Technological trends for the sector
Production in the footwear industry will face a period of changes in the coming years, with a significant process of innovation of systems, machines and equipment.
The advances will be by new approaches to electronics and software packages, which are currently key in the production of leather and manufactures. In the near future a unique language will allow all the protagonists involved, manage together and organically all phases of design, prototypes and manufacture of shoes and leather products.
New means and “agile and light” tools will appear that will combine high levels of productivity with characteristics of greater flexibility and reconfiguration capacity, adapted to the specific needs of the different productive areas of the world.
Footwear is increasingly an object treated in a scientific way and enriched with technological values. It will be the result of a series of data processing related to the feet, lasts and materials used.
Machines for pre-assembling and assembling, assembling waists and heel socks predominate in this category, flexible and equipped with functional and self-programmable modules according to the footwear model. They are equipment with mechanical tools with tail and/or helical rollers injectors, controllable hydraulic pressures, precision and speed in the movement path. All to ensure maximum versatility in the face of work changes, the ability to adapt to materials and style geometries dictated by fashion.
In automatic gluing systems, the integration of fund processing operations, temperature control of differentiated treatment and extensive automation of the production line will complete the technological offer in this area.
A wide range of sewing machines covers various aspects and needs. In fast machines on the one hand, emphasis is placed on effective stitch length management and keeping it constant over time, to ensure the resumption of previously made holes, which makes it possible to switch to a differential transport without interrupting the seam. On the other hand, in the control field, the creation of new sewing programs tends to be facilitated.
Innovative proposals at the level of compounds and technology for the synthetic. Products and solutions to increase flexibility and multifunctionality: soles production in one or two colors. In a single color with insert and welt, and bi-color or bi-density with welts. Or soles with differentiated structures between rigid heel and soft sole obtaining in the same mold, taking into account a very high quality article with a low investment cost. In this area there is a growing interest in automation.
It is the area where there has been a more significant technological change, through the use of continuous cutting systems without hole puncher. Now it is in the ripening stage. Suppliers of this technology propose new versions for hides and skins, according to the requirements of each production and the physical spaces available for installation.
The technological offer for this sector includes issues of sustainability, consumption and reduction of environmental impact. Product control, quality guarantee and repeatability are always key factors in the tanning industry. The future will address the synergy between innovations in materials, chemical compounds, processes and systems solutions.
There is a strong interest in the development of humanoid robots, vision systems, remote management and maintenance, automatic system supply, product traceability and last generation sensors. The new technological trends address key issues related to IO (Internet of Things) - digital internet interconnection - Industry 4.0 and sustainability. In particular to increase the automation of the machines, availability of simpler and "friendly" softwares, real-time production control systems and energy savings. They will be machines aligned with the real needs of the market and oriented towards sustainability processes.
In particular, on the different specific launches that will make the technology exhibiting companies in SIMAC/TANNING TECH, there is still no precise information, since this is a matter of each company's commercial strategy, which will just be revealed in the next edition of the fair from February 21 to 23, 2017.
