New Climate of Comfort
Healthy feet can produce moisture at the rate of 25g an hour – enough to fill a coffee mug over a normal working shift. An 8h shift will feel very different to a worker whose feet are not irritated by damp or heat, nor chafed by internal stitching and seams. They are likely to be more productive, take less time off work and remain satisfied for longer with their employer and working conditions.
The concept of workwear that complements the body’s own regulating system for keeping the wearer dry and cool was born in 2004 when uvex began researching levels of comfort offered by safety shoes. The international manufacturer of PPE and sports safety equipment questioned work footwear users in Austria, Switzerland and Germany and discovered that the primary complaint was discomfort caused by heat and perspiration.
Research was conducted that analysed the different components of a shoe and how they might influence comfort; even the type of glue used and its method of application was investigated. New production, testing and measuring protocols were developed and the project, which became known as climatec, gained momentum. To create a range that reduced deviations from the body’s preferred temperature by drawing away excess heat and moisture was the ultimate goal, and uvex became the first workwear and PPE manufacturer to approach new product development as a scientific challenge.
It was necessary to devise methods of testing airflow, breathability, water vapour volume and user comfort, and uvex set out to develop new PPE which made the trade off between comfort and protection unnecessary. Bamboo Twinflex is one of the innovative new materials developed at that time. It blends a silky-feel bamboo fibre for temperature regulation and moisture wicking with cut-resistant hybrid yarns, ideal for safety gloves.
A product called xenova climatec was the first safety footwear product to incorporate these properties. It is light, anti-slip and impact and compression resistant, even though it is manufactured without metal components. The shoe looks like a fashionable trainer and the climatec concept is only apparent when it is worn and the bamboo fibres and ventilation channels start conveying heat and moisture away from the foot. A Hydroflex GEL biomechanical shock absorbing sole adds to the comfort by reducing footfall impact by more than 75%.
Climatec can now be seen across the whole range of uvex PPE, including a safety glove that combines the ideals of climatec with new manufacturing processes and materials. The Helix C5 glove is suitable for many applications which require level-5 cut protection, and is said to offer a standard of wearer comfort and dexterity previously unseen in hand protection. It is made with recently developed Flat Ergo moulds, which replicate the hand exactly and give a seamless finish that improves fit and dexterity. High-performance elastomer coatings complete the Helix C5 and add substantially to breathability and grip.
The concept of workwear that complements the body’s own regulating system for keeping the wearer dry and cool was born in 2004 when uvex began researching levels of comfort offered by safety shoes. The international manufacturer of PPE and sports safety equipment questioned work footwear users in Austria, Switzerland and Germany and discovered that the primary complaint was discomfort caused by heat and perspiration.
Research was conducted that analysed the different components of a shoe and how they might influence comfort; even the type of glue used and its method of application was investigated. New production, testing and measuring protocols were developed and the project, which became known as climatec, gained momentum. To create a range that reduced deviations from the body’s preferred temperature by drawing away excess heat and moisture was the ultimate goal, and uvex became the first workwear and PPE manufacturer to approach new product development as a scientific challenge.
It was necessary to devise methods of testing airflow, breathability, water vapour volume and user comfort, and uvex set out to develop new PPE which made the trade off between comfort and protection unnecessary. Bamboo Twinflex is one of the innovative new materials developed at that time. It blends a silky-feel bamboo fibre for temperature regulation and moisture wicking with cut-resistant hybrid yarns, ideal for safety gloves.
A product called xenova climatec was the first safety footwear product to incorporate these properties. It is light, anti-slip and impact and compression resistant, even though it is manufactured without metal components. The shoe looks like a fashionable trainer and the climatec concept is only apparent when it is worn and the bamboo fibres and ventilation channels start conveying heat and moisture away from the foot. A Hydroflex GEL biomechanical shock absorbing sole adds to the comfort by reducing footfall impact by more than 75%.
Climatec can now be seen across the whole range of uvex PPE, including a safety glove that combines the ideals of climatec with new manufacturing processes and materials. The Helix C5 glove is suitable for many applications which require level-5 cut protection, and is said to offer a standard of wearer comfort and dexterity previously unseen in hand protection. It is made with recently developed Flat Ergo moulds, which replicate the hand exactly and give a seamless finish that improves fit and dexterity. High-performance elastomer coatings complete the Helix C5 and add substantially to breathability and grip.
