These new TECH-x-tiles making life easier for humans

It looks like a simple vest. But it is actually a state-of-the-art device, developed using nuclear and space technologies. The technology is patented and the vest automatically regulates body temperature in extreme environments, from intense heat to extreme cold.

In France alone, nearly nine million workers are exposed to extreme temperatures, ranging from -30 degrees to +70 degrees. Thermal comfort in the workplace is therefore a major issue in a variety of sectors, from cold rooms in the food industry to steelworks.

The technologies used in the thermal vest are directly linked to the career path of Tethys' creator. While studying nuclear engineering in Italy in 2008, Giacomo Saccone became interested in space issues, which led him to work on several projects for the European Space Agency. After completing his Master's degree, he moved to Boston to pursue a PhD at MIT. Upon his return to Europe, he was hired by Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, where he participated in the development of the two largest satellites ever designed in Europe, equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal control system. This gave him the idea of bringing this technology back to Earth so that it could benefit workers exposed to extreme temperatures.

In 2023, he founded Tethys, hiring designers, engineers and manufacturing experts to bring the Tempesta vest to fruition, which the company has been marketing since this year. It is a small vest with a built-in reversible climate control system consisting of two thermo-fluid circuits combined with active Peltier modules to precisely distribute heat or cold to key areas of the body. Relatively lightweight (1.7 kg), the vest can be worn under any type of work clothing and, with batteries that fit into its pockets, offers 3.5 hours of use at full power. The system allows the electrical power to be easily adjusted to suit individual comfort levels, which vary from person to person. According to Giacomo Saccone, “Tethys wanted to create a product that truly meets industrial needs. Until now, the solutions available on the market were merely adaptations from the sports sector.”

A solution proven in the field

The Tethys thermal vest quickly proved its worth in the field. GSF successfully used it in its glassworks, where temperatures reach 70°C, and ArcelorMittal used it during the manufacture of steel coils, which takes place at very high temperatures. In low-temperature environments GSF has tested it for employees working in cold rooms in Normandy. These large groups have validated both the technical performance and its ergonomic design.

In a more unusual trial municipal police officers in Mandelieu-La Napoule tested the vest during summer heatwaves and public events (on motorbikes, in cars, and on foot). The vest fits easily under the police bulletproof vests and provided welcome cooling relief during heatwaves. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

To scale up this application, regulatory hurdles still need to be addressed, and a ballistic vest manufacturer must be found to integrate the Tethys system directly into their designs.

Given its properties, the possibilities for using Tethys' reversible thermal vest are immense. It went on sale last May and for the moment the company is primarily targeting large groups, particularly in the metallurgy and heavy industry sectors, as they are likely to generate large volumes. Other priority targets include glassmaking and agri-food for cold room work. Tethys' immediate objective is to focus its commercial efforts on these sectors before moving towards wider adoption by the end of 2026, relying on distributors for that next phase.

Development outlook

To cope with the rise in sales, Tethys now needs to move to industrial-scale production. It plans to work with companies that employ people with disabilities and has already contacted four companies based in Nice, Toulon, Toulouse and Saint-Malo. Today, Tethys has the capacity to manufacture 30 vests per month. The goal is to quickly increase this to around 100 with these four production workshops, with a target of 1,000 units per year.

With that level of production capacity, the company could then tackle new markets. For example, it could continue its policy of supplying municipal police forces and, given the global economic situation, find military outlets. In particular, it has its sights set on supplying the Saudi Arabian army, which already uses competing solutions.

Another avenue is to democratise its solution by focusing on B2C, particularly in the sports sector, but this policy will only be implemented with the support of distributors. This is essential in order to be able to work on this scale.