Growth for US personal protective equipment

The well-established personal protection equipment (PPE) market continues to throw up new challenges and unique opportunities for manufacturers wishing to boost sales.

The well-established personal protection equipment (PPE) market continues to throw up new challenges and unique opportunities for manufacturers wishing to boost sales.

Demands by end users for improved comfort and design are expected to be the key drivers for growth in this mature market.

New analysis from international market consultants Frost and Sullivan reveals that the US Market for PPE was worth $1.23 billion in 2001.

Total market revenues are estimated to be $1.52 billion in 2008 - a compound annual growth rate of 3.1%.

Matthias Kubr, Industry Analyst with Frost and Sullivan says: "The mature PPE market provides unique challenges".

Limited product differentiation means the PPE market is highly price-sensitive, and, end users have tended to make purchasing decisions based solely on price.

However, recent trends indicate that customers are becoming more discriminating, and future purchasing decisions are more likely to be based on enhanced comfort and the latest fashion trends.

Accordingly, manufacturers are focusing better designs and innovative offerings to provide workers with greater comfort levels.

At the same time, PPE makers are addressing style-conscious end-users by incorporating fashion elements into their products.

This trend towards fashion consciousness amongst workers results in faster replacement rates as units are replaced when the design falls out of fashion rather than when the units reach the end of their useful life-span.

These strategies have stimulated greater acceptance and compliance amongst workers about using the protective gear.

As a result, employers are willing to pay higher premiums and are likely to be more amenable to the faster replacement rates of these innovative and stylish PPE devices.

Head-to-toe protection packages and one-stop-shops are also helping manufacturers expand market share.

Several large and medium-sized market players are developing inclusive product lines for total protection, thereby enabling them to expand their client base.

"A noteworthy illustration of this trend was the merger of Bacou-Dalloz last year which created a true super power in the PPE industry", notes Kuber.

"The company is now a top market shareholder, offering a unique one-stop shopping facility to its end-users".

By emphasising product innovation and constantly leveraging expansion opportunities, market participants are maximising growth prospects.

As long as workers are exposed to hazardous environments at their workplaces, there will be a market for PPE and the industry will continue to enjoy a solid demand for its products.

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