New climate of comfort
March 1st 2008

Uvex has developed a range of products made from bamboo fibre for climate control that reduces excess heat and draws away moisture

Healthy feet can produce moisture at a rate of 25g an hour or enough to fill a coffee mug by the end of a normal working shift. The experience of that eight-hour shift will be very different for the 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 and personal protective equipment which 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, including their own. 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 of discomfort caused by heat and sweat.

A report was produced which analysed the different components of a shoe including materials used for the inner, outer and the insole and how they might influence comfort; even the type of glue used and its method of application was included in the research. The control of heat and sweat remained the focus, and uvex became the first manufacturer of workwear and PPE to approach new product development as a scientific rather than just a manufacturing or marketing challenge.

The goal was to develop climate controlling products using intelligent materials and design, this led to the development of new production techniques, scientific testing and measuring protocols. The concept was called climatec, and the objective was to create products that reduce deviations from the body's preferred temperature and draw away excess heat and moisture.

To gauge the qualities of new products and materials it was necessary to devise methods of testing airflow, breathability, water vapour volume and user comfort.

The protection afforded by safety gloves and shoes is usually created at the cost of comfort and dexterity, and uvex set out to develop new technology which made the trade off between comfort and protection unnecessary. Bamboo Twinflex is one of the innovative new materials developed at that time and blends a silky-feel bamboo fibre for temperature regulation and moisture wicking with cut resistant hybrid yarns. It was a natural choice for cut and abrasion resistant safety gloves.

A product called xenova climatec was the first safety footwear product to incorporate these properties when it was launched this month (March) into the uvex safety shoe range. Light weight, anti-slip, impact and compression resistant, the shoe is made without metal components and looks like a fashionable trainer. But it has a petrol/oil resistant, anti-static/ESD, heat resistant and non marking sole with a dual density non-metallic safety toe cap that is superior to steel or aluminium when tested in accordance with EN12568.

The climatec concept is only fully apparent when the shoe is worn and the bamboo fibres and ventilation channels begin to convey heat and moisture away from the foot. The Hydroflex GEL biomechanical shock absorbing soles reduce footfall impact by more than 75%.

An eight hour shift spent standing on a concrete floor will never feel the same! Climatec products designed for workplace safety have been shown to increase wearer comfort, improve work duration and quality.

Climatec is making an impact across the whole range of uvex PPE, the most recent was a new safety glove that combines the ideals of climatec with recent new manufacturing processes and materials. The uvex Helix C5 is suitable for many different applications which require a level 5 cut protection, but has a level of wearer comfort and dexterity previously unseen in hand protection. The Bamboo Twinflex technology is part of the secret – the material creates a silky-feel lining that provides temperature regulation and moisture wicking.

Each new uvex product is supported by scientific research and testing, and the Helix C5 was developed in conjunction with leading institutes in Germany. To quantify the gloves' internal climate it was necessary to devise methods of testing airflow, breathability, water vapour volume and user comfort. High cut protection usually involves heavier materials and compromises in comfort, but uvex has developed materials which require no compromise.

The Helix C5 glove is made using recently developed Flat Ergo moulds which replicate the hand exactly and give a seamless finish which measurably improves fit and dexterity.

Newly developed high-performance elastomer coatings substantially improve the product's breathability with excellent grip properties in light oil or dry conditions.

The comfort of employees has a direct impact on their level of satisfaction and productivity at work. It affects absenteeism, staff turnover and all the subtle indicators of a motivated workforce. When PPE has to be worn in compliance with health and safety legislations there is a strong case for choosing equipment that does more than simply comply with the law.

More articles from Uvex (UK) Limited: