The history

of a family

It is only by being aware of our past that we can successfully shape our future. We can proudly say that uvex is one of the major brands to have helped write the industry’s history, not only in Germany, but also the entire world.
– Rainer Winter

It has been a long journey from the company’s humble beginnings in a suburb of Fürth to its present status as a major international group. uvex’s history has been characterised by difficult times, by long years of war and economic depression, but also by dynamic years of development and other highly successful periods.

The oft-quoted maxim “think global, act local” has been our guiding principle and embodied our aims since long before words such as “globalisation” and “global player” emerged as mainstream concepts.

1926 – 1956

1926

The beginning

Philipp M. Winter, born in Fürth im Wald on 3 May 1898, attended Fürth High School in Bavaria. After the First World War, he started his career as an export businessman, concentrating on Portugal and Spain.

After establishing a small distribution company in Barcelona, he returned to Fürth, Bavaria, and founded the “Optische-Industrie-Anstalt Philipp M. Winter”, which was a handcraft-oriented establishment in Fürth/Poppenreuth.

1936

uvex products at the Olympic Games

Philipp M. Winter equipped a number of athletes with safety eyewear at the 1936 Summer Olympics. 

After successfully mastering the challenges of the early years, the premises soon became too small and the company moved to Salzstrasse in Fürth, which remained the headquarters for many years.

1956

The uvex brand is born

Consumer products require distinctive brands and brand management.

Rainer Winter coined the “uvex” brand name, based on an abbreviation of the quality seal for lenses – Ultra Violet EXluded. From this moment on, all sports and leisure products were and still are sold under the uvex brand.

Many top athletes place their trust in the uvex brand!

Rosi Mittermaier
Walter Steiner
Irene Epple
Regine Mösenlechner
1981

3rd Generation

Gabriele Grau, daughter of Rainer Winter, joins her father's company in 1981. Now two generations are active there.

1987

3rd Generation

Michael Winter joined the company in 1987 as Junior Product Manager Motorsport for the uvex sports group.

In 1995, he took over the management of uvex sports in the two-wheeler sector (motorsport and cycling).

1967

Filtral

In 1967, the uvex group started selling stylish sunglasses to retail under the Filtral brand.

1980

ALPINA

In 1980, the subsidiary Alpina is founded in Derching, Bavaria.

1986

Profas GmbH

In 1986 Profas Gmbh was founded - today uvex safety gloves.

1987

Laservision

In 1987, laservision was founded as a joint venture and has been wholly-owned by the uvex safety group since 2004. The company has achieved global success with technologically advanced laser protection products.

1999 – 2023

1999

Managing Partner

After 12 years uvex sports, Michael Winter became the Managing Partner of uvex Winter Holding, with responsibility for sales totalling EUR 360 million and approximately 2,200 employees worldwide.

2001

Acquisition Heckel

In 2001, uvex acquired the product specialist for safety shoes "Heckel", which still operates as an independent brand.

2005

uvex academy

The uvex academy was founded as the first privately managed training centre in the field of occupational safety and personal protection equipment (PPE).

2009

Products for equestrian sports

uvex sports launched the new equestrian product range. Athletes including Ingrid Klimke and Isabell Werth now wear uvex.

2009

Brand of the century

uvex received the “Brand of the century” accolade for its concentrated and consistent brand management of the ski goggles.

2014

Gold medals in Sochi

Most successful Winter Olympics ever in Sochi for uvex: 62 medals and 450 athletes, including Felix Neureuther, Marlies Schild, Felix Loch and Anna Schaffelhuber for Alpina.

2016

Big birthday for the uvex group

90 years of protecting people.
In line with this philosophy, the family-owned company based in Fürth has been synonymous with the best-possible protection for sports, leisure and the workplace for 90 years.  

2016

Shareholding in HexArmor

uvex safety group acquires a holding in the American company HexArmor®. This strategic investment marks the return of uvex’s personal protective equipment to the U.S. market after an absence of 20 years.

2018

Olympia in Pyeongchang

Look for a winner - 3 ski helmets and goggles, specially developed for and worn by the Creme de la Creme of Alpine Ski Racing at Olympia 2018 in Pyeongchang. 277 international uvex athletes compete at the Winter Olympics and win 11 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals.

2020

Rainer Winter Foundation

Founded in 1980, the Rainer Winter Foundation based in Fürth celebrates 2020 its 40th anniversary.

2020

Rainer-Winter-Weg

In honor of the 85th birthday of Rainer Winter the city of Fürth dedicates a street to him, the Rainer Winter Weg

2020

Majority acquisition HexArmor®

The uvex group acquires a majority stake in the US company HexArmor®.

2020

Protecting People GmbH

Protecting People GmbH was founded as the fourth subgroup and is responsible for the uvex group B2C brand store as a sales company.

2021

Construction starts in Rednitzhembach

With a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on September 27, 2021, the uvex group gave the starting signal for the construction of the new logistics and service center in Rednitzhembach, Germany, which is planned to be modern and sustainable. 

2021

30 years of Filtral

Filtral's success story began exactly 30 years ago. With their products and services, they have not only conquered a wide variety of markets over the years, but are also constantly leading the way when it comes to quality, innovation, or currently the topic of sustainability. 

2021

uvex brand e-shop launch

The launch of the B2C e-shop for private end customers marks another major step in the development of the uvex group's digital business models. 

Link to e-shop: uvex-group.shop

2021

uvex and the DSV celebrate 50 years of partnership

uvex has been equipping athletes of the German Ski Association with innovative helmets and goggles for 51 years. Whether young talent or world elite - all athletes from the disciplines of alpine skiing, ski jumping, ski cross and Nordic combined rely on innovative uvex ski helmets and goggles on the slopes and hills of this world.

2022

Building inauguration Neukirchen

uvex sports Austria and ALPINA Austria have been united at one location through the conversion of the building in Neukirchen (Austria). In addition to modernization, the focus of the conversion was also on sustainable orientation.

2022

UD2C group

Protecting People GmbH and Factor26 GmbH will be united under the umbrella of the uvex Direct-2-Consumer (UD2C) group. With this reorganization, the uvex group is pooling its strengths in the digital D2C business - so that the available resources and expertise can be used even more effectively to position the group and its brands for the future.

2022

Exclusive collection for uvex athletes at the 2022 Olympics

An exclusive Pro Collection - consisting of 5 products - was created for 144 international uvex athletes. uvex athletes won a total of 45 medals - 17 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze - at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

2023

uvex group Outlet

The uvex group outlet for customers and employees is opened.

The brands uvex, ALPINA, Hiplok and Filtral are offered.

2024

Change of managing directors

Patrick Hebling and Patrick Angeletti are the new dual leadership of the uvex sports group

 

2024

Ruhestand

Stefan Wehner retires and ends his professional career at the uvex safety group.

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