Innovation and Research
Our knowledge and research help companies across the world to bring innovative footwear products to market, quickly and efficiently. Research has been at the heart of SATRA for over 100 years.
Our Innovative services
See how our range of expertise could benefit you and help improve and enhance your products.
Our 3D printers are capable of printing functional and robust machine parts, components and prototype models as well as complex structures such as our prosthetic fitting aids.
Businesses looking for professional advice and tailored research will benefit from collaboration with our research team through our direct consultancy service.
Our digital last assessment service is a fast, simple way of measuring, analysing and forecasting fit for 3D CAD last files. We can also provide CAD and 3D modelling facilities.
Failures in footwear are at best annoying and at worst dangerous. Our experts can identify the causes of faults and advise on how to resolve them.
Our prototyping and testing services can help you develop new products by identifying and resolving any issues early in the development process.
In addition to high-resolution handheld 3D scanning facilities, we also have several digital foot-scanners, used to gather the data for our Global Foot Dimensions survey.
The SATRA Pedatron
The SATRA Pedatron is a lifelike walking simulator, used as the basis of several dynamic whole shoe durability tests. Realistic in-shoe and upper wear is ensured using advanced prosthetic feet, and optional interchangeable flooring surfaces.
We offer bespoke testing for our footwear and flooring customers, that truly reflects the intended use of the product, all supported by accurate data and even in-shoe pressure mapping during the test. For a true test of the durability of footwear, our ‘heavy load’ programme applies greatly increased forces for aggressive wear.
Multi-climate testing
Our large walk-in climate chamber is the ideal environment in which to put your product to the test. The chamber can maintain temperatures from -40°C up to 50°C with controllable levels of humidity, so allows us to simulate a range of climatic conditions, from arctic to tropical. This unique testing environment can be used for assessing the effectiveness of a wide range of products.
Pressure mapping
Comfort is a subjective quality, but it can be quantified. We have been using in-shoe pressure-mapping to record data for many years. These sensors provide irrefutable data and clear graphics that can be used to support marketing claims. The mobile version can provide data from a variety of situations and environments.
For the seating and bedding industries, we also provide pressure-mapping assessments that cover larger areas such as mattresses.
Fitting aids
Based on real-world foot dimensions, our fitting aids contain a simplified skeletal structure within a soft flesh-like material. Consequently, important anatomical features such as joints and toe length can be felt when inserted into footwear. Unlike human models, these feet never change, are always available and can be used in multiple locations. They are available in a range of standard sizes, or can be designed to suit the intended market.
Do you have something a little unusual that needs testing or verifying?
If you are developing a novel product or material and need testing that doesn’t quite fall within the remit of any existing standards or guidelines, contact our Innovation team to discuss bespoke testing or any technical aspects of your product’s performance.
