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“significant
industry
need
for
competitive solutions for polyurethane
formulations development”, which it
believes Voranol 223-060LM will help
meet. Among other applications, the
company says the product can help
“form the backbone” for a wider variety
of elastomer formulations.
Bill Reeves, North American business
director of Dow Polyurethanes, said at
the time of the launch: “Our customers
wanted an alternative to more
expensive PTMEG. So we delivered a
cost-effective and high-performing
solution with Voranol. This is truly a
customer-driven solution.”
Dow Polyurethanes highlighted its
latest solutions for the footwear
industry during the Polyurethanes 2012
Technical Conference (CPI), which took
place in Atlanta from September 24-26.
In the build-up to the event, global
vice president for Dow Polyurethanes,
Mark Bassett, said: “New uses for
polyurethanes are constantly being
discovered, contributing to a growing
industry.”
Solutions on display included
Voralast-R Systems, which Dow
describes as “high renewable content
polyurethane soling systems” that are
lightweight, durable and provide good
levels of flow for complex mould
shapes.
LACOSTE TO PUT
ORTHOLITE INSOLES IN
NEW FOOTWEAR
COLLECTION
Open
cell
foam
insoles
manufacturer OrthoLite has partnered
with sports brand Lacoste to enhance
its upcoming Sport Active Collection
for men’s and women’s footwear,
available in spring 2013.
The collection, which offers fresh
preppy styles, retro pastels and bold
and 90s inspired shapes, will now
feature OrthoLite insoles to provide
breathability, moisture control, anti-
microbial properties and long-term
cushioning.
“We are very excited to announce
this partnership with Lacoste,” said
Pamela
Gelsomini,
OrthoLite
president,
on
making
the
announcement. “With almost 80 years
of sporting heritage, the brand shares
OrthoLite’s vision to offer quality,
comfort and high performance
footwear products. By including
OrthoLite in the collection, Lacoste
will now offer its customers the best
in customised technology and
comfort, while still being cool and
fashionable.”
A&E PUBLISHES
SUSTAINABILITY
PROGRESS REPORT
Specialist
sewing
thread
manufacturer American & Efird (A&E)
has
published
its
2011-2012
sustainability report. The report reflects
what A&E refers to as its “continued
commitment and leadership to
environmental sustainability and social
responsibility”.
Vice-president for environmental
matters, John Eapen, said on
announcing the report’s publication:
“We’re proud that our latest
sustainability report shows greater
cumulative results from the impact of
our efforts and investments. We’re
particularly proud of our zero liquid
discharge plant in Perundari, India,
and our 50% recycle-reuse facility in
Dongguan, China. The water
conserved by A&E’s global operations
during a year could supply 15.5
million people in India with fresh
water for a day.”
The report analyses the company’s
yarn spinning, dyeing and finishing
facilities. Categories measured in the
report include global carbon footprint,
water
conservation,
energy
consumption, recycling and waste
reduction.
It shows that the company has
made a reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions of more than 9% in the last
six years, a 16.8% improvement in
water conservation over the same
length of time, and a 2.1% saving in
electricity consumption.
A&E follows the American Apparel
and Footwear Association (AAFA)
standards. The AAFA’s restricted
substances list is revised twice a year
and reflects international chemical
and substance restrictions.
(See page
24-26 for a full report).
DELCAM CRISPIN ADDS
ONLINE LEARNING ZONE
Footwear industry technology
provider Delcam CRISPIN has added a
new learning zone to its corporate
website.
Visitors to the site can now access
videos explaining how the company’s
software applications for the footwear
industry work. There is also material
demonstrating
the
latest
enhancements in the packages and a
range of brochures detailing the
benefits of using CADCAM for
footwear manufacture.
Delcam
CRISPIN’s
software
solutions include packages for the
design and manufacture of lasts, soles
and uppers. Users of the technology
can import scan data from lasts or feet
and develop new design ideas for
lasts, uppers and soles.
WF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
7
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 | www.footwearbiz.com
Signs at the entrance to a business park in Sri Lanka, sponsored by American & Efird,
make plain the company’s commitment to sustainability.
CREDIT: AMERICAN & EFIRD