Written on 01.10.2012 - Technology
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A step forward in footwear technology

Daltoped Lite is a new lightweight polyether system from Huntsman. The materials are well suited to the production of PU soles for high quality casual shoes and children’s footwear. In these applications they are said to offer many advantages in contrast to injection-moulded EVA soles. With a density of 0.33-0.38 g/cm³, extremely lightweight unit soles can be produced. These can be processed on existing polyurethane machinery at a lower production cost; fitting properties are more consistent, which reduces wastage; and resulting soles are easier to bond and have a better compression set. In addition, PU moulds are less expensive, enabling manufacturers to respond more rapidly to changing fashion trends.

Huntsman successfully piloted the materials in 2011 in conjunction with the Josef Seibel Group. Within three months the footwear manufacturer began to use Daltoped Lite systems as an alternative to its previous EVA solutions for commercial production at its plant in Hungary.

Thorsten Berger, Production Manager of Josef Seibel Group, said: “We wanted to replace our existing EVA soles with a lightweight unit sole alternative and needed a material we could use at our existing production facilities. Huntsman worked fast to meet every requirement we had and provided a lot of technical support. We are now using Daltoped Lite systems to create polyurethane soles more cost-effectively than our previous EVA solutions. In addition, the lower cost of polyurethane molds means we can flex more quickly in line with changing market needs.”

Stefan Mack, Footwear Sales Manager Mid-Europe, at Huntsman Polyurethanes, said, “We are totally committed to the delivery of differentiated technologies that add value and give our customers the competitive edge. The development of Daltoped Lite polyurethane systems strengthens Huntsman’s position as the innovation leader for the footwear industry. Working in collaboration with Josef Seibel Group, it took just three months to move from product concept into production, demonstrating just how quickly we can apply our in-depth expertise in polyether technology to create new solutions for our footwear customers.”