Xpan 2 Bota de treball de Francis Lacroix

El disseny Xpan 2 Bota de treball de Francis Lacroix és un guanyador molt estimat del prestigiós 2026 A' Design Award d'Or en la Categoria de Competició de Disseny de Roba de Seguretat i Equips de Protecció Personal.

OrEquip de Protecció· 2026

Xpan 2 Bota de treball

de Francis Lacroix

Client: Royer

Guanyador del A' Design Award d'Or en la Categoria de Equip de Protecció

36,825

Guanyador de Premi Verificat

Verificar l'Estat del Premi per al #182031

Visitar el Lloc Veure a A' Design Award Nota de Premsa Insígnia del Premi

Colors

El Disseny

Sobre Xpan 2 Bota de treball

La bota Xpan 2.0 presenta una arquitectura de sola revolucionària dissenyada per a entorns metal·lúrgics extrems, on la protecció tèrmica i el rendiment lleuger han de coexistir. La seva sola avançada resisteix la calor, les relliscades i l'abrasió en entorns industrials d'alt risc. Una carcassa de cautxú resistent a la calor i a les flames encapsula l'entresola de poliuretà, formant una barrera tèrmica integrada sense sacrificar l'absorció d'impactes ni afegir pes. El resultat estableix un nou referent en el calçat de seguretat per a metall fos.

El Reconeixement

Sobre el A' Design Award d'Or

Xpan 2 Bota de treball és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Or, un reconeixement immensament prestigiós concedit a dissenys de primera categoria, meravellosos i extraordinaris. Els guanyadors d'Or són creacions summament innovadores, molt visionàries i gloriosament enlluernadores que reflecteixen el prodigi, la saviesa i la destresa dels seus dissenyadors. Es preveu que Xpan 2 Bota de treball sigui un invent molt elogiat, pioner en tendències i monumental, que aporta un valor sense precedents. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Or és un projecte espectacular i respectat que beneficia molt i fa avançar els límits de l'art, la ciència, el disseny i la tecnologia. Xpan 2 Bota de treball crea sentiments intensos de desig, evoca passió, fomenta la creativitat i ens fascina.

Darrere del Disseny

Dossier de Premsa

Crèdits, membres de l'equip i detalls tècnics proporcionats pel dissenyador.

Propietats Úniques: The sole is designed in a way to encapsulate the quasi-totality of the polyurethane midsole by the heat and flame resistant rubber outsole leaving only a slight contour. Thus, offering a lighter and highly shock absorbing sole all the while providing maximal foot protection and durability.
Dimensions i Embalatge: A US size 9.0 (42 EU) pair has an approximate height of 200 mm and is built on an ergonomic shoelast designed to closely follow the natural morphology of the foot, ensuring fit precision and comfort. Each pair is packaged in a rectangular box measuring approximately 200 x 200 x 100 mm. The packaging, made from recycled and recyclable cardboard, protects the product from factory to end user.
Etiquetes: Work boot, Safety boot, Cold Weather Protection, outsole technology, extreme job sites, Metatarsal Protection, Industrial Design
Tecnologia de Producció: The design process began with exploratory hand sketches to define proportions, functional zones and visual identity. Concepts were refined using Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop) to develop precise renderings and material simulations. A detailed technical drawing was then produced to guide tooling and upper manufacturing. A comprehensive tech pack ensured accurate translation of design intent into production.
Repte de Disseny: The most complex challenge was achieving resistance to molten metal, particularly full immersion in liquid aluminum exceeding 1,000°C. Aluminum’s very low viscosity allows rapid penetration, making material selection and upper construction highly critical. The difficulty was intensified by bonding the upper to a rubber outsole through polyurethane injection, a material sensitive to heat above 150°C. Balancing extreme thermal protection with manufacturability required extensive experimentation and process control.
Recerca: Type of Research: Experimental product R&D following a five-phase Stage-Gate methodology. Research Objectives: Improve protection, comfort, and durability in molten metal environments. Methodology: Define measurable performance criteria and validate materials against them. Data Collection and Tools: Iterative lab testing on weight, slip resistance, molten metal splash and aluminum bath immersion. Participants: Internal R&D and manufacturing teams. Results: Measurable gains across all parameters. Insights and Impacts: Enhanced safety standards, industrial reliability, and long-term value for high-risk metal processing sectors.
Inspiració: The sole design draws inspiration from the aerodynamic geometry of the CF-105 Arrow developed by Avro Canada. Its triangular wing structure and directional arrow motifs informed the tread’s dynamic chevron pattern, engineered to enhance forward traction and stability. The project merges aerospace precision with industrial safety research, translating principles of thrust, grip, and structural resilience into a high-performance work boot outsole.
Durada del Projecte: The project started in January 2023 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, and was completed in December 2025. The three-year development cycle included the Definition, Design, Prototyping, and Production Implementation phases. The product was officially launched in January 2026. A continuous Monitoring and Feedback phase has been ongoing since market introduction to ensure long-term performance optimization.
Flux d'Operació: The Xpan 2.0 boot improves upon previous generations in every critical aspect. It offers higher resistance to molten metal splash, enhanced slip protection on certified test surfaces, reduced weight, improved ergonomic fit, and greater durability against abrasion and tearing. Each performance parameter was tested and validated, demonstrating measurable progress over the previous model, already recognized as a global benchmark in primary and secondary metal processing environments.
Membres de l'Equip: Sponsor: Simon La Rochelle
Innovation Director: Francis Lacroix
Product Developer: Vincent Blais
Project Manager: Elyzabeth Bouchard
Operations Director: Etienne Sirois
Production Technician: Brittaney La Penna
Production Technician: Simon Turk
Technical Partner: Benedetto Scarnera (SFB Srl)
Technical Partner: Felice Scarnera (SFB Srl)