Ski touring bindings · Test magazine 2021
Tech talk with Davide Indulti, ATK BINDINGS
C.E.O. and Head of R&D · Print page 85
Who is Davide Indulti? CEO and Head of R&D at ATK BINDINGS
Davide Indulti is introduced in the 2021 BACKLINE test magazine as CEO and Head of R&D at ATK BINDINGS. His technical focus is on ski touring bindings and their development to balance low weight, performance and safety. He entered ski touring through racing; later, his focus shifted towards a more relaxed mountain experience.
In the interview, Indulti describes ATK as a family business founded in 2007 in Fiorano Modenese within Gimec, the family's high-tech company. At the time of the interview, 70 employees developed and manufactured all ATK products there. He identifies ongoing patent innovation and investment in CNC manufacturing as foundations of technical development. He associates the motto “Performing through Lightness” with bindings spanning racing to freeride, while also emphasising sustainability.
Looking ahead, Indulti expects lighter touring bindings and growing demand for hybrid bindings among skiers coming from alpine skiing. He sees particularly strong growth potential in a more relaxed approach to ski touring. Racing experience is intended to support development across the touring segment. He regards DIN/ISO 13992 as important guidance, although, in his view, full compliance is not necessarily a prerequisite for safe, user-friendly, high-performing products. He also points to ATK's participation in product testing at TÜV.
ATK is a family business. How many employees does ATK have, where do you produce and which values do you follow?
ATK was founded in 2007 in Fiorano Modenese by the Indulti family and grew inside Gimec (a high-tech company owned by our family) like a modern start-up: little money, no staff, but many ideas and enthusiasm. Fourteen years later we are still in Fiorano, where we develop and produce all our products thanks to the incomparable passion of our 70 employees. Our commitment is to develop the best backcountry ski binding collection in every existing segment, from racing to freeride, with a firm eye on sustainability. Our motto is “Performing through Lightness”: ATK makes products that enable peak performance thanks to their low weight.
What were the company''s most important steps in technological innovation over the past decade?
The key lies in two different factors: a continuous flow of innovative patents and a strong commitment to developing our high-tech C.N.C. production facility in Fiorano. The combination of these elements is the basis for ATK being the most innovative touring binding brand of the last ten years – with the best balance of lightness, performance and safety.
Which developments do you expect in backcountry and touring bindings?
The current trend is towards ever lighter products that still offer tourers high performance: there is still a lot of room for improvement, and in the coming years we too will take new paths. In addition there will be more demand for hybrid bindings, as many people coming from alpine skiing look for suitable all-round bindings. In general we will see many more market segments in which safety is a focus.
What do you think of DIN/ISO 13992 certification?
For technical bindings, DIN/ISO 13992 is a perfect guideline that every manufacturer should aim for, but it does not have to be met 100 percent in order to create a product that offers the perfect combination of safety, ease of use and performance. In this respect ATK is actively involved in product testing at TÜV.
Which segment is driving ATK''s growth at the moment and where do you see the greatest potential?
We believe people will focus more on the quality of their time in nature. That is why touring with a more relaxed approach will grow the most. We will continue to draw on our racing experience to develop the entire touring segment: there is still a lot of potential in technical bindings and we have the knowledge to prove that low weight can definitely go hand in hand with performance and safety.
