Michelin and Chinese partner aiming for 10% of p - sportstextiles: Lea SportsTextiles

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Michelin and Chinese partner aiming for 10% of performance soles market

28/11/2014
Michelin and Chinese partner aiming for 10% of performance soles market
Tyre manufacturer Michelin has announced a new joint-venture in China with textile manufacturer Jihua, part of the Xinxing Cathay International group, to make high-performance soles for the technical footwear market. The two partners signed the agreement at a ceremony at Michelin’s corporate headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand in central France on November 26.

Both companies said they believe the footwear market is “hungry for technology” and have set a target for the new joint venture to supply technical footwear brands with around 500 million pairs of soles per year within five years, with grip, durability and comfort the main attraction for shoe companies. Research the new partners have carried out puts this figure at an overall market share of between 5% and 10% of the technical footwear market.

“Since 2001, Michelin has been creating licensed products that embody safety, innovation, performance and environmental protection,” the French company said. “This provides an opportunity for Michelin’s know-how in rubber compounds, novel materials, tread patterns and innovative technology to be extended beyond the world of tyres.”

Previous Michelin footwear projects have included working with Babolat on tennis and badminton shoes in 2003, with Le Chameau on boots in 2012,  and with Kempa for handball shoes in 2013.


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