STRAUSS & OECHSLER

The solution

Customized design

Additive Manufacturing can enhance damping properties or energy recovery, depending on the geometry and the alignment of the lattice cells in a product‘s shape. OECHSLER’s engineers assessed several lattice designs to verify that a striking hexagon shape which perfectly meets everyday workwear requirements for absorbing loads and pressure. The Master Grid 6D design is applied across all 3D-printed products by STRAUSS. For their first collection, STRAUSS uses open additively manufactured lattice structures as comfort and functional elements for their knee pads.

A local-for-local approach

Tailored manufacturing process

OECHSLER operates a technology-independent industrialized high-volume series production of 150 printers capable of producing more than 2 million parts per year, having realized several prestigious projects in the Sporting Goods and Protective Gear market, including shoe soles and football helmet inlays. STRAUSS’s knee pads are produced in series production at OECHSLER’s Additive manufacturing Hub in Germany, providing a local-for-local approach and tailored pre- and post-processing solutions while utilizing the Carbon platform.

Performance and Functionality

Knee protection at it's best

Putting health and ergonomics first, our engineers used body mapping to determine pressure points in knee pads during an craftsman‘s everyday life. STRAUSS and OECHSLER have set new standards in comfort and durability by achieving a high protective effect and optimum pressure distribution of 70% energy absorption and 30% restoring force when kneeing. A continuous lattice structure outside the knee pad has been implemented to protect against sharp objects and ensure safe working in extreme environments. Because STRAUSS products are made for work, professional craftsmen have tested them to the limit regarding comfort, stability, and suitability. The tests found that the redesigned knee pads provide excellent absorption and wearing characteristics - dynamic material for most complex movements, certified to DIN EN 14404, easily exchangeable, and compatible with STRAUSS work trousers.