New branding for DuPont protective clothing simplifies selection and meets the requirements of the new European PPE regulation

DuPont has carried out a rebranding of its chemical protective clothing offerings, making it easier for customers to select the required level of protection for their applications and to comply with current regulations. (Image: DuPont)

The protective clothing specialist DuPont Personal Protection (ipp.dupont.com) has successfully completed the complete rebranding and re-certification of its comprehensive range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This aims to facilitate customers in selecting the required level of protection for their application as well as ensuring compliance with the current regulations.

The global rebranding affects the brands Tyvek®, Tychem®, and ProShield®. At the same time, DuPont has equipped its packaging with easily identifiable graphic symbols to help simplify selection. All protective suits and accessories marketed under the aforementioned brands are now certified in accordance with the requirements of the new European PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

This new PPE regulation replaces the previous Directive 89/686/EEC. In addition to the changed classification of products as PPE and a limitation of the validity of type approvals to a maximum of five years, all parties involved in the supply chain are now held responsible – one of the most significant changes of the new regulation. In future, importers or traders selling a product under their name, brand, or trademark in Europe must also assume the responsibilities of a manufacturer. Therefore, all parties involved in the supply chain must be aware of their obligations so that buyers of PPE know what to expect from their supplier.

As a leading manufacturer of PPE, DuPont Personal Protection prepared early for the new requirements. Albrecht Gerland, Product Manager for the EMEA region, states: “Protecting people as effectively as possible during their activities has always been our and our customers’ highest priority. Over time, our portfolio of protective suits and accessories has continuously expanded to meet the changing demands for health and safety as well as new challenges in the workplace. We used the introduction of the new PPE regulation as an opportunity to take stock and make it as clear and simple as possible for our customers to understand which DuPont protective clothing matches which of their individual protection requirements. We have now standardized the names of our PPE worldwide so that our customers can trust that they are getting the highest possible protection in accordance with the applicable regulations.”

The revised branding from DuPont provides customers with immediate information about the level of protection a product offers. The number in the product name indicates the protection level: the higher the number, the greater the protection. For example, the widely used Tyvek® Classic Xpert is now called Tyvek® 500 Xpert, while the Tychem® ThermoPro offering triple protection is marketed as Tychem® 6000 FR ThermoPro.

Furthermore, color-coded octagons are attached to the packaging and the product itself, indicating the level of protection: gray for protective clothing against non-hazardous liquids and particles, blue for protective clothing against hazardous particles and non-pressurized chemical splashes. Orange, on the other hand, symbolizes the highest level of protection and is used for PPE that reliably shields against chemicals, infectious agents, and thermal hazards. With this new color coding, protective clothing can be clearly identified on the shelf, while the new barcodes (EAN codes) on multipacks and individual packaging facilitate easier order verification and inventory management.

Despite the new names and packaging, the robust construction and reliable protective effect of the protective clothing remain unchanged. To simplify ordering, article numbers and product references have also been retained.

As a helpful resource, DuPont has developed an easy-to-use online guide that maps old product names to the new designations. The guide can be accessed at: http://www.neuessystem.tyvek.de

For Greater Good™ is the brand promise of DuPont™ Tyvek®. Tyvek® protects people during their activities so they can worry less about their safety and focus on achieving greater things, making the greater possible.