Teijin Takes Over SmartShoulder Project from Dutch Venture to Expand Total Safety Solution Initiatives
Teijin Takes Over SmartShoulder Project from Dutch Venture to Expand Total Safety Solution Initiatives
August 19, 2019
Tokyo, Japan --- The Teijin Group announced today that it has agreed with CrossOver (link to Dutch only), a Dutch consulting and training company, to investigate the feasibility of further developing and commercializing SmartShoulder, an innovative wearable tool that increases safety for service engineers working alone or under dangerous conditions.
SmartShoulder, which incorporates wearable sensors that connect to a smartphone, has autonomous lighting, detects if the wearer is in a man-down situation and makes emergency calls.
In the previous project phase, a SmartShoulder prototype was tested with mechanics and technicians. Teijin will now take over the next phase of the project from CrossOver, first by investigating compatibility with current safety regulations for industrial workwear and electronics.
"The SmartShoulder concept fits perfectly with our Total Safety Solution Provider (TSSP) strategy as a potentially active safety solution for service engineers not only in the Netherlands but worldwide," said Gerben de Bree, leader of Teijin's TSSP platform. "We will co-develop the SmartShoulder closely with our TSSP partner Elitac B.V., a Dutch startup company that develops smart textiles and clothing integrated with wearable sensing and actuating devices, for its technology infrastructure, platform and for commercialization."
"CrossOver has the mission to give technicians in the Netherlands 'the smartest hands' in the world," said Bernold Nieuwesteeg, co-founder and partner at CrossOver. "Technicians who work both with their hands and their heads are extremely valuable for society. SmartShoulder, which has been developed in close partnership with end users, has the potential to improve the efficiency and safety of challenging work performed by technicians. We are delighted that Teijin is exploring the feasibility of further developing and commercializing SmartShoulder."
TSSP is Teijin's initiative to establish a business platform for safety, security and disaster mitigation solutions to enhance work performed in hazardous, high-stress environments by first responders including firefighters, police, medics and service engineers in certain industries.