A virtual concept shoe made entirely of innovative BASF materials, a 3D printed shoe made from TPU, breathtaking creations by young designers – this and other product-related innovations will be presented by BASF at SIMAC, the international machine and technology fair for shoes in Milan. From February 19 to 21, visitors to Hall 14, Stand G 40, will be given an insight into sustainable, high-performance materials, pioneering shoe concepts and BASF’s wide-ranging shoe expertise.
Infinergy® for occupational and dress shoes
First launched in 2013, Infinergy® is the world’s first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU). The closed-cell, elastic particle foam combines the properties of TPU with the advantages of foams, making it as elastic as rubber but lighter. After 7 years of worldwide success transforming athletic and safety shoes, Infinergy® is now bringing this revolutionary product to occupational and dress shoes. This innovative product brings a unique combination of comfort, light weight and long-term durability to consumers in the work place.
Innovation leads to inspiration and imagination – design contest
The wedge for a model of women’s sandal was the theme of the XIII edition of the “Footwear Design Contest”, the competition organized every year by the Politecnico Calzaturiero of Padua in collaboration with BASF Italia, the producer of the polyurethane sole conceived by designer Roberto Guzzonato. Based on this wedge, students created eye-catching sandals which are presented at the booth to attract the attention of the visitors. Roberto Guzzonato will be at the booth on February 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to discuss latest trends in the footwear industry with the visitors.
Limitless – innovative and sustainable
Presenting the concept shoe “Limitless”, BASF brings together intelligent design and its expertise in materials. The innovative product portfolio includes potential for recyclability and instant exchange of fossil raw materials by biomass resources -without compromising on design and functionality. Created in cooperation with internationally renowned designers, “Limitless” is setting standards in comfort, design flexibility, lightweight cushioning and durability.
Pacing ahead – with 3D printed footwear
The footwear industry increasingly favors 3D printing techniques in manufacture. Ultrasint® TPU01 from BASF 3D printing solutions is a multi-purpose TPU material for producing flexible parts, with high throughput and excellent quality. Typical applications are sports footwear, orthopedic insoles in which the required properties of shock absorption, energy return, and flexibility can be specifically tuned by design through additive-based manufacturing. BASF demonstrated this by 3D printing 50 pairs of sneakers using its TPU powder with both HSS and SLS technologies. Leveraging its expertise in the FEA simulation (Ultrasim®) of lattice structures and its own material models, the team created a gradient lattice structure that fulfilled the target comfort and stability requirements throughout the shoe’s midsole. The finishing touch was BASF’s flexible coating, which provided enhanced durability and outstanding aesthetics.
The last article publsihed about “BASF” at Polymer Industry Media International was: BASF And STR Automotive Joined To Utilize A New Light-Weight Material
