Innovations in athletic and safety footwear technology from Carbitex
Carbon fibre composites developer Carbitex has announced an anti-puncture innovation that it believes will work well in safety footwear, and another for athletic footwear. Both of the new ideas are part of the company’s AFX technology platform, which uses carbon fibre composites to provide stiffness in one direction and flexibility in the other.
AFX anti-puncture (AP) material is what the Washington-based company has described as “a patented, multi-layer composite plate with anti-puncture protection and asymmetric flexibility”. It said this provides “uncompromised comfort”, while preventing the foot from over-flexing.
It said the new technology would expand footwear brands’ options for making lighter-weight work shoes because heavy, protective soling materials will no longer be required. It added that AFX-AP passes global industry test standards (ASTM F2412-11, EN 12568:2010, CZA Z195-14) and is ideal for workers at risk of underfoot injury, including those in the construction and utility sectors.
For the athletic performance footwear market, Carbitex AFX Formed expands upon the company’s existing carbon-plate material with a pre-formed angle “to generate a responsive landing” while also allowing for a more natural toe-off.
Vice-president of business development and customer product development at Carbitex, Clark Morgan, said: “Expanding the properties of our patented technology continues to bring new benefits to the footwear market, allowing for a transformational shift in thought on how performance and utility footwear can be constructed.”
