Wearable tech specialists target £8 million of global sales

Left to right: Dmitrij Santarovi (embedded systems engineer) with Andrei Feraru (founder of Feraru Dynamics)

Two brothers, who moved to the UK to study, are elevating workplace safety after rolling out a revolutionary glove to defend against ‘hand arm vibration syndrome’ (HAVS). Andrei and Vlad Feraru are setting their sights on £8 million of global sales by 2030 for their HAV-Sentry system after experiencing significant demand from construction companies, manufacturers, landscapers and utilities firms keen to protect their workers while also boosting productivity.

The wearable technology, which was developed in partnership with www.coventry.ac.uk Coventry University, works through a series of sensing units assembled in an antibacterial, breathable textile gauntlet worn by tool operators. Artificial intelligence (AI) and dashboard analytics then guide organisations through the process of implementing compliant, reliable control measures, reducing the risk of vibration exposure, tackling the actual root cause of exposure identified by the data from the gloves.

Vibration exposure levels are calculated, as per ISO 5349 and ISO 8041, based on real time acquired vibration data by the sensors placed in the palm. This informs the wearer in real time, when they are reaching the threshold exposure action, allowing them and their organisation to take preventative action to avoid injuries and heavy fines for not having a suitable compliant solution in place.

Labour of love
More than 30 companies, across five continents, have already embraced this new solution, creating 12 technical and commercial roles and delivering Feraru Dynamics millions in revenue in 2026. Andrei, who first identified the need for a new HAVS solution while working at Rolls-Royce, said: “HAV-Sentry has been a real labour of love, taking eight years and over £1 million of R&D investment to get us to a stage where we are scaling-up to roll out the product globally. Our smart glove technology is the only HAVS risk solution in the market that captures accurate, ISO-compliant, personalised exposure data across full shifts, combining human factors, tool health and working practices.”

He continued: “Over 200,000 workers in the UK were diagnosed and currently suffer from hand arm vibration syndrome and we believe HAV-Sentry can prevent many more people being added to this huge number. Importantly, it also gives companies compliance and credibility, cost savings by eliminating expensive consultancy reports and can deliver root cause identification, providing firms with the opportunity to change processes, improve training or switch tools. Every client that has adopted our technology and cloud reporting capability can’t believe they ever thought the widely used paper-based or wrist mounted system and process was ever sufficient for their needs.”

Coventry University has played a key role in the development of HAV-Sentry working with the two brothers to patent the technology and form a spin-out company in 2018. Over the next five years, it provided incubation space and access to academic expertise and facilities to refine the product and complete market testing, before the first glove was commercially bought in 2022 by Coventry City Council.

In recent months, the university has divested its equity in Feraru Dynamics to enable its continued rapid growth to be fulfilled. New commercial partners have come on board this summer, featuring well-known heavy industry names such as Chris Johnson (former Balfour Beatty COO), Tom Edgcumbe (former Balfour Beatty managing director), Sir Terry Morgan (former chair of HS2) and philanthropist and successful businessman Stephen Goldstein.

High-profile backers
This summer, they have been joined by high-profile backers, including: Rock Power Solutions’ Kev Sankar, CEO of the energy infrastructure business recently acquired by the industry giant Mitie; Jamie White, CEO of Exactaform, a leading UK tool head manufacturer; and Sat Nijjer, CEO of Fortel, a specialist workforce provider for construction.

Vlad explained: “The investment is important, but what really sets us apart is the fact many of these investors are playing a daily role in helping shape our journey, bringing sector-specific knowledge, deep networks and understanding of industries who will benefit from HAV-Sentry. It is a really exciting time for us, with thousands of workers now using our HAV-Sentry glove every day, working for the likes of Prime Metals, M&M Garages, Amtico, Kier and companies in the UK such as Bridge & Highways and Gallagher Group, SCS Railways and Bylor. Our product has also been adopted by Toyota in the USA, Maaden Aluminium in Saudi Arabia, and Acciona Construction in Australia.”

He concluded: “The recent change in HSE guidance — validating our palm-based measurement method - is a milestone moment and gives us the momentum to achieve our £8 million sales target by 2030, doubling our workforce in the process.”

Feraru Dynamics plans to expand beyond vibration to develop wearable technologies that address musculoskeletal disorders, whole-body vibration and exposure to noise, dust and chemicals, positioning the Coventry-based business as a leader in smart PPE and digital occupational health.