[pageLogInLogOut]

#Additive Manufacturing

Effective shoe manufacturing with 3D printing

Shoes can be made from only two parts using 3D printing – the sole and the uppers. To produce both parts, Covestro has developed a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) so that the shoe can be completely recycled at the end of its useful life. (c) 2019 Covestro
The manufacture of a shoe requires a multitude of work steps, some of which are carried out by hand. This makes production time-consuming and expensive. In the finished product, various materials are sewn together and glued together, so that it is virtually impossible to recycle them by type at the end of their useful life.

Using 3D printing, shoes could be made from only two parts – upper and sole. Covestro has developed a material that enables automated production at lower cost and complete recyclability of the finished shoe. At the Formnext trade fair from 19 to 22 November 2019 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the company will be presenting these and other developments of its additive manufacturing programme at Booth E11 in Hall 12.1.

A powder and a filament, both based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), proved to be the material of choice for meeting all the above requirements. The plastic offers high rebound and abrasion resistance and is therefore ideally suited for the production of both shoe parts.

In addition, the shoe can later be recycled in a single step, including the polyurethane adhesive used for production – an important milestone towards recycling. Old shoes are thus turned into filaments for new shoes.


More News from Covestro AG

#Smart Textiles

Covestro, FILK Freiberg, and OUT e.V. develop flexible, conductive polymer smart textile system

As the smart textiles market continues to grow across healthcare, personal protection, sportswear, and automotive applications, developers are seeking new ways to integrate electronic functionality directly into textiles, without the rigidity and complexity of conventional wiring. To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

#Techtextil 2026

Covestro to exhibit solutions for a more sustainable and productive textile industry at Techtextil 2026

Covestro will present a broad portfolio of material innovations for textile coatings, adhesive films and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) at Techtextil 2026 (Hall 11.0, Booth C79). The exhibits will demonstrate how advanced solutions can enhance durability, recyclability and manufacturing efficiency across applications such as automotive, infrastructure, protective apparel and sportswear. A particular focus will be on more sustainable coating technologies, including antimicrobial systems based on INSQIN® in combination with AGXX from Heraeus Precious Metals, as well as the integration of Pontacol® thermoplastic adhesive films into Covestro’s offering.

#Technical Textiles

Covestro showcases monomaterial concept in autonomous SUE People Mover

UE | STUDIOS has unveiled the fully autonomous electric minibus “Self-driving Urban E-Shuttle” (SUE), placing strong emphasis on sustainable material design. Developed within a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union, the vehicle will begin public road testing this year. At the core of the concept is the consistent use of recyclable monomaterials to improve circularity at end of life.

#Textile chemistry

Covestro and Heraeus Precious Metals collaborate to enable safer, more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings

Laboratory tests reveal that AGXX antimicrobial surface technology from Heraeus Precious Metals is fully compatible with Impranil® PU dispersions which are part of the waterborne INSQIN® textile coating technology from Covestro, paving the way for more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings. This discovery comes at a key moment for the textile coatings industry. As the sharing economy continues to grow, more people are coming into regular contact with high-use surfaces, creating ideal conditions for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms to thrive.

More News on Additive Manufacturing

Latest News

#Spinning

Barmag’s automated maintenance processes for quality, safety, and efficiency in spinning plants

Maintenance and service processes in chemical fiber spinning plants have a significant impact on product quality, equipment availability, and workplace safety. With three new retrofittable solutions, Barmag helps Producers make manual work processes more efficient, safer, and more reproducible.

#Digital Printing

Leading UK garment decorator expands short-run apparel production and print-on-demand fulfillment with Kornit Digital

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, announced that leading UK garment decorator Fifth Column has expanded its apparel decoration capabilities with the installation of a Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS system. Based in the United Kingdom, Fifth Column specializes in garment decoration, including screen printing, embroidery, digital printing, garment finishing, and print-on-demand production. Its customer base spans breweries, music merchandise companies, workwear providers, designer brands, and retail businesses.

#Heimtextil 2027

Therapeutic patterns and mythology as design inspiration: New Talent Area curated by Trendease at Heimtextil grows

Even more young design talent and creative ideas: at the upcoming Heimtextil, the New Talent Area returns for its second edition with stronger presence. From 12 to 15 January 2027, the curated area welcomes more than 30 participants, many of whom are presenting on the international stage for the first time. In Frankfurt, they showcase exciting textile designs, surprising materials and market-ready products.

#Associations

ITMF names five winners of the Start-up Award 2026

Five start-ups from Switzerland, Brazil, the United States and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Start-up Award 2026. Their concepts range from new polymer chemistry and natural-fiber biocomposites to zero-waste design, 3D weaving and enzymatic PET recycling.

TOP