HexArmor and uvex are redefining impact protection. Reading Time: 4 mins read The HexArmor Helix 3014IMP provides high levels of safety without sacrificing flexibility and comfort. Images: uvex Impact protection has long come with a trade-off, but a new glove design is challenging the idea that safety has to come at the expense of dexterity. When choosing impact gloves, there is usually a frustrating compromise: better protection or comfort and dexterity. Most impact gloves on the market use large sections of thermoplastic rubber to absorb impacts. While effective, these solid pieces can restrict movement. Every time a worker grips a tool or makes a fist, the material resists the hand's natural movement, which can lead to discomfort and fatigue over a long shift. HexArmor and uvex are changing that with the launch of the HexArmor Helix 3013IMP and 3014IMP. More than just two new gloves, they introduce i2 technology, a new approach to impact protection that delivers high levels of safety without sacrificing flexibility and comfort. The "i2" designation stands for impact protection, representing the latest generation of safe guarding. The most noticeable feature is the series of small, flexible hexagons across the back of the hand. Each hexagon moves independently, allowing the protection to flex naturally with the hand instead of against it. The result is a glove that feels lighter, moves more freely and provides a level of dexterity that hasn't traditionally been available in a Level 2 impact glove. The design also improves breathability and uses less material during manufacturing, helping reduce waste while maintaining excellent protection. Australian workers face some of the toughest conditions in the world. Gloves need to cope with impact hazards, sharp edges, oil, dirt, heat and long working hours. The new Helix range has been designed with these demanding environments in mind. Designed for construction, mining, manufacturing, maintenance, engineering and other heavy industries, the Helix 3013IMP is ideal for tasks that demand precision without compromising protection. Its flexible polyurethane palm coating delivers grip and fingertip dexterity, making it easy to handle small components, fasteners and tools without removing the gloves. With a Cut Level F rating, the 3013IMP provides dependable protection against sharp edges, burrs and cut hazards commonly faced in demanding industrial environments. The Helix 3014IMP is engineered to perform in tough mining conditions. Its SandyGrip nitrile-butadiene rubber coating delivers a secure grip on wet, oily, and dirty surfaces. Like the 3013IMP, its lightweight 18-gauge liner provides exceptional comfort and dexterity, while delivering the high level of cut protection required for demanding worksites. The bonded advantage Comfort can be just as important as protection, especially during long shifts in demanding environments. A common issue with traditional impact gloves is the discomfort caused by stitched impact guards, where internal seams can create pressure points and irritation over time. The Helix range overcomes this with bonded i2 impact technology. Instead of sewing the impact guards onto the glove, the i2 hexagons are bonded directly to the liner, eliminating internal friction points across the back of the hand. The result is a smoother, more comfortable fit that reduces irritation, improves all-day wearability and encourages workers to keep their gloves on, supporting both productivity and site safety. The Helix 3013IMP and 3014IMP are manufactured using 15 per cent recycled nylon. Despite incorporating recycled materials, there's no compromise on performance. Both gloves continue to meet ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 2 impact protection and EN388:2016 cut and durability standards, giving businesses a more sustainable choice without sacrificing the protection workers rely on every day. While HexArmor provides rugged innovation, the technical foundation of this partnership is located in Lüneburg, Germany. This facility serves as the uvex hand protection competence centre, a hub where research, laboratories, and high-tech production are integrated under one roof. The facility has been responsible for several innovations, including the uvex Bamboo TwinFlex, which uses natural bamboo fibres to create a cooling sensation without compromising cut protection. That same commitment to comfort, performance and innovation now forms part of the HexArmor range. Since partnering in 2016, uvex and HexArmor have combined their expertise to develop gloves that deliver outstanding protection without sacrificing comfort or dexterity. The partnership has also brought advanced materials like SuperFabric into the range, a technology made up of tiny protective guard plates that help resist cuts, punctures, needlesticks, and abrasion hazards while maintaining flexibility. This feature appeared in the Sep/Oct 2026 edition of the Safe To Work Magazine.

IAG, through its IAGi Ventures division, has invested in Verve Motion, a Harvard University spin-off developing exosuits to assist workers with repetitive baggage handling tasks. The startup, founded in 2020 by Spanish entrepreneur Ignacio Galiana, has raised over $55 million (€48 million) in this funding round, which included new and existing investors such as HexArmor. Verve Motion's exosuits are already being used in logistics and industrial settings to improve worker comfort and reduce injury risk. IAG will collaborate with the company to test a new exosuit designed specifically for aviation, initially focusing on shoulder support for baggage handlers. The pilot will explore how these suits can facilitate repetitive lifting tasks and improve ground and cargo operations performance across IAG's airlines, including Iberia, Vueling, and Level.