Smart PPE Technology Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Smart Safety Gloves, Smart Shoes, Smart Eyewear, Smart Protective Clothing, Smart Earmuffs/Plugs, Smart Respirator, and Others), By Application (Healthcare & Medical, Fitness & Wellness, Infotainment, Industrial, Military, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global smart PPE technology market size was USD 2.74 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 3.13 billion in 2021 to USD 9.05 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 16.4% during the 2021-2028 period. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with smart PPE solutions witnessing a positive demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a significant growth of 13.6% in 2020 as compared to year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. The steady rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.  

Smart PPE is a wearable device with built-in advanced technologies that monitor and collect real-time data to enhance the security of frontline workers and industry workers. The advanced digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial IoT, smart sensors, and connected devices assist in detecting and sending real-time alerts and gathers the data for further analysis. The growing accidents and fatalities across the industries are expected to boost the demand for smart PPE technology to ensure a secure working environment and workers’ well-being. For instance, in the U.S., over 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous environments such as loud noise, dust, chemical, metal particles, and more. The technology is expected to offer protection to the user along with support in maintaining a work conducive environment with its data analytics. Additionally, industry standards such as General Industry Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, 29 CFR 1910 have made it essential for companies and manufacturing companies to use personal protective equipment and other protective equipment, thus; promoting the smart PPE technology market growth.

COVID-19 Impact

Smart PPE to Witness a Surge in Demand amid COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the worldwide market. Depending on the virus spread, global revenues are projected to decrease this fiscal year. COVID-19 has had a negative impact on major markets such as the U.S. and China.

The demand for smart personal protective equipment in the industrial sector remains low during the lockdown owing to the temporary shutdowns of factories and industries. At the same time, the healthcare industry showcased high demand for smart PPE technology to protect healthcare workers, waste management, and frontline workers from the contagious virus. However, the outbreak of the pandemic has significantly disrupted the supply chain of products and devices. This has also impacted the production of smart personal protective equipment. Thus, the growth of this technology is expected to be steady during the lockdown period.

Although the market has shown substantial growth during the lockdown, it is estimated that, the demand for smart PPE technology is expected to gain rapid growth post-pandemic. The industrial sector is expected to invest heavily in smart personal protective equipment owing to provide a safe and secured environment. Similarly, the production of the smart glove, smart protective clothing and smart respirators is expected to grow exponentially to cater the increasing demand from healthcare sector. Thus, the market is expected to grow rapidly post-pandemic crises.

LATEST TRENDS

Growing Demand for Wearable Technology to Provide Safety at Workplace is likely to Propel Market Growth

Work field accidents and mishaps often cause disturbances at the workplace, thereby hampering productivity. To reduce accidents at the workplace, the industries have started adopting wearable technology to monitor and analyze field environments continuously. The personal protective equipment providers offer smart equipment by integrating wearable technology to monitor user behavior and the external environment. Advanced technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), connected devices, smart sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and further improve this technology.

For instance, in a loud and low visible environment, the employee can use smart helmets, smart eyewear, and smart communication system for real-time communication and enhance safety measures. With the smart technology, the role of personal protective equipment has changed, and it additionally offers environment monitoring capability, users' health status, real-time communication, smart safety solutions, among others. Also, technology is helping on boosting productivity and safety at workplaces. This is expected to drive the growth of the market.

DRIVING FACTORS

Exponential Demand for Smart Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Industry Likely to Drive Market Growth

The healthcare industry is witnessing a surge in demand for smart PPE technology owing to the growing high-risk infectious diseases such as Ebola, SARS, swine flu, and COVID-19, among others. These conditions have fueled the demand for smart personal protective equipment, as it monitors and analyses the external environment. Smart protective clothing and smart gloves comprise smart sensors to provide e-health monitoring capabilities. This collected data is then analyzed over a personal computer, and feedbacks are given to the user. For instance, in India, to speed up the screening process for COVID-19, the healthcare workers used a smart helmet to check the temperature in densely populated areas. The smart helmet detects the temperature and shows the result over its connected smartwatch.

Similarly, the workers in the pharmaceutical industry are highly exposed to hazardous particles, chemicals, gasses, and biological agents. This exposure to dangerous substances in the industries is highly monitored by Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) to ensure a safe and secure work environment. Also, the growing government safety compliances and regulations for workers in the industry boost the adoption of smart PPE technology. This is likely to fuel the market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Poor Quality Devices and Network Connection to Obstruct Market Growth

The smart PPE technology offers safety, security, and protection from uncertain activity and accidents. Thus, it is essential to have a proper connection all the time to monitor real-time changes. Any error or delay in alert can cause serious damages to the user and the environment. Thus, it is necessary to have properly tested and verified products while working in a harsh environment. Also, as this equipment is connected, the chances of data breaching of sensitive personal and professional data are very high. Thus, the low-quality device and unsecured connection might hamper the market growth. However, implementing tested and verified products along with proper network security planning can help the user gain full advantage of the technology.

SEGMENTATION

By Product Type Analysis

Increasing Respiratory Issues Is Expected to Drive Demand for Smart Respirator

Based on product type, the global market has been segmented into smart safety gloves, smart shoes, smart eyewear, smart protective clothing, smart earmuffs/plugs, smart respirators, others.

The smart glove is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. This segment comprises smart gloves offered by different market players, including DuPont Kevlar smart gloves by MCR safety, Tychem Gloves NT420, NT430, NT470, and NT480 by DuPont de Nemours Inc., ProFlex 9003 Certified Lightweight Anti-Vibration Gloves by Ergodyne, among others. Smart gloves are majorly used as personal protective equipment across industries such as manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, among others. The increasing safety regulations and compliances are expected to drive the demand for the smart industrial glove. Similarly, smart eyewear as the equipment is expected to gain huge demand across the industry sectors. Smart eyewear and smart goggle manufacturers such as Vuzix Corporation, DAQRI, and more offer personal protective equipment -certified smart eyewear to provide industrial safety. This is expected to drive market growth. Also, smart eyewear can provide augmented display for training new workers and provide remote assistance. Companies like 3M company, DAQRI, Vuzix Corporation, Uvex Group are focusing on expanding smart eyewear personal protective equipment technologies.

Likewise, smart respirators are expected to gain rapid growth owing to the increasing concerns over acute respiratory disease caused due to minute metal particles, chemical exposure, and harmful gas exposure in the factories and manufacturing environment. Example of smart respirators includes Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) by 3M Company, 7000 Series Multi E Gas/Vapor respirator by, Moldex-Metric, among others. Also, the emergence of viral diseases is boosting the adoption of smart respirators in healthcare. For instance, 3M Company is developing a smart face mask that monitors the user's health. Also, the company has developed a gas mask for firemen, to trace and rescue trapped people using thermal imaging solutions. Likewise, smart protective clothing is gaining growth owing to its ability to provide overall protection and safety to the user. Considering the rising awareness, the industries are investing in smart protective clothing such as shockproofs, heat, and flame radiant to reduce accidents. This is expected to drive this market.

By Application Analysis

Rising Awareness Regarding Industrial Safety is likely to Drive Smart PPE Technology Market

Based on application, the market is segmented into healthcare & medical, fitness & wellness, infotainment, industrial, military, others.

The industrial sector is expected to dominate the adoption of smart PPE technology during the forecast period. The growing employee safety regulations and rules such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) drive the adoption of this technology for reducing accidental cases. The industries are using the data collected from smart technology to analyze and reduce other mishaps. For instance, DAQRI’s smart construction helmet provides all the user's data to the control room, such as details of the surrounding environment, the current location of users, and their activities. This helps in maintaining a safe environment and keeps track of every movement of workers.

Similarly, the healthcare and medicine sector are witnessing the rapid adoption of smart equipment to deal with the increasing viral and highly transmitting diseases. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly boosted the demand for smart personal protective equipment in the industry. Additionally, governments across the globe are continuously focusing on providing lifesaving equipment for the soldiers during the combat mission. The adoption of smart PPE technology is expected to offer better security, surveillance, and communication capabilities to the industry. Similarly, the demand for the technology is growing steadily in fitness & wellness and infotainment application owing to the rising safety precautions. This is expected to drive market growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Geographically, the market is segmented across five major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America.

North America is expected to dominate the smart PPE technology market share during the forecast period. The growing awareness regarding workplace safety among the worker and employers is driving the market in the region. The rapid adoption of technologies such as IoT, industrial IoT, connected and wearable devices, smart sensors, among others, is expected to positively impact the market. Further, in the U.S., the insurance companies have started considering the data provided by the smart personal protective equipment to sanction claims of the workers to reduce the false claims. In North America, Canada is expected to gain a rapid CAGR during the forecast period. According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), across Canada, 951 fatalities were reported due to workplace accidents in the year 2017. Considering the rising accidents, the demand for smart PPE technology is expected to grow. 

Europe is likely to have the second-highest revenue in the global market share during the forecast period. The significant presence of the automotive, chemical, healthcare industries is driving the demand for smart PPE technology. According to the European Parliament Scientific and Technology Options Assessment Panel (STOA), wearable technology has made drastic changes in the lives of the people in the region. Considering the advantages of wearable technologies, the industries have integrated this technology with personal protective equipment to provide smart equipment solutions. This is expected to boost the market. In Europe, Food & Drug Administration, World Health Organization, and the European Union have created directives and guidelines for handling, manufacturing, and packaging pharmaceutical products and the safety of pharma staff. This is expected to drive the technology demand across the countries. Likewise, South America is witnessing steady growth during the forecast period owing to the growth industrial sector, healthcare provisions, among others.

Asia Pacific is expected to show rapid growth during the forecast period owing to the presence of leading personal protective equipment manufacturers in China and India. The development and expansion of the industrial sector drive the need to provide a safe and monitored working environment. India is expected to gain swift growth during the forecast period. According to Industry All, in the year 2020, India witnessed 30 major industrial accidents. The growing accidents and government regulation on worker safety management are expected to boost the demand for smart personal protective equipment. The Middle East and Africa are also gaining significant growth during the forecast period. The dominant presence of oil and gas industries across the region is expected to drive the demand. Additionally, increased safety awareness and laws requiring the use of this equipment in various sectors are driving the market’s growth.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Major Players to Focus on Mergers to Cater to Rising Demand of personal Protective Equipment Solutions among Consumers

Key players operating in the market such as Uvex Group, Ansell Ltd., DuPont de Nemours Inc., Intellinium, MCR Safety, Vuzix Corporation, Seebo Interactive Ltd., Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Corvex Connected Worker, Ergodyne Corporation, among others, are focused on developing and offering different types of personal protective equipment solutions through various growth strategies and to gain optimum market share.

• April 2020 – Intellinium, a leading safety and protective equipment provider, partnered with Bianco, a French construction company, to launch a new smart personal protective equipment integrated with Intellinium Safety Pods technology that will allow construction workers to maintain social distancing with vibrating signal to avoid the spread of COVID-19 virus at construction sites.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• uvex Group (Fürth, Germany)


• Ansell Ltd. (Richmond, Australia)


• DuPont de Nemours Inc. (Delaware, U.S.)


• Intellinium (d'Azur, France)


• MCR Safety (Fürth, Germany)


• Vuzix Corporation (New York, U.S.)


• Seebo Interactive LTD. (California, United States)


• Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA (Lübeck, Germany)


• Corvex Connected Worker (Minnesota, U.S.)


• Ergodyne Corporation (Minnesota, U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2019 – Intellinium, a leading safety and protective equipment provider, partnered with OPPBTP to launch construction 4.0 smart PPE integrated with safety pod and smart cone. Smart personal protective equipment and more connected worker solutions may substantially aid in the battle against and reduction of occupational hazards and accidents in the road, building, and construction industries.


• May 2021 - Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA partnered with Shell (Royal Dutch Shell plc) to supply portable gas detection equipment to all of Shell's onshore and offshore facilities and sites across the world. Through this partnership, Drägerwerk AG will deliver alcohol and drug detection equipment and personal protective equipment to Shell.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global report provides an in-depth analysis of the market. It focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, product Industry, and leading product applications. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses several key factors that have contributed to the market's growth over recent years.

Report Scope and Segmentation