In the early years following its founding in 1926 in Fürth‑Poppenreuth, the Optische Industrie‑Anstalt Philipp M. Winter produced its first protective eyewear using artisanal manufacturing methods. What began in a small wooden shed quickly developed into a business that equipped workers and craftsmen with high-quality eye protection products, thus laying the foundation for the later uvex brand.
One of the first protective glasses of the Optische Industrie‑Anstalt Philipp M. Winter in Fürth/Poppenreuth was model 526. It was a special design intended for use at Siemens‑Martin furnaces in the steel industry. These furnaces generated temperatures of over 1,600 °C and involved intense radiation and flying sparks. With dark blue lenses (45 mm), a sturdy nickel frame, a padded nose bridge made of cork and leather, and an adjustable rubber strap, the glasses provided reliable protection under extreme conditions – an early milestone in the history of occupational safety.
In 1956, the uvex 9401/9402 model was launched, initially as goggles for foundry finishers: a completely new model developed in direct cooperation with industry. The generously sized lenses with a diameter of 60 mm ensured optimal vision and protection. The robust goggle body was held together by lateral sliders to which the elastic headband was attached directly – a clever detail that made lens replacement particularly easy. A leather padding with special soft rubber ensured high wearing comfort and a secure fit. The leather nose piece provided additional protection against foreign bodies, while the metal temples allowed the goggles to be flexibly adjusted to any face shape.
This eyewear remained on the market in its respective new versions until 2017 – a full 61 years.
In 1991, uvex set new standards with the astrospec: a completely new eyewear concept that is still one of the best-selling models today. Lightweight, individually adjustable and featuring patented duo‑flex temples with four-stage length adjustment as well as adjustable lens inclination, it offered a high level of wearing comfort. The robust polycarbonate lens with integrated side protection could be easily replaced and, naturally, provided maximum UV protection.
The uvex super g was an extremely lightweight and comfortable pair of safety glasses which, at just 18 grams, is among the lightest of its kind. It featured a particularly thin, aerodynamically shaped wrap‑around lens, offering optimal ventilation and excellent optical clarity. The completely metal-free design and hinge-free, flexible temples ensured a non-slip and comfortable fit – even during prolonged wear. Thanks to the uvex supravision coating, the lens was permanently anti-fog on the inside, highly scratch-resistant and chemical-resistant on the outside. The glasses also provided reliable UV‑400 protection in accordance with EN 166 and EN 170.
Since 2011, the uvex pheos has been more than just safety eyewear. Its modern fashion look makes it a popular companion in everyday working life. Behind the attractive design lies innovative technology: the duospherical lens offers a wide field of vision and, thanks to the additional bevel in the upper area, reliably protects the eyebrows. The supravision HC‑AF coating provides extreme scratch resistance on the outside and permanent anti-fog performance on the inside. The slim geometry of the temples allows comfortable use together with earmuffs and helmets. Integrated uvex climazone ensures good ventilation.
The uvex megasonic impresses with its revolutionary, frameless lens design, which enables an almost unlimited panoramic field of vision and thus ensures optimal sight even under difficult conditions. Thanks to its generous internal volume and special cut-outs, the uvex megasonic can be worn comfortably over prescription eyewear. The flexible frame and ergonomic facial padding ensure high wearing comfort even during longer periods of use.
The uvex supravision coating reliably protects against fogging and scratches, thereby increasing safety in everyday work. Particularly practical is the extra-wide headband, which ensures a secure fit. This makes the uvex megasonic ideally suited for a wide range of industrial applications – from chemicals and construction to firefighting and metal processing.
