Trinseo | API Launches Innovative Lightweight Footwear Solutions to Meet Customer Demand for Quality, Flexibility and Aesthetics

February 19, 2018

API Launches Innovative Lightweight Footwear Solutions to Meet Customer Demand for Quality, Flexibility and Aesthetics

API, an Italian company specialized in the production of thermoplastic elastomeric compounds and bioplastics who was acquired by global materials company Trinseo in July 2017, introduces its newest lightweight footwear solutions, APILON^TM 52 EXP and APILON^TM 52 LIGHT, at the SIMAC Tanning Tech in Milan. API’s experts will be presenting their innovations in footwear materials at booth A38 in hall 14 from February 20 to 22, 2018.

The market demand for flexible and lightweight footwear has been constantly increasing. APILON 52 EXP and APILON 52 LIGHT are API’s newest expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials, offering an outstanding combination of soft touch, aesthetics and especially lightness. APILON 52 EXP is designed specifically for microcellular midsoles, whereas APILON 52 LIGHT, due to its good abrasion resistance, is suitable for outsoles and midsoles.

Both materials offer a good chemical adhesion on TPU outsoles and can be mixed with blowing agent masterbatch, and APICOLOR^TM color masterbatches especially designed for expanded TPU grades.

“APILON 52 EXP and APILON 52 LIGHT stand out for their excellent physical-mechanical characteristics like flexibility and long-term bond reliability to upper materials,” says Giancarlo Busa, Business Unit Manager Footwear. “Both materials are particularly well-suited for overmoulding.”

API has been dedicated to the development and manufacturing of innovative footwear material for decades. The company’s wide range of TPU’s provides manufacturers with almost unlimited design freedom. API’s TPUs are available in a wide range of hardness, a variety of densities, specific grades for security and with various aesthetic properties.