Highlights from A+A 2025
Published: 2nd Dec 2025
Head and Hearing Protection
Hand and Body Protection
HyFlex® and AlphaTec® Gloves: Ansell showcased next-generation gloves, including the HyFlex® 11-574 (thinner for better sensitivity) and AlphaTec® series gloves combining high-level chemical resistance with cut protection. Photo: Amazon.co.za
Tyvek® APX™ Fabric: DuPont unveiled this new, advanced fabric for disposable chemical garments that offers outstanding breathability to reduce heat buildup without compromising on protection or durability. Photo: DuPont
Foot Protection
Vibram Megagrip Pro: Vibram introduced a new high-performance rubber sole, inspired by mountaineering, designed to provide exceptional grip and stability on both wet and dry surfaces. Photo: Vibram
Connected and Smart Technologies
'X-ble Shoulder' Wearable Robot: Hyundai's Robotics LAB presented this exoskeleton to help workers performing repetitive overhead tasks by reducing shoulder stress by up to 60%. Photo: Hyundai
Tags: A+A
- A+A 2025: Product launches were aimed at the European market, but new technology – and fashion – will slowly make their way to Africa
Show report from Messe DüsseldorfDüsseldorf, Germany (7 November 2025) – The theme for A+A 2025 was ‘People matter’.2,340 exhibitors from 70 countries presented a spectrum of products, technologies and innovations for a safe, healthy and sustainable world of work in 13 exhibition halls. There were 67,000 trade ...moreComments from South African visitors to A+A 2025We asked for feedback from South African companies that visited A+A 2025. ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- ‘Growth in online gambling may be big factor in siphoning off disposable income’East London, E. Cape, SA – Trading conditions are constrained and steady. We need to focus on good quality products at reasonable prices / value. We are optimistic about the direction of the overall economy in RSA.As a wise man once said regarding growing a business: “Sometimes you have to move slowly to be able to move fast.& ...more‘Footwear and leather goods sectors show united front at R-CTFL Masterplan review’
The R-CTFL Masterplan is currently under review, and a strategic planning session was recently convened with all key stakeholders and representatives present.The footwear and leather contingent participated fully in the session. Representatives from the dtic’s Footwear and Leather sector desk, SAFLEC, SAFLIA, and organised labour, i ...moreAn industry with distinctive material riches, unable to sufficiently convert them into finished goods in a world class way“The project’s purpose,” said Courtney Grant, “is to be a robust, evidence-based strategy to address the leather and general goods sector’s challenges and unlock its growth potential.”The main headings of her presentation were:Creating the groundwork for a National Leather and General Goods Strategy:Fro ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- LEATHER’S ELEMENTARY UNIT
Geoff Attenburrow’s PhD student David M. Wright worked on the behaviour of leather under strain (Attenburrow, 1993; Wright, 1996). They were the first to describe that leather had a “co-operating unit”, a set of structures within leather that helped the leather to resist breaking and to resist deformation at low strain.T ...moreBarnini installs spray booth in SA
Castelfranco di Sotto (PI), Italy – Leather spray equipment manufacturer Barnini Srl has installed an automatic rotary spray booth at an unnamed South African tannery. ...moreFMD: Government upbeat, little comment from industryPretoria, Gauteng, SA – The Department of Agriculture’s “strategic objective” is to vaccinate 80% of South Africa’s national cattle herd – which is around 14 million animals – against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by December this year, according to a media statement on 12 May.“The vaccinatio ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Occupational noise-induced hearing loss ‘is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world’
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world*. 16% of all disabling hearing loss in adults is due to noise exposure.It’s also expensive. According to one study, it costs US$242 million in annual compensation in the USA. In the UK, the typical cost per claim in the is £ ...moreUnderstanding local and international PPE standards: Clarity in a complex landscape
Appearances and claims to the contrary, South Africa’s PPE industry “is largely unregulated, and a high percentage of PPE on the market is not compliant with official standards”, uvex Safety SA MD Christo Nel said, “and that’s a problem at many levels, and for the entire value chain”.He said the fundame ...moreSA's first PPE conference draws top speakers
The Safety First Association and SAPEMA hosted SA’s first PPE conference in March, cramming 20 papers into a 2-day event, which also featured a number of PPE supplier stands. Here, we carry edited versions of 7 of them to illustrate the diversity of the topics. We expect to carry more in the next edition.As several speakers pointed ...more
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