A strong partnership for greater safety and comfort: CWS Workwear and DuPont™ break new ground in PPE

A decade of partnership that redefines PPE: Find out how CWS Workwear and DuPont™ are making workers safer, more comfortable and more sustainable with multi-standard protective clothing and Nomex® Comfort EcoForce™ finish – and what the future holds for PPE.

02 December 2025Workwear

For over a decade, CWS Workwear and DuPont™ have been working closely together to take protection, comfort and sustainability in personal protective equipment (PPE) to a new level. The partnership is firmly established – officially for 10 years – but the collaboration goes back much further. Together, we have driven innovations that make everyday work safer and more comfortable, while taking responsibility for people and the environment.

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A world first: a bio-based solution without PFAs

The values of the partnership – safety, health, sustainability and innovation - are reflected in multifunctional protection, which aims to meet several safety standards at once without compromising on comfort or durability.

A promising innovation in the CWS Workwear multifunctional protection range is coming soon: a newly developed EcoForce™ finish that is completely bio-based and chemical-free. Expected to be available in the first quarter of 2026, this finish without PFAs will further increase the sustainability of the products. The finish will first be used in the new products in the CWS Safety Multinorm Nomex® Light collection, which combines protection, durability and environmental protection. This step underscores the joint approach to further advancing safety and sustainability.During the A+A trade fair (4–7 November 2025 in Düsseldorf), a decade of successful collaboration was also officially celebrated. At the CWS Workwear stand, visitors took a journey through the innovations of the partnership – from ProFlex4® and Thermo-Man® safety events to the world-first EcoForce™ finish. We honoured the milestones achieved so far and invited interested parties to see the advantages of sustainable PPE for themselves. With exclusive

insights into upcoming materials, our transparent supply chain and a focus on specific practical applications, we celebrated the future of multi-standard protection – safe, sustainable and forward-looking.

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Cooperation creates added value: highlights of the partnership

A key objective is to create added value through advanced product developments. New PPE lines that use fibres such as Nomex® and fabrics such as ProFlex4® help to better combine protection and freedom of movement, thereby making everyday work noticeably easier. In addition, Thermo-Man® safety events offer a practical demonstration of how protection and comfort interact and complement each other in real-life work situations.

The focus is also on sustainable improvement of PPE solutions. This is not only about increased protection, but also about greater comfort and durability that remains even after many washes.

Hartmut Engler, CEO of CWS Workwear, sums it up: “Our job is to protect our customers’ employees.”

The message therefore remains the same: CWS Workwear offers its customers protection that really lasts and materials and processes that conserve resources.

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Strong industry focus – safety in everyday life The focus is particularly on industries such as the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, the entire energy sector and the electrical industry. The wearers benefit most from this, as they wear PPE every day and need to get home safely. A key aspect of product development is the manufacture of the fibres in Spain and the fact that the entire value chain is located in Europe, which enables sustainable, comfortable and robust solutions in the long term.

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Strong industry focus – safety in everyday life

The focus is particularly on industries such as the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, the entire energy sector and the electrical industry. The wearers benefit most from this, as they wear PPE every day and need to get home safely. A key aspect of product development is the manufacture of the fibres in Spain and the fact that the entire value chain is located in Europe, which enables sustainable, comfortable and robust solutions in the long term.

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About our partner DuPont™DuPont™ is a global science company operating in the fields of materials science, life science and safety. With a broad portfolio of advanced solutions, DuPont™ drives innovation that sets industry standards, optimises processes and improves the protection of people in demanding environments. The focus is on durable, high-performance materials that combine safety, comfort and sustainability.To continuously demonstrate protective performance, DuPont™ relies on two comprehensive, proprietary test systems: Arc-Man® and Thermo-Man®. The Arc-Man® test setup simulates the resistance of PPE to high electrical voltages, thereby evaluating safety in potentially hazardous work environments. Thermo-Man®, on the other hand, tests protection against heat, flames and thermal effects to reliably ensure performance under real-world conditions. itions.

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Working together for safety: the partnership vision of CWS Workwear and DuPont™Looking to the future, the common goal remains clear: maximum protection and comfort for employees while making sustainable decisions for the future. Open dialogue with end customers and partners remains the key to continuously identifying innovations and new materials for the next generation of PPE.The partnership between CWS Workwear and DuPont™ represents a forward-looking vision of PPE: maximum protection, outstanding comfort and a sustainable, transparent supply chain. We look forward to further joint steps, innovations and exchanges with our customers in order to reach the next stage of evolution in multifunctional protection more quickly.If you would like to find out more or have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We remain open and committed to dialogue – for safe workplaces today and tomorrow.