performance of PPE. With a diverse offering that includes everything from respiratory protection to high-visibility clothing, 3M integrates comfort and functionality into its designs, catering to the evolving needs of the workforce.
- Ansell Ltd. – Defending Every Hand with Care Specializing in hand protection, Ansell Ltd. has established a reputation for delivering high-quality gloves that cater to a range of industries, including healthcare, industrial, and food services. Their expertise in material technology and product design ensures that Ansell's protective gloves meet the highest standards of safety and performance. By focusing on dexterity and user comfort, Ansell maintains its status as a trusted name in the PPE market.
- Cepovett – The Fabric of Safety Cepovett, renowned for its protective clothing options, represents one of France’s leading enterprises in the workwear segment. The company prides itself on marrying safety with style, producing garments that not only protect workers but also offer an element of design that is both functional and appealing. After acquiring the Lafont brand, Cepovett expanded its reach, reinforcing its market presence with specialised brands that cater to specific needs within the protective clothing industry.
- Delta Plus Group – Strengthening the Safety Net Delta Plus Group is another notable player, operating across various PPE segments, including protective footwear and equipment designed to prevent falls. The group has shown significant growth through strategic acquisitions like Elvex and Vertic Group, which have either broadened their product range or reinforced their international distribution networks. With a steady focus on securing work environments, Delta Plus Group has cemented its place as a comprehensive safety solutions provider on a global scale.
- Vetementpro.com and Oxwork – Revolutionizing PPE Accessibility E-commerce platforms.
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- Number of pages : 30 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update : 18/11/2023
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
The personal protective equipment market contains an eclectic array of equipment that can be grouped into several sub-categories: head protection, eye and face protection, hearing protection, protective clothing, respiratory protection, fall protection, protective footwear and hand protection.
Very non-cyclical and recurrent, the PPE market is closely linked to the existence of regulations. There is a fundamental difference between emerging countries, where regulations are often still in their infancy, and North America or Europe, where liability regimes are still in place. europe, where legal employer-employee liability regimes support the market and innovation.
In France, under pressure from competition from imports from low-wage countries, local players are seeking to differentiate themselves, notably through two levers:
- Innovation: PPE manufacturers are innovating in response to specific problems such as high visibility or extreme cold. The arrival of connected PPE could also stimulate the market, with a range of products capable of improving worker protection by anticipating accidents before they happen.
- Comfort and design : according to a survey of over 600 companies, 86% of respondents use PPE primarily for its comfort and functionality. Manufacturers are therefore looking to improve product ergonomics and comfort, while adding sportswear-inspired aesthetic features with an attractive design.
Between 2009 and 2020, national sales rose by just under 80%, and the market has weathered the country's various crises over the past decade.
On a more global level, the market initially suffered from the Covid-19 crisis (sharp drop in activity worldwide), but this slowdown was ultimately only temporary. in the longer term, innovation and increasing regulatory pressure should continue to sustain PPE demand in a counter-cyclical market.
1.2 A dynamic global market
A sector that has grown strongly in recent years thanks to Covid-**
PPE market size World, **** - *****, US$ billion CAGR: *.* Source: ****
The global PPE market was valued at around US$** billion in ****. Covid-**, which hit the world globally in ****, caused sales of surgical masks and other protective equipment to explode, boosting ...
1.3 A growing national market
Estimated market size and growth rate
The sector appears to be buoyant, and has grown strongly over the past ten years: in a report published in ****, Synamap (***) estimated the market at ***.* million euros for ****, and *.* billion euros for ****. [***]
This would give average annual growth of *. *% over the ****-**** period. It should ...
1.4 Market breakdown by business sector
Business segment estimates
Sales by business segment France, ****, as % of sales Source: ****
Although the data in the previous chart are a decade old (***), they are still relevant and enable us to identify the main segments of the PPE sector. Although PPE encompasses a very large number of products, the bulk of ...
1.5 Trade balance for certain PPE
France's trade balance in breathing apparatus and gas masks
Imports and exports of breathing apparatus and gas masks for France France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****
France's trade balance in safety eyewear
Imports and exports of safety eyewear for France France, ****, in millions of euros Source: UN Comtrade An analysis of ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Main customer sectors in France
Sales by customer sector France, ****, % of sales Source: ****
Although the data in the previous chart are a decade old (***), they are still relevant and enable us to distinguish the PPE sector's main customer sectors, which are then developed in the rest of this study. The PPE customer sectors are highly concentrated, ...
2.2 Impact of COVID on different customer markets
CONSTRUCTION
The sector has been hard hit by the coronavirus crisis (**% drop in activity in the construction sector in March, and a fall in activity ofaccording toINSEE, the construction sector could find itself in a difficult position in the months ahead.
Industry
Industry has also been severely affected by the French ...
2.3 Types of exposure to physical stress
Main types of physical stress France, ****, proportion of exposed employees Source: ****
The graph above concerns all types of employers (***), with the three recurring types of physical constraints being postural and articular constraints, manual load handling and noise pollution. Postural and joint constraints stand out clearly, and have certainly prompted PPE and ...
2.4 A growing demand for design and comfort
A renewed offering with greater emphasis on comfort and design
While the younger generation of workers is more aware of safety risks, particularly in the construction industry, it is also more demanding in terms of comfort and design. [***]
Today's products combine attractive design with superior technical features. Manufacturers are selling products ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Market value chain
Source: ****
3.2 Distribution channels: the rise of e-commerce
The main distribution channels
Sales by distribution channel France, ****, % of sales Source: ****
An increase in online sales First and foremost,e-commerce is on the rise, and among the main beneficiaries of this trend, pure players like Oxwork have emerged. Based in Corbie, in the Somme region, this company specializing in Internet ...
3.3 Accelerating consolidation, numerous mergers and acquisitions
The table below lists the main transactions on the French market.
Year **** and ****
Year ****
The objectives of the various acquisitions are diverse. They include classic objectives such as diversifying the customer portfolio. But there are also objectives that are more specific to the market, which is highly segmented. In some cases, ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 The different types of products
Personal protective equipment (***)
PPE covers all clothing and accessories used to protect the worker's physical integrity, such as gloves, helmets, etc
PPE can be divided into three main categories according to their degree of protection:
PPE category *: protection against minor risks that may result in superficial injuries. Wearing this PPE has ...
4.2 Innovative offerings help drive market growth
While PPE today meets the design and comfort requirements of end-users, the market has also been driven by technical innovation, enabling higher levels of protection and new applications. It is this capacity for innovation that has enabled the PPE market to move beyond the simple renewal of old models, and to ...
5 Regulations
5.1 The new European regulation on the manufacture of PPE and its consequences
New directive, notified bodies and harmonized standards
In ****, a new European regulation on PPE was adopted, to apply from April **, ****. To give manufacturers, notified bodies and EU member states time to adapt to these new requirements, a seven-year transition period has been defined. CE certificates issued before April **, **** on the basis ...
5.2 Labour code, sports code and CE marking: marketing
Labor and Sports Code
Several types of PPE are covered by the provisions of the French Labor Code. These include, of course, those intended for use in the workplace, but also others such as helmets for equestrian sports, diving suits, safety vests, armbands and suits designed to prevent drowning.these include ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Segmentation
- Oxwork
- Vetementpro.com
- Delta Plus
- Cepovett Groupe
- Ansell
- Robur Molinel
- Molinel
- Manulatex (Bobet Groupe)
- Cotral
- Rubix Europe
- Manutan Groupe
- Descours et Cabaud
- Bruneau
- Guide Gloves
- Pro-Wear
- Protechnique
- EPI Center
- Jallatte
- Ejendals France
- MACC
- Coverguard
- Parade Protection (Eram groupe)
- Climbing Technology
- Manikheir (Medicom)
- Béal Cordes
- Dompro
- Dutel Tissage
- Bollé Safety
- RG Safety
List of charts
- PPE market size
- Geographical breakdown of the global PPE market
- PPE market size
- Sales by customer sector
- Number of work-related fatalities, by sector
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Latest news
Béal inaugurates a new production site in Isère - 25/11/2023
- Béal was founded in 1951.
- It has become the world leader in mountain ropes.
- It currently employs 70 people in France, 145 in Madagascar and 30 in the United States.
- Béal has invested 9 million euros in a new infrastructure, which was inaugurated on November 17.
- Mountain sports account for 40% of Béal's sales (18.5 million euros by 2022), 60% of which come from exports.
- The remainder (60%) comes from working at heights.
- Béal's ambition is to become the benchmark in personal protective equipment for work at height.
Manikheir starts production of nitrile surgical gloves in the Sarthe region of France - 09/09/2023
- Subsidiary of the Canadian Medicom Group
- Investment of €80 million in its French subsidiary Manikheir for the production of nitrile gloves
- Target sectors: medical, dental, agri-food, sensitive industries
- Production site: Bessé-sur-Braye, Sarthe
MACC: when the Tupperware method works for craftsmen - 05/06/2023
- MACC was set up in 1946, targeting the building trade.
- The company has sales of 52 million euros and employs 200 people
- 75 independent salespeople visit these craftsmen every day to give demonstrations.
- 40,000 demonstrations are given every year.
- MACC products are available exclusively through direct sales.
- MACC counts two-thirds of the 300,000 building professionals in its customer portfolio. 70% of MACC products are manufactured in the Châtellerault or Vienne plants, and 98% in France.
- MACC also has an international presence, accounting for 20% of sales.
Acquisitions boost Delta Plus Group's growth - 11/02/2023
- In 2022 Acquisition of Italian Maspica, Australian Safety Link and Mexican Drypro
Manulatex strengthens its international positions - 01/02/2023
- Manulatex belongs to the Bobet Group, 90 million euros, 400 employees
- Manulatex manufactures stainless steel chainmail personal protective equipment for meat processing workers
- Sales €9.8 million by 2022, 60% exported, 85 employees
Robur takes over Molinel's professional clothing business - 21/12/2022
- Robur: specialist in professional clothing, mainly for the catering industry, publisher of prestigious brands such as Pierre Cardin, Paul & Shark, ATA
- Molinel: specialist in the manufacture of professional clothing for agriculture, health, construction, events and catering.
- Robur: sales of 25 million euros with four factories: one in Montceau-les-Mines, France, two in Morocco and one in Madagascar
- Molinel: sales of 50 million euros thanks to its two plants in Tunisia and its joint venture in Vietnam.
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The personal protective equipment (PPE) market | France
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