An article written by our C.E.O Simon Hunter Esq M.B.E.

When it comes to protective PPE, too much of what’s out there is stuck in the past. As someone who has spent my life immersed in the technical clothing and PPE sector, I’ve seen firsthand the outdated solutions still being used by frontline officers today. We wouldn’t accept 30-year-old tech in our cars or our phones. So why should our frontline workers accept it in their PPE?

At Hunter Apparel Solutions Ltd (Hunter), we knew it was time for an upgrade. That’s why FLEXGUARD® was created.

From Makeshift to Modern: Why FLEXGUARD® Had to Happen.

The earliest forms of blunt trauma PPE were witnessed here in Northern Ireland during “the troubles” when PPE was created out of necessity during a time of riotous conflict—with improvised drainpipes re-fashioned into blunt trauma protection for officers. Innovative for its time, yes, and these primitive efforts then became ABS moulded technology, but where technology has advanced to has been static for 20 years now, modern-day challenges demand a radically different approach.

For years, the market failed to evolve meaningfully, suppliers lazily sweated the exiting products well beyond the best before date, such that the technology doesn’t fit a diverse workforce, isn’t made sustainably, and doesn’t protect hinge joints properly. In short, its time is over.

FLEXGUARD® is not an evolution, it’s a revolution!

FLEXGUARD® The world’s first fully hinged blunt-trauma armour exoskeleton for public order officers, represents the most comprehensive re-engineering of PPE product that our industry has seen in decades. Using advanced CAD technology, we’ve created a system that works with human anthropometrics —not against.

Each component is anatomically mapped to the musculoskeletal system, ensuring a tailored fit for every wearer no matter their gender. Our adaptive ultra strong outer shells are lightweight and flexible, bending with body movement, while hinged joints at the elbows and knees provide full rotational freedom.

And yes, it fits. Properly. We’ve designed FLEXGUARD® to accommodate real, modern body shapes across a diverse workforce, not outdated templates only suitable for men! And every single component exceeds FR standards by default.

Internally, removable modular inserts allow for machine washing—critical for today’s hygiene standards and improved bio-security — while our breathable 3D mesh liners ensures continuous airflow.

Rooted in NI. Ready for the World.

FLEXGUARD® is proudly manufactured in Northern Ireland; the original founding home of blunt trauma armour —designed not only to protect those who wear it, but to strengthen our local economy and create maximally secure supply chain for front line officers.

Hunter’s next-generation innovation, will enhance the security of supply, creating better levels of protection for wearers, decrease the full life cost, while generating skilled manufacturing jobs in NI.

Hunter has always been a Northern Ireland story. From our beginnings in 1936, through decades of growth and innovation, we’ve consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in professional clothing and PPE. Today, we employ 55 people locally and maintain deep community ties through school partnerships, charity work, and ongoing investments in our team.

What makes me proudest though is seeing my son the company’s fourth generation of the Hunter family now stepping up. At recent global showcases—from the World Police Summit in Dubai to the PSE in Madrid—Jude has represented our product and vision to the world. Standing beside global leaders and industry innovators, he’s continuing the legacy my family began nearly a century ago.

FLEXGUARD® is not just a product. It’s our promise—to protect those who protect us.

Recognition and Awards 2025

Our commitment to innovation and safety has not gone unnoticed. Among our recent 2025 accolades:

Winner of the highest global honour in the professional clothing industry at the NAUMD | Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors awards for Product Innovation – FLEXGUARD®

Winner of the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Product Innovation Award – FLEXGUARD®

Winner of the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Safety Solution Award – Deconology®

Winner of the Belfast Telegraph Excellence in Innovation Award – Deconology®

Highly Commended – Belfast Telegraph Awards Family Business of the Year

No matter the wearer’s anthropometrics, male or female, FLEXGUARD® protects wearers beyond anything globally. FLEXGUARD® has already surpassed global testing benchmarks. Its exceptional shock absorption and superior performance attest to its transformative design and engineering excellence.

Be a part of this movement, If you’re discovering FLEXGUARD® for the first time, welcome. You’re not just seeing the future of blunt trauma protection—you’re seeing what happens when a company truly commits to its people, its values, and its vision.

Let’s move safety forward, together.

Contact our sales team at sales@hunterapparelsolutions.com to get involved.