Apego’s path is studded with tradition and innovation, efficiency and quality, the best production technologies, the employment of highly skilled personnel, and advanced technology machines. A perfect blend that combines product with services dedicated to customer care.
Such as the CONSULTING service that is committed to understanding the varied needs of the customer. Almost 60 years of activity alongside the best brands in the footwear sector have allowed Apego to develop a marked problem-solving ability, necessary when dealing with complex projects and creating high quality and precision moulds. Ideas, advice and technical specifications accompany the customer at every decision-making stage and suggest indispensable tricks to achieve excellent results.
Today it is clear that being fast and sustainable in responding to market needs is a crucial factor. Therefore, for some time now, Apego has been offering the service of digitizing shapes through three-dimensional scans, which prepares for CAD-CAM design and, therefore, for RAPID PROTOTYPING.
A process that allows test models to be made in just a few hours, so as to better evaluate their design and feasibility. A technology that reduces the time and cost of producing sample molds and allows a design to be defined in no time and quickly presented to the market, optimizing costs and resources.
Since Apego’s mission is not to sell moulds, but to accompany the customer in the realisation of complex projects, the quality and reliability of its technologies become essential points. So much so that it is equipped with polyurethane casting and/or injection machines that allow moulding and testing of all moulds for soles and direct injection on uppers, testing of moulds containing inserts and moulds composed of elements made from different materials. Apego has rubber moulding presses and vertical machines for thermoplastic injection available, so that every possible step can be verified. Mould testing is a crucial service that enables the customer to feed the products made by Apego directly into the production cycle.
OEKO-TEX® focuses on transparency and traceability and on the close collaboration with 17 research and testing institutes and leather manufacturers to develop high-quality leather products at all stages of the value chain.
The international association takes measures to foster scientific insight and innovation within the leather and textile industry. Here, a modular approach has proven successful to enable brands and manufacturers to greater sustainability.
The OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label illustrates this concept: The traceable product label for all kinds of leather products implies the OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD for product safety as well as the OEKO-TEX® STeP facility certification that promotes safe and socially responsible working conditions.
OEKO-TEX® looks forward to meeting you from 17 to 19 September 2024 at Lineapelle (Hall 24 Stand N03) to learn about the complete OEKO-TEX® modular system, including standards promoting greener chemistry and ‘due diligence’.
Bramark has been designed specifically for the use of fluorescent inks, meeting the ever-increasing demands for precision and productivity in footwear production. Its features include a more spacious work area, which allows working on larger surfaces, improving operational and production efficiency; dual-axis printing, which increases productivity while maintaining high standards of accuracy; and higher processing speed for a faster and more productive marking process, without compromising on the quality of the results. Bramark thus offers an advanced solution for marking uppers, ensuring accurate marks and greater visibility when hemming, thanks to fluorescent inks, increasing accuracy and productivity. Bramark thus complements Bramark’s X-Draw offering for the automation of precise guideline marking during hemming.
Bramac and CMCI’s innovation for the safety footwear sector is called BB224, which is the result of a reorganisation of the mechanical components aimed at improving and strengthening each part. This innovation makes it possible to sew KEVLAR insoles even over 5 mm thick, an essential feature for the production of high-performance safety footwear. The BB224 model not only improves performance over previous models, but also introduces a series of features designed to make operators’ work easier and more efficient, improving ergonomics and visibility during stitching and simplifying the various registration steps performed by the operator during stitching. The robust design and use of high-quality materials ensure that the machine can withstand the intensive use typical of safety shoe production lines.
In the footwear industry, the adoption of innovative materials such as TPU, PU and recycled materials is revolutionising the market. These materials not only improve the quality of footwear, ensuring durability, flexibility and lightness, but also promote environmental sustainability. IPR is distinguished by the use of these advanced technologies, which allow for more efficient and customised production, contributing significantly to the reduction of environmental impact.
Innovative technologies and materials such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) offer excellent durability and deformation resistance and are ideal for soles and other critical components. PU (polyurethane) is known for its lightness and strength, so it is used to create comfortable and durable shoes. In addition, the use of recycled materials from industrial or post-consumer waste helps reduce the overall environmental impact of the shoe production cycle.
Sustainability is not only an environmental necessity, but also a competitive advantage. IPR S.p.A. knows this and invests in sustainable materials and environmentally friendly production processes that meet the growing expectations of consumers and contribute to raising the value of a brand.
Franz Tschimben, CEO e Co-fondatore di Covision Media
Covision Media is a spin-off technology company of the Covision Lab network, a research centre in the field of artificial intelligence applied to images, founded in 2019.
“The ambition is to bring technological innovation to our region, South Tyrol (Italy), but also to become an international leader in some specific niches”, explains Franz Tschimben, CEO and Co-Founder of the company. Covision Media brings together computer vision and machine learning specialists with the aim of fusing Artificial Intelligence with 3D scanning technology to create accurate 3D digital twins from real-world objects.
Why did you choose the niche of 3D modelling?
“It is a field in which there has been no particular technological advancement in the last 15 years. Certainly, the increasing computational power of computers has improved visual performance, but there has never been a major advance in terms of mass generation of the highest quality 3D model. We have focused precisely on this aspect”.
Who are your stakeholders?
“Covision Media’s 3D scanners are designed specifically for companies that are looking for real-life, fully automated and scalable 3D assets for their products”.
The downturns keep coming over the last 10 years. Is there actually a market for this type of innovation?
“Today, the demand for quality 3D modelling for mid- to high-end products is very large. The ground is fertile. There are several positive factors nurturing the growing success of such technologies.
The first is having achieved processing and production times for a 3D model that are acceptable for the industrial world.
The second is the almost immediate possibility of uploading a 3D model to a smartphone, a scenario that was unthinkable 3 or 4 years ago.
In addition, the pandemic has led many companies to feel the need for 3D models of their products.
A further positive development is the interest shown by the manufacturing world, which has realised the advantages of 3D modelling and virtual prototyping that cuts costs and speeds up processes.
Whereas until a few years ago we were working exclusively with e-commerce and marketing departments, today we are increasingly dealing with design teams as well”.
Scanned and produced by NUREG for adidasScanned and produced by NUREG for adidasScanned and produced by NUREG for adidasScanned and produced by NUREG for adidasScanned and produced by NUREG for adidasScanned and produced by NUREG for adidas
What is the purpose of scanning a product and have a 3D model?
“Customers use them for a few main purposes. They are:
– embedded in a web player to allow customers to zoom in, zoom out and rotate assets;
– used for augmented reality, such as virtual try-on applications;
– used to derive traditional 2D product photos from 3D models;
– used to derive short videos from 3D assets;
– embedded in virtual environments and contextual 2D photos and videos;
– become part of Virtual Reality or Mixed Reality experiences on platforms such as Apple’s Vision Pro or Meta’s Quest 3”.
Which companies are already focusing on this technology?
“I can mention some of our customers, such as Adidas and NUREG, the Inditex group with the brands ZARA, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, and also Gore-Tex, La Sportiva, DMT, Dr. Martens and Salomon. After starting out in the footwear world, which seemed to us the most promising, we expanded our horizons and, today, we also work with the gaming world or with realities such as Meta Reality Labs”.
What is the state of the art of 3D modelling?
“Today, a 3D model can be realised ‘by hand’ by a CGI department through the generation of a CAD model that is also used for the creation of images and films through a huge investment in post-production, but without achieving a very high level of quality. In particular, ‘relightability’, i.e. the possibility of inserting the 3D model in any virtual context (such as a digital photo studio) ensuring a natural interaction with the chosen lighting in this virtual context, is not acceptable.
The other possibility is that of scanning a real object by means of photogrammetry devices that take many images in neutral and constant light conditions and then assemble them. Again, a lot of post-production has to be applied to get a good rendering”.
Have you found a third way?
“Our solution measures the reflections of light on the object mathematically and scientifically. This is the most important innovation we have developed: being able to separate the light from the object being scanned. Unlike other scanners that rely only on photogrammetry, the Covision scanner employs advanced computer vision and machine learning technology that can guarantee re-lightable 3D assets with photorealistic quality, natural interaction with virtual light sources, adaptability to various virtual environments and versatility for photos and videos of e-commerce products.
We have developed 2 products – the DTwin 1 and DTwin 2 – respectively dedicated to scanning rigid and deformable objects, such as bags and clothes”.
Scanned and produced by NUREG for adidas
How exactly does one of your scanners work?
“Objects are statically positioned thanks to ‘invisible’ supports that guarantee accurate 3D scans of real quality. The scanner – equipped with a multi-camera system, projectors and light points – acquires almost complete spherical scans in a single shot. With the D-Twin 1, scanning a single object takes less than 12 minutes. While with the D-Twin 2 it takes 10 minutes.
One of the advantages of our system is that it requires no operator experience. Two days of training is enough to allow anyone to use our scanners”.
To date, what are the weaknesses that 3D modelling still struggles to address?
“Reflections and transparencies have always been an Achilles heel for computer vision and 3D model generation. They are features that still need a lot of post-production for their rendering to be adequate. We are also working on these factors, taking full advantage of our expertise in artificial intelligence, to make the rendering of even these hitherto very difficult surfaces increasingly automated. In these cases we use, for example, AI techniques such as NeRF, i.e. Neural Radiance Fields, and Gaussian Splatting”.
What business model are you developing?
“Customers can buy or rent our 3D scanners, and each 3D model generated costs around EUR 100. In addition, we are moving in the direction of offering increasingly wide-ranging services. Those who do not want to have an in-house facility can rely on our scanning services currently available in Europe, through our partner company NUREG based in Germany, and in the US, with QUAD Inc. Soon we will also arrive in Asia.
We are also developing several collaborations with other technology companies (for instance, with those in the Digital Asset Management or Virtual Try-On sectors) to provide a complete platform for 3D modelling applications”.
Is there any secret ingredient that has enabled you to be as successful as you have been?
“I believe the international team of professionals we have assembled. A team of Italians, Germans, Americans, Mexicans, Nepalese, Indians. We all work together in Brixen and our different ways of approaching the topics we deal with lead us to innovative solutions”.
Arsutoria, the world’s leading school for design, pattern making and prototyping for footwear and leathergoods in Milan with activities around the world, and Weev, a digital “yellow pages of the footwear and fashion industry”, announce the launch of a major collaboration.
Arsutoria is not only a center of excellence for fashion education since 1947, but also the leading media house in the fashion industry, thus a perfect partner for Weev`s cutting edge digital product creation solutions connecting the footwear and fashion industry from the idea to production.
The scope of collaboration between Weev and Arsutoria will cover different activities and aims to support the shoe and fashion industry by providing:
– Digital services for the shoe and fashion industry
– Connecting the shoe and fashion industry with collaboration tools and know how
– Providing relevant industry information and news continuously
– Supporting the education of footwear industry professionals with digital creation tools and industry know how
The Weev Platform provides the following benefits to industry players:
1) Organize the collaboration processes and speed to market for material, component and finished goods in the footwear, leathergoods and fashion industry 24/7 from the idea to production through its unique digital platform solution
2) Provide standardized data formats and digital twins in a highly organized way to facilitate the work all persons and teams involved in the footwear creation process (internal and external)
3) Significantly reduce time and cost for suppliers and brands in the creation process with a seamless collaboration tool and standardized data and 3D ready material twins
4) Enable seamless traceability of all materials and components in the creation process to support ESG and supply chain needs and laws of suppliers and brands
The newly launched Weev Footwear and Accessories Network, a compliment to the main Weev Platform, opens an easy access to the world of Weev by creating the first global directory of suppliers of the footwear and fashion industry.
It enables access to the leading products, services and information needed in the Footwear and Fashion creation process. This includes global suppliers and producers but also creative and development/technical and other services for the fashion industry.
Weev has created a digital “yellow pages of the footwear and fashion industry” that has not been seen before!
Arsutoria will co-operate with Weev, amongst many other aspects, to introduce the benefits of the Weev platform and the Weev Footwear and Accessories Network further strengthen their unique services of their media clients.
Arsutoria and Weev are launching their collaboration in September. Get more information on the details of our collaboration at weev.one or at stand Pav. 9 Booth B2-B4 at the Lineapelle Fair in Milan from 17th to 19th of September 2024.
The event, now in its 24th year, showcased the latest products and technology from 502 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions, with an exhibition area of 20,000 square metres. The exhibition covered the entire industry chain, offering footwear materials, machinery, technology, accessories and components, finished footwear, bags and luggage. Chinese exhibitors accounted for 40% of the total, followed by Vietnam (28%), Italy (9%), Taiwan and India (6%). The exhibition was specifically designed as a trade platform for professional buyers interested in the finished product, as well as a direct contact and sourcing opportunity. The exhibition offered a diverse range of products with options to meet the different needs of buyers, attracting 9,578 visitors from 44 countries and regions, but mainly representing the Vietnamese domestic market (over 74%) and the machinery (34.6%), and leather (29.8%) and finished product (22.2%) sectors.
OrthoLite’s increased commitment to Europe continues the company’s unique global vertical integration strategy and investment in its owned and managed facilities, exercising almost total control over its supply chain and production.
As of 2021, OrthoLite has in fact quadrupled its footwear production capacity in the European Union through its plant in Almansa, Spain. The OEU plant offers increased production capacity, as well as craftsmanship and specialisation in leather solutions (Almansa is known as the Spanish footwear capital, with over 400 years of history).
There has also been a strong investment in the Almansa team, which has been able to capitalise on local talent and technical expertise in leather processing, while taking advantage of the plant’s proximity to other European countries that also specialise in leather processing.
OrthoLite Europe is also particularly important for the speed at which products are marketed, allowing delivery anywhere in Europe within two to four days.
The OEU factory primarily serves ‘Made in EU production’ for fashion, luxury, apparel, work, outdoor, trail, hiking, casual comfort and athletic footwear brands with high-quality leather and other technical insoles.
“Our commitment to invest in our global manufacturing footprint brings agility and reliability for OrthoLite’s brand partners and our T1 factory partners,” said Richard Bevan, VP of Global Operations for OrthoLite. “Our factory in Spain is a crucial European hub for our EU-based partners. Our production demand continues to grow and we continue to build excellence in capacity, customer service, advancing technologies, and unmatched responsiveness as a strategic supply partner.”
OrthoLite brand partners can therefore expect the highest levels of service and quality, supported by the company’s continued commitment to investing in European production. A range of new technologies will support brand customisation and enhance production capacity in the EU to meet the growing demand for footwear with more technical designs and higher quality materials.
In 2023 global footwear production decreased by 6% to 22.4 billion pairs, the lowest point in a decade when discounting the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
The footwear industry continues to be strongly concentrated in Asia where almost 9 out of every 10 pairs of shoes are manufactured, resulting in a share of 87.1% of the world total.
China is the world’s largest footwear producer manufacturing 12.3 billion pairs in 2023 and capturing almost 55% of the global market share. India increased its share, now being accountable for 11.6% of the world total.
ASIA ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN HALF OF GLOBAL CONSUMPTION
In 2023 Asia’s consumption accounted for more than half (54.7%) of the worldwide total, an increase in the share registered for this continent in the previous year. Europe and North America followed with shares of 13.9% and 13.4% respectively.
Per capita footwear consumption varies from 1.5 pairs in Africa to 4.6 pairs in North America.
China remains the leading consumer of footwear, although its share of the global total has further declined to now stand at 17.1%.
Consumption in the United States recorded a significant reduction with the country losing the second position achieved in the previous year and exchanging places, once again, with India.
The European Union, when taken as one region, represents the third largest consumer market for footwear with 1 948 million pairs consumed in 2023.
A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK FOR FOOTWEAR EXPORTS IN 2023
Global footwear exports amounted to 14 billion pairs and $168 billion in 2023, implying a 9.1% and a 6.1% year-on-year decrease in volumes traded and value of transactions respectively.
Over the last decade, excluding 2020, the annual export volume fluctuated between 14 and 16 billion pairs with no discernible long-term trend. By comparison, the value of exports in 2023 climbed to reach $168 billion, the second-highest level on record and corresponding to a 24% increase when viewed against 2014 levels.
Amidst this challenging landscape, Asian countries consolidated their dominance in the global footwear trade, with their collective share rising to 84.6% from 83.9% in 2022. Conversely, Europe’s share contracted slightly to 12.8%.
China stands out as the source of 63.8% of total exports, increasing from 61.3% in 2022. Vietnam ranks a distant second at 9.5%, followed by Indonesia at 3.2%. These three countries taken together account for over three-quarters of worldwide footwear exports.
AVERAGE WORLDWIDE EXPORT PRICE CONTINUES AN UPWARD TREND TO REACH $12
The average export price per pair of footwear reached 12 dollars in 2023, representing a 3.2% increase over 2022, a substantial increase of 38.8% over the past decade. Over that decade, textile footwear saw the most substantial price appreciation with a remarkable 65% increase. Leather footwear prices showed a modest increase of 24% over the period.
LEATHER FOOTWEAR LEADS EXPORTS IN VALUE, BUT RUBBER & PLASTIC LEADS IN VOLUME
When considering the value of exports, leather footwear accounts for 38% of the total value due to its higher average price. In terms of the volume of footwear exported, rubber & plastic footwear commands the pole position, accounting for half of the global exports.
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Mec Europa continues its path of growth by opening a new facility and increasing the number of assembly lines for the production of high-end shoes for the world’s most prestigious fashion brands to 7. The new production unit is located close to the company’s headquarters and the other three factories in Verolanuova (BS), and houses the in-house hemming and cutting department. At the same time, the head office is enriched by two additional handlooms that will be added to the five already operating in the different units. The operation carried out by Mec Europa is part of a broader development project that has seen the company invest the sum of two million euros over the last two years, with the aim of completely internalising all the processing phases of the supply chain in its own facilities and with employees, without having to resort to the work of external subcontractors. A significant commitment, which has led the company to integrate new resources by hiring 155 people from 2022 to date, bringing the total today to over 300 employees. Also part of the expansion path is the acquisition, in March 2023, of the Marches-based tomaificio RM, which in the space of a year has seen a significant growth in size, going from 22 employees to 56. ‘This is a very ambitious plan that will allow us to continue to grow, guaranteeing the excellence and high craftsmanship of each product,’ emphasises Mec Europa’s General Manager, Paolo Baiguera.
