The founders of Aegle had a vision to bring transparency and authenticity into the opaque market for respiratory protection – a market beset with fakes, counterfeits and substandard face coverings. When Aegle launched in 2021, it was difficult for Americans to find quality N95 masks and even harder to know which masks were authentic and protective. The market was becoming flooded with KN95s – the Chinese standard – purchased on online marketplaces that were expensive and not necessarily protective.

Using the founding team’s extensive experience in technology and cybersecurity, they set about creating technology that could help. They developed a technology platform to protect customers and assist in building consumer confidence back in the PPE market, which is beset with fakes.

Last week Aegle announced that it had now sold more than 3 million authenticated NIOSH*-certified N95 respirators, all featuring its patent pending Authentication & Traceability technology. Aegle’s proprietary technology prevents counterfeit and gray market sales, confirms testing performance, and ensures supply-chain traceability. Every package has an embedded NFC (near field communication) chip providing consumers with transparent data such as manufacture and expiration date, internal and 3^rd party testing and is authenticated against Aegle’s database giving customers peace of mind that it was produced in Aegle’s Brookshire, Texas facility. 

Millions of imported masks are sold online each month to unsuspecting consumers, marketed as “FDA listed” or KN95, sowing confusion and leading to the defrauding buyers who risk contracting Covid.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends all Americans wear N95 respirators. No US tests, provides oversight or confirms the effectiveness of cheap imported masks. The CDC says 60% of all imported KN95 masks (Chinese standard) are counterfeit or fake and some recent reports show that up to 90% of those sold online are not authentic nor effective at blocking the Covid virus in the air.

“We are pleased that we have now provided end-to-end supply chain visibility and peace of mind for the buyers of more than 3 million masks made in Texas. Particularly with the Omicron variant, which is surging around the country, the preponderance of fake, substandard, counterfeit and unprotective masks being sold on online marketplaces, has left millions wondering if their masks are protecting them. Our technology is the solution,” said Andy Moy, CEO at Aegle.

To order your NIOSH-certified N95 or an ear loop mask made in Brookshire Texas, please go to https://aegleco.com/shop.

*NIOSH – The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)