Latest News: From September 20th to 22nd, 2022, Simac, the international exhibition of footwear machinery and technology, will open again. This year, BASF will present a variety of new solutions for the footwear industry: concept shoes made entirely of BASF materials, boots that remain soft even at temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, lightweight high-resistance shoes for safety shoes Elastic soles and sustainable footwear solutions. BASF will also showcase 3D printed shoes as well as coating solutions to protect soles.
From sneakers to safety shoes: low density, high elasticity
For the midsole of sports shoes, lightness and high rebound are the main requirements. In this area, BASF is one of the top suppliers of polyurethane (PU) materials. What works for sneakers should also work for safety shoes.
The high resilience and light-weight sole, which guarantees a soft shock-absorbing effect, are also decisive for the comfort of the safety shoe. BASF transfers their knowledge in the field of sports to the field of safety shoes. The result is the PU material that safety shoe manufacturers have come to expect – one that enables maximum productivity through a direct welding process and complies with all safety regulations.
Winter boots made of PU stay soft even in sub-zero temperatures
In close cooperation with boot manufacturers, BASF has further improved the performance of Elastopan® polyurethane systems for boots.
The result is a PU system for winter boots with excellent performance: extremely high thermal insulation, keeping feet warm and providing high comfort even in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees. This makes this Elastopan® ideal for winter adventures like these boots, and if combined with the toe cap, even on oil rigs in Alaska.
BASF offers a broad portfolio of sustainable footwear solutions
BASF will present a concept shoe made entirely from sustainable products – the athleisure shoe “MADGAMMA – Intertekk Saturn”. Upper with 100% recycled monofilament fibers
Made of Freeflex™ Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). – Replaceable midsole made of comfortable bio-based Elastopan®
N polyurethane series composition. Another replaceable midsole option is made from TPU foam, which has a lower density, high energy return and is recyclable. In addition to these products, BASF will showcase other sustainable solutions such as the biomass balance approach and Ccycled
Infinergy®.
Footwear Design Content: We Lived In A Bubble During Lockdown, Now Realizing In Winning Shoes
The work from the last design competition of the Calzaturiero Politecnico Design Academy in Padua, Italy, reminds us of our lives during the pandemic – like in a bubble.
This feeling inspired the designers of the sole – the outsole is made up of multiple transparent bubbles. These bubbles allow us to see the bright and colorful midsole. For the uppers, the students used recycled materials from footwear and textile manufacturing waste. The perfect combination of technology and craftsmanship can be found in the three award-winning shoes on display at Simac.
Less is more—the first in-mold coating with comprehensive release properties
In addition, BASF will showcase NovaCoat-D, which combines an in-mold coating and a release coating in a new way.
In addition to mold release properties, the coating provides additional functionality to the sole, such as sun protection, scratch resistance and stain resistance. With its many years of expertise, BASF can offer a wide range of colors and effects. NovaCoat-D can be applied manually or automatically by machine.
Shoemaking3DPrinting Materials and Solutions
Forward AM, the brand of BASF 3D Printing Solutions Ltd., will be presented at SIMAC
2022 showcases information on footwear 3D printing materials and solutions that are used in the complete footwear design and development process. In addition to moulds, shoe lasts and sole samples, visitors can see the use of flexible Ultrasint®
3D printed hiking boots made of TPU01 powder. By leveraging the design principles of additive manufacturing, the first personalized 3D printed hiking shoes were born. This innovative technology not only simplifies shoe assembly, but also reduces the production time required for custom footwear. Forward
AM’s flexible materials, such as Ultrasint® TPU01, are based on BASF’s Elastollan® and offer customers in a wide range of cross-industry technical solutions.
