Author: Aurélia Maruéjol
Ugigrip-Vallgrip joined Vilesta in the summer of 2021.
Who is Vilesta?
A cluster dedicated to industrial and passenger vehicles, this network of companies based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region enables each member company to share its expertise, products, and much more.
Through Vilesta, we have joined a dynamic and supportive regional network that allows us to collaborate more closely with our peers, take part in joint projects, contribute our know-how, experience, and solutions, and foster collective intelligence in the design and production of industrial and recreational vehicles.
Ugigrip-Vallgrip manufactures the ice grip for EVVO snowshoes: when R&D drives innovation
Born in the heart of the Pilat mountain range, just a few dozen kilometres from Ugigrip-Vallgrip, EVVO is a young, innovative brand created by Martin Plastiques Innovation (MPI).
MPI invented the EVVO Snowshoe, which is far more than a traditional snowshoe. It is a “Snowshoe”: a 100% technical innovation developed and manufactured in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, designed for walking, jumping and running on snow without constraint.
For grip on ice, it is fitted with Ugigrip-Vallgrip studs. This led to the development of the EVVO Snowshoe’s 100% rubber sole, inspired by the technologies used in MICHELIN winter and ice tyres, the renowned tyre manufacturer based in Auvergne.
Its unique geometric design and snow and ice grip provide excellent traction and exceptional durability.
Interview with Olivier Reboulet
Innovation Manager
How did Ugigrip-Vallgrip manage to address your product challenge?
We were looking for a specialist in ice grip (anti-slip studs) for our Snowshoe.
As our project prioritised French manufacturing, it was important for us to find local expertise and to achieve a solution that was both technically high-performing and competitively priced.
What can you tell us about the bespoke development?
The R&D teams at Ugigrip-Vallgrip provided invaluable support through their technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of aluminium and steel studs. We started from their existing product range and combined our respective technologies to adapt it to our specific requirements.
The synergy between our savoir-faire made it possible to create this fully bespoke and innovative product. Working in close proximity also facilitated discussions regarding both cost and performance.
Like cold-forging, rolling is a metal forming process.
At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, rolling is mainly used to produce threads, knurling, grooves, etc., from a headed blank
It takes place in a second stage, after the cold-forging operation that gives the part its basic shape. This process deforms the part by pressure between two dies to obtain the final shape, according to predefined machine settings.
To provide production finishes, several options are available, such as coating (zinc plating) or heat treatment.
Important
What should you pay attention to?
It is essential to always consider the volume of the blank in order to anticipate the deformation created during the rolling process.
Why ? Because the part will elongate during deformation, so it is necessary to have sufficient material to produce the final component.
