BASF at Simac 2024: “Make the Move” to new processing technology, lighter soles and circular solutions for footwear

• Enabling footwear recycling with meltable PU
• Lightweight midsoles for maximum comfort
• Versatile design with new processing methods: Infinergy^®Revolution
• Visionary shoe designs for the centenary of Politecnico Calzaturiero

BASF presents new concepts and recycling methods for polyurethanes at Simac Tanning Tech. The international trade fair for machinery and technology for the footwear and leather industry takes place from 17-19 September in Milan, Italy. Under the motto ‘Make the Move’, BASF will showcase materials and technologies designed to create shoes that are lighter, more comfortable and incredibly durable. With versatile polyurethane solutions such as Elastopan^® (PU), Elastollan^® (TPU) and Infinergy^® (E-TPU), all processing technologies can be utilised to meet the diverse needs of the footwear industry. Make the move towards pioneering footwear solutions with BASF.

Ready for recycling with meltable polyurethane foam

Good news for all sustainability initiatives in the footwear industry: BASF offers PU systems for shoes with thermoplastic properties. Felix Willenbrink, Marketing Manager Footwear, Sports and Leisure at BASF Polyurethanes, explains the significance for the footwear industry: “Our PU materials for footwear are meltable. This is a unique property of thermoplastic materials such as Elastollan^® (TPU) and Infinergy^® (E-TPU). We can now confirm that our Elastopan^® PU systems also come with this property. Meltable PU is a further step towards a circular economy in the footwear industry: soles, shoe components or even complete shoes made of polyurethane are ready for mechanical recycling. Even combinations of PU, TPU and E-TPU can be recycled without separation.” Make the move towards a circular economy for footwear systems.

The new lightness: midsoles with excellent properties

Best performance and maximum comfort combined with low weight. That is the perfect midsole. BASF offers a wide range of material solutions that support both existing and new, simplified processing technologies. The low density of the sole systems makes them particularly light. This makes the PU, TPU or E-TPU midsoles ideal for a wide range of shoes, from running shoes to safety shoes. Make the move towards more comfort and lightness.

BASF celebrates 100 years of Politecnico Calzaturiero with new design competition

The Politecnico Calzaturiero is celebrating its centenary and is known far beyond Italy's borders for its excellent training of specialists and designers for the footwear industry. For almost 20 years, BASF has supported the university with an annual design competition that promotes the innovative use of polyurethane in footwear design. The winners of the competition with their inspiring new designs will be presented at the BASF booth. Make the move towards future-orientated shoe design.

Infinergy^® Revolution: Efficient processing of high-performance soles

Infinergy^® Revolution provides access to a variety of molding processes while keeping the Infinergy^® identity of making shoes very comfortable to wear and delivering excellent running properties. Due to new processing methods the material can be fused into soles in a much more energy-efficient and material-friendly manner. With endless design possibilities many surface textures are available. Its durability and recyclability allow Infinergy^® Revolution to strive for a more sustainable future of the footwear industry. 

Polyurethane meets 3D printing

Short development times and simple, fast iterations are crucial for the successful go-to-market of new footwear products. Along the entire process, 3D printed polyurethane-based materials can offer added value. Be it directly printed shoe components or additively manufactured moulds for processing standard shoe materials such as Elastopan^®. Go new ways in footwear development together with Forward AM.

Visit us at Simac 2024, Hall 14, Booth GH47 H48
www.footwear.basf.com

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division is at the forefront of the much-needed sustainability transformation in plastics. Our products are co-created with customers around the globe to bring innovations to major industry sectors such as transportation, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. Our R&D focuses on all stages of the plastics journey: Make, Use and Recycle. The MAKE phase is about improving how plastics are made, from product design to the choice of raw materials and the manufacturing process itself. The USE phase enhances plastics’ strengths such as light weight, robustness, and thermal resistance. At the end of the product lifecycle, the RECYCLE phase looks at how to close the loop to achieve a circular economy. In 2023, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €7.2 billion. Join #ourplasticsjourney at: www.performance-materials.basf.com

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