DESMA unveils revolutionary system for manufacturing ultra-lightweight soles
DESMA HOUSE FAIR, took place in Achim, Germany, on September 24 and 25, attracting around 800 visitors and 57 co-exhibitors. The event focused on innovation, automation, sustainability, and AI.
According to Klaus Freese, the company's Commercial Director, “this was a new record,” he stated.
Every two years, DESMA Schuhmaschinen GmbH invites the global footwear industry to Achim to share knowledge about the latest trends and technologies. This year’s theme was “Pioneers. Together.” "We offered a comprehensive program of about 20 technical conferences, presentations, and live demonstrations, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and artificial intelligence," explained Christian Decker, DESMA’s Managing Director in charge of engineering.
The German brand is a leading specialist in industrial footwear machinery, offering a portfolio that ranges from process plants and manufacturing systems, automation and robotics, to mold design and production, as well as service and training. The company’s main speciality lies in direct injection machinery, which "injects" the sole onto the prefabricated upper. The market potential for these systems is high, as more and more countries face skilled labor shortages and rising labor costs, making the automation possibilities of these solutions increasingly significant.
One of the highlights of this year’s HOUSE FAIR was the presentation of a system that produces soles made of thermoplastic materials using the pioneering DESMA SCF (Super Critical Foaming) technology. This method creates a microcellular foam that allows the production of soles that are not only extremely lightweight but also offer high performance. They are mainly used in high-end sports and running footwear but also in sports sneakers and trekking and hiking shoes. Thermoplastic materials are suitable for thermomechanical recycling, making this technology truly pioneering and supporting the trend towards sustainability. Other benefits include a low rejection rate and high production output. The first system equipped with this technology was presented at the event, along with partner material suppliers. The exhibition also featured a highly automated amirC line that produced a complete shoe with an SCF sole.
There is a global trend toward automation and customized footwear production. DESMA introduced the “integrAIt” PU boot as the 2024 concept shoe. This innovative boot was designed with the help of AI and produced using a DESMA direct sole injection system, combining technology, design, and production expertise. Workshop participants designed a shoe, with the data being directly transmitted to a 3D printer and a 3D knitting machine that produced flexible sole prototypes and uppers almost in series within just a few hours. “Design2manufacturing is becoming increasingly important,” emphasized Christian Decker. “At the HOUSE FAIR, we clearly demonstrated that it’s possible to reduce the time from designing a shoe and producing a prototype to serial production down to a few days or even hours. The combination of all the methods shown offers unimaginable possibilities for footwear producers,” stated DESMA's Managing Director.
On this occasion, DESMA received the PFI Eco Label, presented by Dr. Kerstin Schulte, Director of the PFI Institute. This label confirms that DESMA actively contributes to climate protection, promotes the transition to a circular economy, protects ecosystems, optimizes energy efficiency, and uses renewable energy.
Attendees of DESMA's latest HOUSE FAIR were highly satisfied with the technological offerings from the German company and look forward to the next edition in 2026, which will mark the 80th anniversary of its operations.
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