PMC: Leather cutting, ‘TPR lite’ among the highlights
Among the SA visitors to Simac Tanning Tech were Paul Moeller & Company’s Colin Parker, Imani Commodities’ Mwine Nkulu and Strayz’s Keith Lyons.
On the shoe machinery side, Italy is holding its own. Companies that have been around for many years are positive for future trading. There are 2 reasons – China is slowing, and their manufacturers are concentrating on high tech industries mainly pertaining to electronic goods.. Also, the Italian government is assisting Italian shoe manufacturers to buy Italian machinery, which are adapted with 4.0 management control technology.
There is a huge focus on automated leather cutting. The technology has almost reached its peak. Teseo, Comelz, Zundt are the leading suppliers – in that order, in my opinion. Atom is more for heavy-duty applications like gaskets.
Oscillating knife is the technology method for this cutting technology.
In the 90s our industry would never tool up for small orders below 400 pairs, and they were turning that business away. Die-less cutting has made that business feasible, and the payback time is 18-36 months if you run it 24 hours/day.
On the injection moulding side Desma is still the leader, and it is the first company to offer recycling technology, up to 15% with their new particle dosing unit.
Main Group, which is making high tech machines in Italy again, is making a comeback, with 2 colour unit sole injection in particular.
The new material causing waves is ‘TPR lite’. The SG is still higher than PU, but the durability and wearability of TPR lite is higher than PU. Manufacturers here know that TPR lite is the future. I saw 20/30 sole makers just making sneaker soles mostly in TPR lite and some TPU.
There is a lot of interest in sneaker production globally. 80% is still done with Strobel lasted machinery and the sole is stuck on. The 20% where the volume is for the big brands such as Nike, New Balance and Skechers is direct injection which is the only way for them.
There was also a lot of printing on leather – for logos, colour, and artwork.
Remote assistance, via TeamViewer or similar, is growing, and it was said that virtual reality is the way of the future.
It was interesting to note that a lot of exhibitors – on the Simac side, more than Tanning Tech – complained that the fair was poorly attended and were pushing to make it every 2/3 years going forward. That’s under discussion. However, Lineapelle, which is the materials fair, will still be held twice a year.
- Desma: SA needs to play to its strengths
Southern Africa still has promise as a footwear manufacturing region – especially if it plays to its potential strengths and doesn’t try to outcompete the East on price, Desma Schuhmaschinen regional sales manager René Muschalle said.Although the PU moulding and robotic machinery manufacturer sells big ticket items, it& ...moreVolontè: Upgrade and diversify advice to SA
Volontè System Conveyor director Felice Volontè believes South African footwear manufacturers have the potential to increase production “substantially”, and to grow their export business, but that they must upgrade their products, and diversify their production.He was an annual visitor to South Africa before covi ...moreOrmac: Big or small, manufacturers need innovative machinery
Making track machinery manufacturer Ormac has “made a lot of improvements over the last 10 years”, sales area manager Gabriele Pauroso said.Among the trends have been all-in-one solutions to reduce the space required for machinery. “We have competitors who are promoting robotics,” he said, “but those take up ...more- SIMAC: Technology for a better worldThis year’s crowded calendar of September fairs in Milan – Micam, Mipel, The One Milano, Lineapelle and Simac Tanning Tech – also included the 21st UITIC International Technical Footwear Congress. Across them all, innovation and sustainability were the dominant themes. In the background, the Ukraine war, the changing role of China, and fragile economies, impact sales. At Simac Tanning Tech, exhibitors supplying the tanning industry mostly said the fair went better than they had expected, while those supplying footwear and leather goods manufacturers were less sure. ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- A perspective: Perhaps it was an eye-opener for industry players to hear each otherLooking back over the workshop, BMA consultant Justin Snelling wrote: “In terms of our reflections of the workshop, we covered a lot of territory. Perhaps though what was most encouraging was the breadth of participation from different segments of the sector and their willingness, or even excitement, to contribute. We don’t ta ...moreManufacturer-buyer event: Results still to be tallied, but broad enthusiasm for more
The 2-day Retail Buyer Engagement & Manufacturer Onboarding Programme on 01 and 02 July was part of an effort to kickstart the R-CTFL Masterplan – which, from a footwear perspective at least, has appeared stalled.It was sponsored by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and implemented through the R-CTFL Masterplan Footwea ...moreTshepo opens new store at Mall of Africa
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (02 June 2026) — South African fashion brand Tshepo has opened its second store at Mall of Africa.Tshepo, founded by Tshepo Mohlala in Victoria Yards 10 years ago, specialises in locally made denim jeans.“Victoria Yards remains central to Tshepo's identity, serving as the bran ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- ‘ESG is a global requirement’
Deborah Taylor, Sustainable Leather FoundationShe spoke about the SLF’s role in supporting harmonisation and minimising duplication of effort across the leather value chain, its education and training, development of robust and credible standards, and advocacy of the leather industry.She quoted the first definition of sustainability ...moreNigeria’s Leather Industry: Not a clear picture
Nigeria is widely accepted as having a very large livestock population, but a relatively small tanning industry, much of it concentrated in Kano, producing high grade goat- and sheepskin crust which is exported for finishing elsewhere for use in garments.Recent articles cast some doubt on this, so are Nigeria’s hides and skins: M ...moreLuxury or notWe hear from all sides that the leather industry is not doing too well and the conflict in the Middle East is definitely not improving the situation. The present wars have a huge impact on inflation and hence on the buying power of consumers with negative consequences for the luxury industry whose shares we have seen tumbling at the vario ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- SA's first PPE conference draws top speakers
The Safety First Association and SAPEMA hosted SA’s first PPE conference in March, cramming 20 papers into a 2-day event, which also featured a number of PPE supplier stands. Here, we carry edited versions of 7 of them to illustrate the diversity of the topics. We expect to carry more in the next edition.As several speakers pointed ...moreProtecting the workforce: The critical role of PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is utilised in a work-environment as part of a larger prevention plan, because on its own protection is limited and may even provide a false sense of protection.An occupational disease prevention plan must be an actionable approach that identifies workplace health hazards, evaluates exposure, and i ...moreSelecting the correct protective clothing for a hazardous chemical environment
In South Africa’s diverse industrial landscape, from mining operations in Rustenburg to petrochemical plants in Secunda and manufacturing hubs in Durban, workers are regularly exposed to hazardous chemical environments that demand more than just basic safety measures.The selection of appropriate protective clothing is not only ...more
