Firefighting equipment maker Draeger Safety grows earnings and profits

The firm hailed growth in its Services division

Strong demand for breathing equipment products has helped Blyth-based Draeger Safety to boost revenue and profits.

The family-run firm, which makes a range of kit including breathing apparatus for fire crews and industrial workers, has talked of healthy global demand for its products and a near 17% rise in domestic sales. New accounts for Draeger Safety UK show revenue grew from £120m to £138m in 2025, and operating profits followed, rising from £10.2m to £12.9m.

Draeger employs more than 590 people in the UK and Ireland, many of them at the Blyth Riverside Business Park factory and head office. The 137 year-old business has been manufacturing in the Northumberland town for more than 60 years and has a portfolio of products including gas detection devices, respiratory protection solutions, self-contained breathing apparatus, and drug and alcohol testing equipment

The Blyth site is where compressed air breathing equipment, rescue and escape equipment and fixed gas detection technology is designed and manufacturer. It took on work from Draeger’s former Plymouth site which was wound down in 2023.

A Gateshead site – opened during Covid lockdown and making face masks for frontline workers – was also wound down with that work being transferred elsewhere in the group. The firm also operates a sales and service centre in Aberdeen.

Draeger Safety bosses said 2025 marked the strongest ever performance of its Service division which provides support for safety-critical equipment, including maintenance, testing, calibration, and both preventive and reactive repairs. That work is delivered through a team of more than 100 people including specialist engineers who cover the UK and Ireland.

Matthew Bedford, managing director of Draeger Safety UK, said: “The growth of our service business is a natural evolution for Dräger. Our equipment – several lines of which are manufactured here in the UK – is recognised for its quality and long operational life, so ensuring it is professionally maintained is essential for our customers.

“Given the market conditions, it is more important than ever that we support our customers in maintaining their equipment to the highest standards, ensuring it remains reliable, efficient, and safe. This not only lowers the total cost of ownership but also demonstrates our commitment to environmental responsibility.

“By strengthening our service model, investing in long-term customer partnerships, and expanding our team, we have built a more resilient, scalable, and growth-focused service organisation equipped to meet our customers’ needs now and in the future.”

An interim dividend of £17.4m was paid to the firm’s German group owner, up from £4.4m in 2024. In July, Draeger Safety UK was awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest accolade bestowed by the Ministry of Defence on employers who support the Armed Forces community.