In 1990s Germany, workwear and protective clothing represented the most significant segment in the field of personal protective equipment. Due to the increased demand for clothing, uvex designed its own product line under the label ‘uvextil’, which was also offered by the sales force shortly afterwards. In order to compete in this highly competitive market and to develop its own manufacturing expertise, uvex acquired the company Vogtland-Konfektion, based in Ellefeld, Saxony, in 1998. After renovation, a European textile centre was created that met the requirements of large textile customers.
Today, the subsidiary operates under the name uvex safety textiles and is based in Neuensalz. There, it has its own production facility on site, with a sample sewing workshop for manufacturing prototypes, as well as an in-house laboratory for conducting extensive quality and functional tests.
A prime example of sustainability and innovation is the ‘uvex suXXeed greencycle planet’ workwear collection developed there: it is completely compostable, cradle-to-cradle certified, and designed so that every single component – from the yarn to the packaging – can be reintegrated into the biological cycle. For its dedication to the circular economy, among other achievements, the uvex group was honoured with the German Sustainability Award for Companies 2026.
