Fortex Wurkleare by Vincent Blais is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award yn Sulver in Feilichheidsklean en Persoanlike Beskermingsmiddelen Ûntwerp Competition Category.

SulverBeskermingsmiddel· 2026

Fortex Wurkleare

by Vincent Blais

Client: Royer

A' Design Award yn Sulver Winner in Beskermingsmiddel Category

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Colors

The Design

About Fortex Wurkleare

Fortex is in wetterticht feilichheidsleare, ûntwurpen foar heechrisiko yndustriële omjouwingen mei sjemyske bleatstelling, ynslachrisiko's en meganyske spanning. De ynnovaasje is in sjemysk ko-mâldproses dat termoplastyske polyuretaankomponinten oan in ynspuite polyuretaanbasis bynt, wêrmei't sûnder lymstoffen ien gehiel foarme wurdt. Yntegrearre eleminten binne ûnder oaren in metatarsalebeskerming, sydlingse ankelbeskerming en in fersterke hakkontrefoart. It ûntwerp biedt bestânheid tsjin wetter, sjemikaliën, koalwetterstoffen, trochprikking en útglydzjen, wylst it licht, ergonomysk en termysk effisjint bliuwt.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Sulver

Fortex Wurkleare is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Sulver, in bûtengewoan prestisjeuze erkenning foar topûntwerpen dy't prachtich en yndrukwekkend binne. Sulverwinners binne tige briljante en ekstreem kreative wurken dy't de treflike ekspertize, it talint en de skerpsinnigens fan har ûntwerpers yllustrearje. Fan Fortex Wurkleare wurdt ferwachte dat it in prachtich foarbyldwurk is, opmerklik profesjoneel en djip ynnovatyf. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Sulver is in tige opfallende, bewûndere útfining dy't foardiel bringt en de grinzen fan keunst, wittenskip, ûntwerp en technology ferleget. Fortex Wurkleare is in skepping dêr't breed oerjûn wurdt, dy't winsken wekker makket, positive gefoelens bringt en ferwûnderjen en fernuvering opwekket.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Engineered to redefine industrial performance, this boot features a quad-density co-injection system fusing PU and TPU into one seamless chassis. Anatomically mapped zones deliver lightweight shock absorption and targeted protection at key impact areas. A rigid heel stabilizes the foot on uneven terrain, while specialized outsoles ensure grip in extreme conditions. Cement-free bonding forms a waterproof, monolithic structure built for lasting durability and safety.
Dimensions & Packaging: Product Dimensions (1 boot, size 42): 310 mm x 120 mm x 400 mm (height)
Package: 510 mm x 355 mm x 140 mm
Tags: Co-injected Footwear, TPU Reinforcement, Polyurethane Safety Boot, Cold Weather Protection, Ankle protection, Metatarsal Protection, Industrial Design, Injection Molding Innovation, Chemical Bonding, Work Boot
Production Technology: This safety boot is engineered through co-injection molding, chemically bonding high-density TPU reinforcement with a lightweight PU core to form a seamless, monolithic structure free from adhesives and delamination. Developed for sub-zero climates, the TPU formulation maintains elasticity at -40°C, ensuring impact resistance without brittleness. Precision tooling guarantees exact reinforcement placement, delivering targeted protection, thermal stability, and durability without added bulk.
Design Challenge: The principal challenge was achieving reliable co-molding between TPU and a PU base, ensuring sufficient bonding strength in the metatarsal insert located within the boot’s primary flex zone. This required rethinking rotary-injection machine & tooling: a system allowing a pre-molded TPU insert to seat in an articulated receiver moving in frontal-transverse planes before mold closure and PU injection. Constraints included production feasibility, material behavior, wearer comfort and international safety standard requirements.
Research: This applied industrial research explored polymer chemistry and precision engineering to eliminate adhesion failure and cold embrittlement in safety footwear. Using iterative prototyping and destructive testing, high-density TPU was co-injected with a cellular PU core to form a monolithic structure. Hundreds of bonding and sub-zero wear tests led to a cement-free boot with permanent molecular fusion, zero delamination, and full CSA, ASTM, and EN/ISO compliance.
Inspiration: This project merges heritage craftsmanship with advanced material science, transforming traditional footwear into an integrated high-performance system with protection embedded in its structural DNA. Inspired by biological exoskeletons, it acts as both protective shell and load-bearing frame. Rib-cage inspired arch geometry in the metatarsal zone disperses impact while preserving flexibility, creating a biomimetic system balancing safety and ergonomic performance.
Project Duration: Designing started in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada in Dec. 2023. Engineering started in Legnaro, Padova, Italy in September 2024 with GGS, an elite Italian mold-making partner lead by M. Roberto Gobbato.
Operation Flow: This safety boot functions as a flexible exoskeleton, flexing at the forefoot while stabilizing the heel. TPU reinforcements shield the metatarsal area and ankle from impact without limiting movement. Unlike cemented footwear, its PU and TPU components are co-injected and chemically fused into a single monolithic structure, eliminating delamination. Built for harsh industrial and cold environments, it delivers long-term durability, reliability, and consistent performance.
Patents: Protective Toecap & Puncture-resistant Sole
(CSA Z195-14) Certified grade 1 protective toecap that withstands impacts up to 125 joules and certified puncture-resistant sole that withstands at least 1200 Newtons (270pounds)

Electric-shock Protection
(CSA Z195-14) Certified electric-shock protection (18 kV / 60 Hz / 1 minute)

Metatarsal Protection
(CSA Z195-14) Certified metatarsal protection that can withstand impacts up to 101.7 joules

Protective Toecap Impact and Compression Resistance
(ASTM F2413-24) Certified protective toecap that can withstand an impact of 75 ft-lbf (~100 Nm) and a compression of 2500lbs (~1135KG).

Puncture-resistant Sole
(ASTM F2413-24) Certified puncture-resistant sole that can withstand a force load of 270 lbf (1200 N)

Metatarsal Protection
(ASTM F2413-24) Certified metatarsal protection that can withstand an impact of 75 ft-lbf (~100 Nm)

Electric Hazard Protection
(ASTM F2413-24) Certified electric-shock protection (18 kV/ 60 Hz / 1 minute)

Slip Resistant Sole
(ASTM F2413-24) Certified slip-resistant footwear with a coefficient of friction (CoF) of no less than 0.40 on dry and wet quarry tile
Team Members: Footwear Developer/Designer: Vincent Blais
Design Associate: Loïc Girard
Executive Director - Innovation: Francis Lacroix

DEVELOPING PARTNERS:
Equipment and Testing: Felice Scarnera & Benedetto Scarnera from SFB Srl (Italy)
Master Moldmaker: Roberto Gobbato – GGS (Italy)
Material and Chemistry: ELACHEM (Italy)
Int'l team coordinator: Alexandra Dombrovska (Italy)