A revolutionary fiber-laying technology - Lattice Lite Eco – is being launched by industrial threads manufacturer, Coats. The technology uses sustainable materials to create footwear composite materials for the next generation of high performance supershoe.

The revolutionary fibre-laying technology positions yarns precisely in the required place and direction. It creates the required thickness, flexibility, torsion and rigidity of each section of the footplate to ensure they support every part of the foot. This also helps address the constant challenge for developers of footwear to combine high performance with comfort.

Lattice Lite Eco eliminates the need for additional resin steps, such as prepeg or resin transfer moulding, speeding up the manufacturing process and reducing material wastage to 5 per cent, from over 30 per cent for more traditional composite operations. It uses a range of eco-friendly materials including recycled carbon, recycled nylon or materials from natural resources such as basalt and flax.

The technology was developed in the Coats Innovation Hub EMEA in Turkey. Besides footplates, it can also be used in toe caps, torsion bars, heel counters, bindings and knuckle protection. It creates components that are both lightweight and robust which enables products to go further, faster and stronger.