About Foditec™

Standard foam knee pads cushion the impact but don't distribute the pressure. The foam compresses unevenly, leaving peak loads on the joint. According to independent research, these peak loads are precisely the main cause of cartilage damage and knee osteoarthritis in skilled tradesmen.

Supported by TU Delft, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and TNO, we have developed the Foditec™ spring system.

The spring wraps around the knee, increasing the contact surface and distributing the force evenly. The result: up to 60% less pressure where it counts, compared to standard foam knee pads without a spring.

Durable, certified, and award-winning

The kneepads are constructed from three layers: a soft EVA top layer for everyday comfort, the spring as an active pressure distribution element, and a hard outer shell that is resistant to wear, perforation, and moisture.

Our Ultraknee kneepads are certified according to EN 14404, the European standard for knee protection. The design was awarded the iF Design Award 2023.

Foditec technology is also used in kneepads from well-known brands such as

  • Cerva (European workwear and PPE brand)
  • Orit (specialist in tools for pavers, gardeners, and road builders)
  • ProOne (brand of, among others, building wholesaler BMN)

All Ultraknee kneepads are certified according to EN 14404, the European standard for knee protection. The design was awarded the iF Design Award 2023.

Scientifically substantiated

Foditec™ spring technology was developed based on existing research into the causes of and solutions for occupational knee complaints, including knee osteoarthritis. This research forms the basis of every design choice in the Ultraknee knee protectors.

  • Tradesmen who regularly kneel have 2 to 3 times more chance of knee osteoarthritis than people who do not
  • More than 5,000 hours of kneeling work over a career increases the risk of knee osteoarthritis by 26%
  • Kneeling concentrates the load on a small surface; peak pressure on cartilage and kneecap is significantly higher than in a standing position
  • Knee protectors that distribute pressure over a larger area reduce peak load on the knee joint by more than 50%
  • 57% of construction workers consider knee protectors to be the most important protection against occupational knee complaints
  • The European standard EN 14404 was specifically developed based on evidence that prolonged kneeling without protection leads to bursitis, meniscus damage and osteoarthritis


For us, EN 14404 certification is just the starting point. Using our own pressure test machine, we measure how each kneepad distributes pressure across the knee.

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