DuPont Personal Protection has successfully completed a rebranding and recertification of its extensive range of PPE garments to make it easier for customers to specify the correct level of protection for their application and comply with the latest regulations.
The global rebranding includes the ProShield®, Tyvek® and Tychem® brands and is accompanied by easy-to-use graphical packaging for easy identification. All garments in the DuPont portfolio are now certified under their revised branding in compliance with the new EU Regulation 2016/425.
The PPE Regulation replaces the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive (89/686/EEC). As well as reclassifying some products and introducing a five-year limit on CE certificates, one of the most significant changes of the new PPE Regulation is that it clearly identifies the obligations of all economic operators in the supply chain. It also clearly defines that an importer or distributor who markets a product in Europe under their own name, brand or trademark becomes liable for the full manufacturer’s obligations. It is essential for all those involved in the supply chain to understand their obligations and for PPE customers to know what they can expect from their suppliers.
As a leading manufacturer of PPE, DuPont Personal Protection began preparing to meet the revised requirements well in advance; as AlbrechtGerland, EMEA Product Manager, explains:
“Providing the best possible protection for people at work has always been the top priority for us and our customers. Over time, our range of protective garments and accessories has grown to meet evolving health and safety requirements and new workplace challenges. With the advent of the new EU Regulations, we felt it was the perfect time to take stock and ensure that matching DuPont garments to specific protection requirements is as clear and simple as possible. While the names of our PPE ranges have been harmonised globally, our customers can be confident that the highest levels of protection and compliance are maintained.”
The DuPont revised branding has been developed to give customers a clear indication of the level of protection each garment provides. This has been achieved in two ways. Firstly, by including a number in the product name: the higher the number, the higher the level of protection that garment provides. For example, the popular Tyvek® Classic Xpert coverall is now known as the Tyvek® 500 Xpert, while the Tychem® ThermoPro triple hazard suit becomes the Tychem® 6000 FR ThermoPro.
In addition, DuPont has introduced colour coded octagons on packaging and the garments themselves to indicate the degree of protection. Grey indicates that the PPE can withstand non-hazardous liquids and particulates, while blue means that the PPE is protection against hazardous particulates and light chemical splash. The highest degree of protection – for PPE providing a reliable barrier against chemical, biological and thermal hazards – is indicated by orange branding. The new colour coding acts as an aid to product identification “off the shelf”, while new barcodes (EAN codes) have been introduced on multi-packs as well as single units to assist with order checks and stock taking.
Although the name and the packaging are new, the robust construction and reliable performance of the garments remains the same. For ease of ordering, product article numbers and references have been retained.
DuPont has published a simple online reference guide for customers to cross-check the old product name with the new. The guide can be accessed here: http://newsystem.tyvek.co.uk
For Greater Good™ is the promise of the DuPont™ Tyvek® brand. Tyvek® can provide the trusted protective barrier people need so they can worry less and focus on accomplishing bigger things – making the greater good possible.
