Vibram and Gheller join forces for rock face safety

Vibram has formed a new strategic partnership in the Work&Safety sector. The world leader in rubber soles has announced the launch of a collaboration with Gheller, a Veneto-based company specializing in the safety reinforcement of rock faces and slopes, operating throughout Italy.

“Our core business is the stabilization of rock faces,” explains Davide Gheller, son of founder Attilio—a caving and mountaineering enthusiast who established the company over thirty years ago. “Today we have a team of over 100 rock climbers, most of whom come from the sports and outdoor sectors, including mountain guides and geologists, who work daily suspended on the rock face. These are extremely demanding environments, where protective equipment—starting with footwear—is literally vital to ensuring safety.”
Among the projects carried out over the years by the Gheller experts are iconic sites such as the Via dell’Amore in the Cinque Terre, certain areas of the Dolomites, and Capri island. The more “standard” projects involve securing highways, tunnels, and rocky slopes of all kinds.
For Vibram, seeking partners in the safety footwear industry has always been a strategic priority, yielding proven results. “For us, it is essential to involve users in the development process, especially in a sector that is so challenging from both a technical and regulatory standpoint,” emphasizes Annalaura Gatto, the company’s marketing manager. From the very first meetings between the Gheller climbers and the Vibram designers, a strong rapport emerged, which has already generated important technical input and new ideas, always with the goal of combining safety and comfort.”
The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to develop custom soles for climbers engaged in this type of activity. At the same time, efforts are underway to involve several footwear brands to bring the finished product to market.