DuPont, a science company, recently received a favorable, albeit still provisional decision against a group of textile manufacturers doing business and operating in the European Union and India, and distributing products to the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere in the GCC, for infringing its trademark rights by distributing Nomex® branded garments that did not actually contain genuine Nomex® fibers.
Counterfeited products in the Middle East continue to be a problem, not only causing economic damage but also posing serious risks to lives and property. Dubai alone seized millions of dollars worth of fake goods in 2011, involving more than 500 cases.
There are strong concerns over the influx of fake personal protective equipment (PPE); false PPE clothing could mean the difference between life and death to anyone wearing what they think is PPE clothing and are in fact wearing a fake.
Regions in the Middle East have been uncovering the sale of counterfeit items such as gloves, high-visibility vests and heat-resistant clothing which can be hard to detect by the untrained eye.
All employers, manufacturers and distributors have a responsibility to keep workforces safe at work and in order to stay vigilant, certified goods are are the only way to insure safety and will even mean the difference between life and death.
According to DuPont, “The DuPont Nomex® label represents how we affirm our status as a provider of quality protective products while empowering reputable suppliers to do the same and provide genuine, legal goods to the workforce”.
Such initiatives raise the profile of safety in the workplace, which will in turn hopefully cause the end of counterfeit products.
DuPont is internationally renowned for the development of its high-quality, intelligent flame resistant fiber, Nomex®. Incorporated into fabric for use by fire fighters and industrial workers all over the world, Nomex® labeled garments are produced according to the highest standards using DuPont-approved fabrics and have become an integral part of keeping people protected at work.
Nomex® can withstand exposure to extreme heat for over eight seconds and does not melt or drip even at high temperatures. It is also highly resistant to UV rays and abrasion and is soft to the touch. Fabrics made of Nomex® are extremely easy to care for and maintain their appearance even after many washes.
Certified Nomex® fabrics are visible to the end-user through the distinctive Nomex® label, which DuPont actively encourages end users to look out for to ensure compliance, performance and quality of products that will save lives.
Be sure you are getting the real thing and purchase your PPE clothing and tools from a proven reputable supplier such as Macron Safety (www.macronsafety.com) and do not gamble the lives of your workers on products that are not certified, tested, and proven from an unknown supplier.
