Most people know that the uvex group equips elite athletes and protects workers across industries around the world. But did you know that we once produced elastic suspenders? Or that one of our most important production sites started in a former coffin factory?
These surprising stories show that our mission of protecting people has never been just a slogan. For the past 100 years, it has been brought to life through passion, ingenuity, and a healthy dose of creativity. We took a deep dive into our archives to uncover some of the most fascinating moments from our history. Buckle up for a quick journey through 100 years of uvex.
The road to a global brand:
Vision, innovation and a brilliant Idea
The story officially began in 1926, when Philipp M. Winter founded the "Optische-Industrie-Anstalt Philipp M. Winter" in a small factory shed in Poppenreuth, a suburb of Fürth, Germany. In those early days, all types of safety eyewear were handcrafted. But expertise grew quickly. As early as the 1930s, the company demonstrated true pioneering spirit by transferring its occupational safety expertise to the world of sports. At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Philipp M. Winter equipped top athletes such as Christl Cranz with ski goggles, marking the beginning of uvex's long-standing Olympic legacy.
The difficult post-war years demanded creativity. Raw materials were scarce, while demand for consumer goods was high, so uvex temporarily reinvented itself. Alongside optical eyewear, employees produced wooden spoons, clothes hangers, and suspenders, cleverly made from elastic goggle headbands.
The next breakthrough came in 1956. During a trip to the United States, Rainer Winter (second generation, former managing partner) realized that every successful consumer product needs a strong brand name. Inspired by the english term for UV protection (UltraViolet EXcluded) he created the now world-famous acronym: uvex.
A growing family: From Lüneburg to Sweden
Over the following decades, uvex expanded far beyond its Franconian roots. The family-owned company built strong partnerships and brought together specialists whose unique expertise continues to shape the company today:
uvex safety gloves (1986)
Did you know that our glove specialists originally began production in a former coffin factory in Lüneburg? Today, the site has grown into one of Europe's largest and most sustainable manufacturers of protective gloves.
laservision (1987)
Known primarily for high-tech laser safety eyewear used in medical applications, laservision expanded its mission in 2020 to "protecting people… and pets." Following the devastating Australian bushfires, the team supplied veterinarians with specially developed laser safety goggles for animals. These so-called "Doggles" protected the eyes of injured koalas and kangaroos during laser therapy treatments.
uvex safety textiles (1998)
Our textile specialists in Saxony developed the fully compostable workwear collection “uvex suXXeed greencycle planet”, which won the German Sustainability Award in 2026.
Heckel (2001)
Our French safety footwear specialist was founded by former professional football player Joseph Heckel. Back in 1948, he invented a football boot featuring replaceable screw-in studs and a flexible toe cap putting him roughly ten years ahead of industry giant adidas.
SwedSafe (2004)
Our Swedish hearing protection specialist produces its products using an impressively sustainable process. Thanks to an intelligent closed-loop system, not a single drop of wastewater is generated during production. The excess water simply evaporates during manufacturing.
The U.S. comeback with HexArmor
The history of uvex shows one thing above all: giving up is not an option. In 1993, uvex sold the trademark rights for the U.S. occupational safety market, effectively losing access to the world's largest personal protective equipment market for two decades.
The solution came in 2016 through a new partnership with U.S. based cut protection specialist HexArmor, known for its gloves with impact-absorbing exoskeleton technology. What started as a cooperation became a success story: since 2025, HexArmor has been fully part of the uvex group and is the second-strongest brand within the group.
The digital era and looking ahead
Today, uvex is consistently looking to the future. The company continues to expand its digital capabilities, including through its global presence on digital marketplaces and its state-of-the-art, DGNB Gold-certified central warehouse in Rednitzhembach. In July 2024, this facility set a strong example for sustainable and efficient business operations.
To further accelerate global growth, uvex welcomed growth investor Warburg Pincus as majority shareholder in July 2025. What makes this partnership special is that the Winter and Grau families remain closely connected to the company through a minority stake and continue to support its development with great commitment.
Values that remain: A family business at heart
Even in times of change, uvex remains what it has always been at its core: a family-owned company driven by around 3,000 employees who are passionate about what they do. Michael Winter (third generation, former managing partner), who shaped the company for decades, describes this sense of responsibility:
I always felt a special sense of pride when our athletes stood on the winners' podium. On the other hand, we received many letters of thanks from people who had suffered serious accidents and escaped with less severe consequences thanks to our products. These moments always remind us of the great responsibility we carry.
This commitment also lives on through the Rainer Winter Foundation, which has supported sick and disadvantaged children since 1980. Following the passing of Rainer Winter, Gabriele Grau became chair of the foundation in 2025. Driven by fresh ideas, innovation and the unwavering promise of protecting people, uvex is now embarking on its next 100 years with confidence and determination.
Want to discover even more?
Explore our interactive digital timeline to uncover every historical milestone, exclusive interviews and the complete story of the uvex brands!