Austrian company Nortec is based right at the foot of the Alps in Villach, but its roots go back to Italy. It was in the province of Trevisana that Enrico Granzotto began manufacturing the first slip-resistant products for snow and ice in 1979. The established Turtles brand was taken over by Nortec in 2002, making it the European leader in quick-release non-marking shoes for trail running and hiking.