UL Solutions Prioritizes Certification for Crucial Pandemic Eye Protection

Name: Bollé Safety 
Founded: 1888
Headquartered: Villeurbanne, France

Over the course of the last century, Bollé has grown from a small family company to an internationally recognized producer of protective eyewear. More than 15 million workers across 80 countries use Bollé products for eye safety. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they faced a logistical challenge unlike any other in their long history. Bollé turned to UL Solutions for help to get their safety goggles tested and certified so that they could be used by medical professionals treating patients.

Epidemic, government and healthcare facilities held personal protective equipment (PPE) as a top priority. In order to produce eye protection that could be quickly deployed throughout Europe, Bollé began using a new manufacturing site in China. UL Solutions was able to arrange testing with one of its partners within China, saving time on shipping and result communication. 

For European Union market access, UL Solutions' Notified Body in the Netherlands certified the safety goggles to the PPE regulation, through evaluation to EN 166. Local UL Solutions staff in Europe helped manage the language barriers between European-based Notified Bodies and the factory in China in order to align testing.

Robin Saunier-Pumaz, Europe, Middle East and Africa trade marketing coordinator for Bollé, said, “Following the latest pandemic, we believed it was our duty as safety eyewear specialists to develop a range of products adapted to the first responders’ needs. In order to provide the right equipment to those how save lives worldwide, we had two challenges regarding certification: time and quality. We had to act quickly to provide PPE eyewear as soon as possible despite the urgency state of laboratories worldwide for COVID protection equipment certification. We also had to ensure that the highest quality standards were followed to make sure our products had the optimal efficiency.”

Saunier-Pumaz continued, “We found in UL Solutions more than a supplier. Indeed, their agility and reactivity enabled fast communication through every step of the certification process (laboratory and Notified Body) while their reports were very thorough and the whole team was of great service.”

Michael Kirkland, UL Solutions senior project engineer, said, “Throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic, UL Solutions has sought to prioritize any work involving PPE that may be used by frontline staff. When we were approached by Bollé to provide their testing and certification, we knew that as a safety eyewear specialist, Bollé could deliver much needed PPE. Working with Bollé, we found they were responsive and thorough in their work, which helped us provide the certification quickly in a time of need.”

UL Solutions' ability to certify products quickly meant that PPE could be manufactured at an increased number of facilities, delivering critical supplies to frontline healthcare staff in Europe. UL Solutions' global reach meant it could help to streamline the process between local testing in China and certification in Europe.

Bollé’s long history in safety products led them to trust that UL Solutions' expertise could help deliver safety products to those who needed it most.

“We found in UL more than a supplier. Indeed, their agility and reactivity enabled fast communication through every step of the certification process (laboratory and Notified Body)…”

Robin Saunier-Pumaz, Europe, Middle East and Africa trade marketing coordinator, Bollé