ANTWERP, Belgium—BASF believes it has taken a step forward in making work shoes more comfortable.
BASF has partnered with Argentine footwear brand Maincal on a range of safety shoes made with "Infinergy," the polymer maker's expanded thermoplastic polyurethane.
The shoe, which is called Voran SportSafe, is designed for wearers to move and work in comfort with all-day compression technology.
The expanded TPU material brings "superior responsiveness, comfort and durability," to the product, according to an Aug. 31 BASF statement.
The shoe, ideal for workers in automotive, food, logistics and other industris that require high levels of comfort over long periods of time, is designed for versatility and be worn both inside and outside the workplace. BASF's Elastopan is used in the soles to provide greater adhesion and resistance to sliding on the most demanding surfaces.
"Combining the new technology and design was not easy," said Juan Martin Nasi, BASF polyurethanes specialist for Performance Materials in South America. "While Maincal contributed with their innovation laboratory, design team and production capacity with 300 employees, BASF provided a leading-edge technology that delivers superiors comfort and long-term durability."
"The alliance with BASF and the incorporation of its unique technology will generate great expectations from the market ... (and) help us with our expansion plans to international markets," said Pablo Lopez Cali, commercial director of Maincal.
