Close

Created in Italy

An exhibition featuring the landscape of Italian industry within the framework of Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation

Abet Laminati — Super-surfaces ALPI — The reinvention of wood Brembo — From 300km/h to 0 in 3.79 seconds Coex — Naturally fireproof Crea Concrete Design — Mono-material landscapes Cressi Sub — First underwater Dainese — Lifesaving design Directa Plus — Cleaning the sea with graphene Eumakers — 3D multi-color Falci — The farmers’ multinational Fizik — 3D-printed biomechanical saddles Fontana — Technological supercar trimming Foscarini — Fishing for lamps GAM — Montessori materials Gemar — U.F.O. Unpolluting Flying Objects Grivel — High Altitude Safety K-Array — New shapes of sound Kong — Inventing the carabiner Landucci — Infinite pasta shapes Limonta — Sustainable textile Magis — Enzymatic industrial management Nonino — High craftsmanship spirit Novamont — Designed to rebirth Omnicos Group — Make-up makers Pedrali — Engineered wood Petroceramics — Superpowers of materials Plastitalia — Admirable underground fittings Springa — Autonomous robotic Tecno Tessile Adler — Safety Cell Terre Davis — Ground Hero Vibram — Down side up
Created in Italy

16 — Grivel

High Altitude Safety

Courmayeur, Val d'Aosta

http://grivel.com/

Grivel is the name of the historic blacksmith’s workshop in Courmayeur, which had always built its business around the needs of a small community living at the foot of Mont Blanc. At the beginning of the 19th century the passion for modern mountaineering began to spread, and the Grivel smithies found themselves able to satisfy the demands of a new category of customers. When climbers from all over the world began to arrive with the intention of climbing the highest peak in Europe, the smithies started switching their production of agricultural tools to that of climbing gear. In 1909, from an encounter between Henry Grivel and the British railway engineer Oscar Eckenstein, sprang the idea of making a tool that would revolutionise ice-climbing. The first modern crampons launched a production of mountain equipment that is to this day among the best and most advanced in the application of new technologies. Although still on a manageable and family scale, Grivel operates in over 50 countries, to which it exports 90% of its products; and so it might be called a “pocket multinational”.

All images courtesy of Grivel

Duetto helmet, EPP (expanded propylene). Duetto is an innovative helmet. Its name indicates the concept of a double certification as a rock climbing, mountaineering and ski helmet. Moulded in EPP (expanded polypropylene), it weighs 215 grams and is much lighter than all of its current competitors. Its thickness ensures excellent all-round protection.

↑ Duetto helmet, EPP (expanded propylene). Duetto is an innovative helmet. Its name indicates the concept of a double certification as a rock climbing, mountaineering and ski helmet. Moulded in EPP (expanded polypropylene), it weighs 215 grams and is much lighter than all of its current competitors. Its thickness ensures excellent all-round protection.

G22 Plus is a modern and lightweight crampon for technical climbing. Its two T-structured forged steel front spikes can be replaced if necessary. The position of each spike is calculated to provide maximum stability in all climbing postures and on all forms of ice. The Antibot system prevents snow accumulating under the crampon.

↑ G22 Plus is a modern and lightweight crampon for technical climbing. Its two T-structured forged steel front spikes can be replaced if necessary. The position of each spike is calculated to provide maximum stability in all climbing postures and on all forms of ice. The Antibot system prevents snow accumulating under the crampon.

In 1929, Henry’s son Laurent made the brilliant invention of the two front points, allowing climbers to stand face on whilst attacking the steep ice and snow gradients. This innovation was the key to the conquest of the last unsolved route of the Alps: the North of the Eiger, 21-24th July, 1938.

In 1936, in collaboration for the first time with the Cogne steelworks, Amato Grivel, using the Chromolly alloy (Chrome-Molybdenum), created a strong crampon, thinner and therefore lighter. They forged Grivel crampons weighing 360 grams a pair, up until then impossible. The Super Leggero Grivel have been used to conquer the 3 highest peaks in the world, the Everest, the K2, and the Kangchenjunga.

In 1909 The English engineer Oscar Eckenstein asked Henry Grivel to manufacture the first modern Grivel crampons. Original drawing.

In 1909 The English engineer Oscar Eckenstein asked Henry Grivel to manufacture the first modern Grivel crampons. Original drawing.

GRIVEL. Duetto helmet, G22 Plus crampons. Photo Max Rommel

GRIVEL. Duetto helmet, G22 Plus crampons. Photo Max Rommel