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Markets
Markets
Markets

With expertise in footwear, PPE, consumer products and furniture and floor coverings, we support businesses in multiple markets.

Footwear

With over 100 years of experience in the field, we are the world’s foremost footwear testing and research institution. We don’t just test to the standards, we set the standards.

Floorings

Our floor coverings facility offers a wide range of testing including resistance to slip, chemicals and artificial light as well as flammability and light reflectance testing.

Furniture

Our furniture testing facility is an international centre of excellence for testing, training and innovation for furniture manufacturers and retailers.

Leather

As a leading authority on legislation, chemical compliance and testing of leather and leather products, we are able to help leather producers meet customers’ specifications.

PPE (personal protective equipment)

Our PPE testing and certification services help you ensure your personal protective equipment is fit for purpose and conforms to standard.
Services
Services
Services

From testing and test equipment to sustainability, we provide a wide range of services to support your business.

Chemical compliance

Our laboratories are fully equipped for bespoke chemical analysis of your products, as well as testing for properties such as permeation, the presence of restricted substances or compliance with legislation.

Innovation and research

Our knowledge and research help companies across the world to bring innovative products to market, quickly and efficiently.

Laboratory accreditation

The SATRA Laboratory Accreditation programme is internationally recognised as an assurance of quality management throughout the footwear and leather products supply chain.

Laboratory calibration

Having correctly calibrated equipment is vital to ensure accurate results. We calibrate laboratory equipment and test machines worldwide.

Physical testing

We test a variety of products, components and materials, primarily for the footwear, floor coverings, furniture, leather and PPE markets.

PPE certification

SATRA is a Notified Body in the EU and an Approved Body in the UK. Our experts can help you through the CE and UKCA certification processes to make sure your PPE products meet the Regulation requirements.

Sustainability services

Building more sustainable products and supply chains is one of the most important challenges facing businesses today. We provide testing and consultancy to help you to achieve your sustainability goals.

Test equipment

Our in-house design and manufacturing facility produces the test equipment used in our own laboratories, and those of our customers. From simple manual devices, to complex computer-controlled machines.

Test methods

Test methods and standards are the key to ensuring that product performance is measured accurately and consistently. We are ideally placed to ensure that you use the most appropriate test procedure for your product.
Solutions
Solutions
Solutions

Our software solutions help you assess your manufacturing time and material costs, enabling you to make improvements increasing efficiency and optimising environments and processes.

SATRASumm

Manage the efficient cutting of materials both synthetic and organic, reduce waste and free up your profits.

TimeLine

Keep production flowing at a lower cost, optimise your facilities, and get the best from your people.

VisionStitch

A complete stitching improvement package for all stitching operations, designed to improve productivity and quality.
About
About
About

We are an independent testing and research organisation. We accredit laboratories, design, manufacture and install test equipment, and provide production efficiency solutions to customers around the world.

Become a member

SATRA membership is designed for companies who want exclusive access to our extensive range of technical products and services focused on your business needs.

SATRA Europe

SATRA Europe offers a product testing and certification service for personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with the PPE Regulation (EU).

Working at SATRA

A career at SATRA offers the opportunity to learn new things, to truly work as part of a team, and to enhance the consumer experience through applying our values to everything that we do.
SATRA training
SATRA training
SATRA training

Our expertise covers subjects including footwear, PPE, furniture and chemical compliance. Our experts share their knowledge in regular webinars, seminars and roadshows on key industry subjects.

Basic Shoemaking Step-by-step

This two-day course is an introduction to the shoemaking process. It is especially suited to those who are new to the industry and want a broad grounding in the topic. It is an excellent opportunity to meet and learn face to face with SATRA experts.

Footwear Fit Assessment

It takes skill and understanding to carry out a proper fit assessment in an objective way. Our fitting training equips learners with these skills, and helps them to feel confident in carrying out such an assessment.

Footwear Foundations

Accessible online 24/7, Footwear Foundations is a comprehensive E-learning course covering many aspects of shoemaking. It consists of twelve modules, featuring interactive quizzes, animations and videos, each covering a specific aspect of footwear development, production and quality assurance.

Intensive Leather Course

Held regularly throughout the year at our headquarters in Kettering, UK, this 2-day course is an opportunity for participants to learn more about this versatile material from our experts in the field.

Introduction to footwear sustainability

A one-day course aimed at anyone working for a footwear brand, sourcing company, retailer, or manufacturer who needs to understand the key sustainability challenges facing the industry and how to tackle them.

Leather Grading Training

As well as providing comprehensive training in our unique five-point grading system, our experts inspect your working environment to ensure it is suitable, and teach you about area discrepancies.

SAFT (SATRA accredited footwear technologist)

The member-only SAFT training course is aimed at technologists involved in any aspect of footwear production or the supply chain. It provides an invaluable range of footwear knowledge, and an internationally-recognised qualification.
Resources
Resources
Resources

The latest news, industry developments, webinars, articles and more from SATRA.

Basic Shoemaking book

Downloads and documents

A selection of frequently used forms, terms and conditions, and policy documents available to view or download.

Events, courses and seminars

Global Foot Dimensions report

Member resources

News and press releases

SATRA Bulletin

SATRA Spotlight

SATRA Technical Brief (SATRA技术文摘)

Webinars and online resources

Get in touch

Home / SATRA training / Footwear Foundations

Footwear
Foundations

Accessible online 24/7, Footwear Foundations is a comprehensive E-learning course covering many aspects of shoemaking. It consists of twelve modules, featuring interactive quizzes, animations and videos, each covering a specific aspect of footwear development, production and quality assurance.

person in a domestic environment making notes while watching a presentation on a laptop

Who will benefit from this course?

Footwear Foundations is an online course that has been developed to benefit both manufacturing and non-shoemaking personnel and provides a broad technical appreciation of footwear from concept through to delivery and consumer end use.

The twelve modules are

Design
Upper materials
Soles
Structural components
Closing
Lasting and making
Sole attachment
Finishing
Fitting and comfort
Testing
Consumer issues
Review

Learn at your own pace

Each module has been designed to enable you to learn in your own style and at your own pace. While reviewing the text, there is an optional audio voiceover, and a glossary of terms that can be accessed at any point within a module. Successful completion of the full course leads to the award of the SATRA Footwear Foundations Certificate.

The default course language is English, but a Chinese version is also available.

Interested? Get in touch.

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