The PPE market in Ukraine: focus on the European norms

Getsiz.ru is read not only in Russia, but also in the CIS countries. Within two weeks, we will make our readers familiar with the situation on the PPE markets in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. We collected opinions of the participants in the branch and manufacturers of PPE about the market situation, challenges, achievements and new projects. The Head of Delta Plus (Ukraine), Sergei Gunko, presented an overview of the Ukrainian PPE market.

Sergei Gunko, Head of «Delta Plus» Company in Ukraine.

In 2018 Ukraine achieved a modest growth of GDP (3.4%) and industrial production. The main economic drivers here are metallurgical industry and agriculture, which generate the lion’s share of currency earnings in the country. Thanks to them, as well as the favorable global situation in the commodity markets, the national currency exchange rate was stable throughout the year. Macroeconomic stability served as the basis for the development of the related economic sectors. More and more Ukrainian companies look to the West and expand their export flows in this direction.

Although at a slow pace, the level of incident and injury free work culture is moving upward. Having satisfied their basic needs, companies are entering a new stage of development and are ready to invest in something nice, social-, and safety-oriented, including high-quality workwear and PPE. Here, as always, the main consumers of PPE remain the same: metallurgical engineering, power generation, oil and gas sector and food industry. In response to the increase in the market volume, new brand-names appeared in Ukraine directly or via dealers: Portwest, Safety Jogger, Reis, JSP and others.

The number of local companies engaged in manufacturing of workwear, production of dust masks and knitted working gloves has significantly increased. The largest players in the PPE market of Ukraine are: «AB Center» (dealer of Univet, 3M and Červa), Promsiz (dealer of Exena), «Vostok-Service» (dealer of Uvex), Delta Plus and «Ozone».

Almost all companies that supply PPE are classic distributors with a wide range of brands who at their own risk conduct purchases, form assortment policy, carry out imports and do the product promotion. All this requires significant financial resources.

After 3M shut down its storage facilities, there is actually only one European market player left in Ukraine on the PPE market. It is a French company Delta Plus which is present here as a full-fledged representative office and official importer with its own warehouse in Kiev. It has in its portfolio the entire PPE range (from workwear to fall protection) and can equally well develop both distribution and direct sales. Of strong Ukrainian manufacturers having their niches should be mentioned: «Talan» (safety footwear), «Doloni» (protective gloves), «Viva Trade» (protective gloves), «Standard» (respiratory protection) and «Tornado» (workwear).

Talking about changes in the consumer requests for PPE, it is increasingly common to hear the requirements for safety eyewear, which should have efficient anti-fogging function and KN marking. Here Italian Univet and German UVEX have strong positions.

Ukrainian steel and construction workers have also appreciated such a handy thing as helmets with a smooth headband adjustment (ratchet wheel), which Delta Plus now holds the lead in supplies. And in the segment of high-quality and expensive respiratory protection the market focuses on 3M.

Unfortunately, regarding hand protection knitted gloves with PVC dots are still widely used (the main suppliers – «Doloni» and «Viva Trade»). It is still difficult for importing companies to convince clients to purchase gloves with polymer coating, which, although more expensive, offer better protection and have a longer period of wear. The market of low-budget safety footwear is mainly occupied by «Talan» Company, which is very competitive in price. Those workers, who buy footwear for themselves, choose such brands as Nitras, Safety Jogger and Delta Plus.

Economic prospects for Ukraine’s development in 2019 are being discussed very cautiously for two reasons: firstly, a new President has just been elected in the country, and we are not sure what sort of changes in economic policy to expect, and secondly, 2019 is the peak year for foreign debt payments. These two factors make business take a wait-and-see position, which does not promote investment activity.

In our opinion workwear and PPE market will grow a little faster, since providing high-quality PPE is becoming an increasingly important factor for employers who want to retain skilled labor force. The mass exodus of labor migrants (welders, locksmiths, warehouse attendants, assembling fitters etc.) to West Europe makes Ukrainian companies both raise wages and think how to ensure that a qualified craftsman should feel comfortable and safe at his workplace. The orientation towards European norms, practices and experience will probably be decisive for Ukraine in terms of developing the PPE market.

Olga Shumeiko, «SOMZ» OJSC (TM ROSOMZ), Commercial Director.

It has always been difficult for Russian manufacturers to work in Ukraine. We are faced with a situation where the prices of 3M and Uvex products, which are stipulated in many corporate norms, are significantly lower than the prices of the same products in Russia.

Most likely, large manufacturers have special prices for Ukraine. The corporate catalogs of big companies operating in Ukraine stipulate the availability of EU certificates for PPE. We received all necessary EU approvals and tried to convince the customers to purchase our products. The business of «Suksun optical-mechanical plant» developed well and we built up a dealer network till the political events broke out. Now, if there is a European or Ukrainian equivalent, then it is better to avoid a Russian manufacturer’s product. Our turnover in Ukraine has fallen, but we are looking for solutions.

«Delta Plus Ukraine» Company has been operating since 2008. Turnover for 2018 amounted to 3 million Euros excl. VAT. The company performs the functions of a representative office, a distributor, and has a warehouse facility. The headquarters of the parent company is located in Apt (France). The annual turnover of Delta + holding is 250 million Euros.

OJSC «Suksun Optical and Mechanical Plant» (TM ROSOMZ) is one of Russia’s largest developers and manufacturers of PPE, including RPE (respiratory protection equipment). It is a leader in the production of safety helmets and eyewear in Russia. The company’s revenue in 2017 amounted to 1.397 billion rubles.

The 23rd international specialized exhibition «Occupational Safety and Health – 2019» (BiOT) will be held on December 10-13 in Moscow, pavilion No. 75 of the Exhibition of Economic Achievements. The exhibition is organized by the Russian Ministry of Labor and the Association of Developers, Manufacturers and Suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment (ASIZ). In 2018, the area of BiOT Fair was 13 thousand square meters. The number of visitors was 15 thousand.