On a research project, Knitwear Lab, Almere/Netherlands, collaborated with the manufacturer of thermoplastic reinforcement materials for shoes Rhenoflex GmbH, Ludwigshafen/Germany, and investigated the current supply of reinforcement in knitted shoes. It was discovered that many commonly used materials significantly decrease the flexibility and air permeability of the knit.
Knitwear Lab develops smart technological applications for knitwear and combines material research with the latest knitwear technologies.
A large number of reinforcement materials developed by Rhenoflex on knitted swatches have been tested. Among these materials were new formulas that are still being developed. Promising results with Rhenoflex’s Pyroflex and Ediflex and a newly developed material have been achieved. This new material especially does not affect the properties of the knit in any negative way.
Knitted Lab is currently in the progress of designing a knitted shoe for Rhenoflex to test how the reinforcement materials respond in an actual shoe design.