Elachem®: innovation starts with the material

Specialising since 2001 in the production of cutting-edge polyurethane systems for the footwear industry, Elachem® has made innovation its hallmark, focusing its attention on the combination of performance, lightness, sustainability and creativity as guiding principles for the future of technical footwear.

For the Vigevano-based company, the starting point for those designing and manufacturing the footwear of the future is no longer the shape, but the material: it is in the way a polymer responds to stress, returns energy and supports the foot that a product’s competitive edge is now determined.

In this transformation, two families of materials are redefining the boundaries of footwear innovation: Epamould® and Epalite® TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), and SCF – Super Critical Foam (expanded thermoplastic polyurethane).

TPU: a language, even before it is a material

TPU is not merely a raw material; it is a technical vocabulary. By varying its density, hardness and geometry, the same polymer can become a durable tread, a stable heel counter, an aesthetic insert, or a dynamic, high-resilience component. For the designer, this means translating an intention into a solution, without compromising between aesthetics and performance: greater responsiveness where thrust is needed, greater support where protection is needed, and greater lightness throughout.

SCF: the paradigm shift

If TPU is grammar, SCF is revolution. Gas expansion generates a uniform, ultra-fine cellular structure with extremely low density and a springy rebound that, until a few years ago, was confined to laboratories. The result is felt from the very first step in terms of progressive cushioning, unflagging comfort and reduced weight. SCF is not ‘a lighter foam’; it is a designed ‘cellular’ architecture.

Sustainability born of engineering

In a market where ESG criteria are now entry requirements, rather than mere reputational exercises, the choice of material becomes a strategic decision. At Elachem, sustainability stems from technology, not marketing – a distinction that even the premium market is learning to recognise and appreciate. Because lighter footwear consumes fewer raw materials, reduces logistical impact and lowers energy consumption during use.

Not just innovation, but new frontiers for creativity

There is one aspect that often remains in the shadows when discussing technical polymers: the creative freedom they offer. Epamould®, Epalite® and SCF allow designers to conceive soles with unprecedented geometries, to integrate functions into individual components, and to experiment with transparencies, colours and finishes that were once purely aesthetic.

For the designer, this represents a broader palette, like a chef giving free rein to their creativity to redefine the paradigm. For R&D, a coherent platform. For the buyer, a product that speaks to both the performance market and the market of desire.