Scaling up
If only mountaineer Aron Ralston had a small chip embedded in his helmet, boots, or outerwear, it would have helped locate his coordinates. He’d then not have to survive the ordeal portrayed in Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours. Every year, scores of mountaineers and ski enthusiasts fall into crevasses or get lost in avalanches. But the latest find from Aero Group, the makers of Woodland shoes and apparel, is set to change that.
The Rescue System technology from Swedish search aid systems expert RECCO has been used by Woodland Worldwide for its latest ascent. Coming soon: solar panels on mountaineering bags to store energy, which can be used to light and power Warm Grip products. Each piece of equipment of the ResQ Series comes at a premium of Rs 4,000 over the general ones. “This is the first time we are experimenting with a rescue technology in our products, and we will explore whether prices can be brought down for the mass market,” says Woodland India managing director Harkirat Singh. The Delhi-based firm is spending 5% of its Rs 850 crore turnover on R&D for such technology. The company holds 12 tech patents and is working on more to make its products more functional in extreme climate. Currently, footwear accounts for 60% of Woodland’s revenue, and the rest comes from apparel and accessories.
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