100 years of the uvex group
A century of ‘protecting people’: for 100 years, the Fürth-based specialist in protective equipment has, under its guiding principle of ‘protecting people’, stood for innovations that reliably protect people at work, during sport and in their leisure time. What began as a small craft business has grown into a leading global group with around 3,000 employees and 49 subsidiaries in 23 countries.
In 2026, the uvex group will celebrate its 100th anniversary. “Our mission of protecting people has never been more relevant!” said Stefan Brück, CEO of the uvex group, on the occasion of the centenary. “We are proud that, with our commitment to protecting and inspiring people at work and in their leisure time, we have been making an important contribution to society for decades.” In the coming decades, too, the uvex group will continue to navigate to the challenges of our time – such as the unprecedented uncertainty and volatility of the markets, caused in part by (geo)political conflicts, as well as the digital transformation and changes in the labour market.
Reaching the top of the podium with in-house innovations
To stand at the very top of the winners’ podium, you need not only the will to win but also the right technology. Thanks to 100 years of experience in occupational safety and sport, the uvex group knows exactly what it takes. ‘Made in uvex’ is a brand and quality promise that customers can rely on. Innovative product and service solutions are created through intensive research and development work and state-of-the-art production – both in our own factories in Germany and across Europe, and in collaboration with selected partners. From the first safety and ski goggles in the 1930s, through the first uvex anti-fog ski goggles in 1964 (uvex champion), to the development of the ‘uvex super g ’ – the world’s lightest safety goggles at the time – in 2006 (18.7 grams), the company has repeatedly demonstrated its innovative strength. Current solutions such as the uvex surge aero cycling helmet for maximum aerodynamics, the new uvex Bamboo twinflex safety glove, a combination of natural fibres and extreme cut resistance, and the new uvex ultimate line, which combines innovative safety features with exceptional performance characteristics in both the occupational safety and sports sectors, underline the company’s ambition to be recognised as one of the innovation leaders in the occupational safety and sports markets. By 2045, the uvex group aims to become climate-neutral across its entire value chain by reducing 42 per cent of its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, continuously cutting CO₂ emissions, water consumption, waste and scrap, and investing in sustainable products and production processes.
In the consumer sector, uvex has made a name for itself with sports and leisure products ranging from helmets for winter sports, cycling and equestrian sports, as well as riding gloves, to ski goggles, sports glasses and leisure sunglasses. It is also a partner to international elite sport. Over 1,000 top athletes, including, for example, skiing stars Dominik Paris, Linus Strasser and Emma Aicher, as well as road cyclist Emanuel Buchmann (Team Cofidis Équipe Cycliste) and renowned equestrians such as Ingrid Klimke and Thomas Jung, trust uvex to provide the protection they need. The group’s most important pillar, accounting for over 80 per cent of turnover, is occupational safety. The uvex safety group offers a comprehensive product portfolio of personal protective equipment, a wide range of services and digital business models. In doing so, the Fürth-based group demonstrates not only a knack for outstanding functionality and modern design, but also for sustainable materials and production technologies. With its US subsidiary HexArmor, a specialist in high-performance protective gloves and innovative protective solutions, uvex is also strengthening its international expertise and innovative capacity.
A remarkable history:
From Poppenreuth to the whole world
The success story of uvex began in 1926 in a small craft workshop in Poppenreuth, a suburb of Fürth. It was here that the company’s founder, Philipp M. Winter, handcrafted the company's first pairs of safety glasses. Before long, his products were in demand not only amongst workers and tradespeople: at the 1936 Winter Olympics, Philipp M. Winter supplied various athletes with safety glasses for the first time. In 1938, German mountaineers scaled Nanga Parbat wearing glacier goggles from Fürth.
1956 marked the birth of the uvex brand. Following a stay in the USA, Rainer Winter, son of Philipp M. Winter, coined the brand name as an abbreviation of the quality feature ‘ultra violet excluded’ – in other words, UV protection. Rainer Winter had recognised that a successful product requires a distinctive brand and brand management, and subsequently drove forward the internationalisation and diversification of the company.
The sporting successes of alpine skiers, who went from victory to victory in the 1970s and 1980s wearing uvex goggles, boosted brand awareness and international reputation. The family-run business expanded and was now selling its products across much of the world. Alongside sport, occupational safety remained the central pillar of the company’s success, and it evolved from a specialist in safety eyewear to a provider of comprehensive safety equipment systems from head to toe.
Through increasing diversification and internationalisation, the uvex group has steadily expanded its growth trajectory over the decades. Currently, the company – with 100 years of tradition behind it – generated revenues of €683 million in the 2024/25 financial year.
Our roots remain, our opportunities grow
“Over the past 100 years, the uvex group has become one of the international market leaders in its business sectors. Together with our employees, we can look back on many successes,” explained Stefan Brück. “Today, we are not only regarded as a global leader in innovation, but have also positioned the company for the future in the area of sustainability.” Together with Georg Höfler, CFO of the uvex group, Stefan Brück has been responsible for the management of the group since August 2025. Together, they are steering the life’s work of the Winter and Grau entrepreneurial families into the future. “Our aim is to continue this success story, based on our values and our mission! One of our key growth areas is the development and manufacture of protective equipment for military, law enforcement, tactical and public security applications. As a supplier and partner, we contribute to the safety and protection of European emergency services.“
In the summer of 2025, the uvex group announced a majority stake by Warburg Pincus, a partner with whom the group is developing new growth strategies and opportunities to identify and capitalise on future growth potential. Despite its strong international focus, the uvex group has remained committed to Germany as a business location. The headquarters of this globally active specialist is in Fürth, Middle Franconia.
