Technology

March 1, 2018

Urethane Filled Bike Tire

Schwalbe Takes Airless Tyres To Next Level

Sales & Trends 550

UTRECHT, the Netherlands – Schwalbe is launching its Airless System. With it Europe’s biggest in bicycle tyres is taking airless to the next level. And maybe even to a much wider use of these puncture-free tyres than ever before.

Schwalbe Takes Airless Tyres To Next Level
New Airless System and its special assembly tools are sold exclusively to specialist retailers that are certified by Schwalbe. – Photo Schwalbe

Schwalbe’s Airless System consists of an outer tyre combined with an airless inner one. It’s not only targeting bicycle ‘fleet owners’ or public bikes but also cycling commuters or regular cyclists and even e-bikers as Schwalbe claims that it offers puncture free riding and is also capable to easily handle the higher speeds and weights of e-bikes.

Driving characteristics

Schwalbe’s Airless System tyres offer a lifetime of some 10,000 kilometers at regular use without maintenance, no punctures and no need for pumping. The Airless System “Brings an intuitive feel of an air pressure of around 3.5 bar making the driving characteristics comparable to those of an inner tube,” claims Schwalbe.

“With regard to comfort, longevity and maintenance-free system, our Airless System offers a real alternative to the inner tube for the first time”, states René Marks, Schwalbe product manager touring.

Thousands of mini air cushions

Solid inner tube systems already exist. What makes this new Airless System so extraordinary are, says Schwalbe “The technical properties of the foam particles, consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU), known under the Infinergy brand of BASF. Incidentally, it is the same material that is used in the soles of Adidas BOOST running shoes. The Airless tube has excellent damping and flexibility characteristics and offers lots of comfort.”

“Exactly these suspension characteristics makes the difference in comparison with the foams used for solid tubes so far,” explains René Marks. “The physical force with which the compressed material returns to its original shape is more than twice as high with this E-TPU foam than with existing systems. The cause: the E-TPU foam consists of thousands of sealed air balls. Together they form a highly elastic air cushion. That presents great advantages over current materials for solid inner tubes and makes it a real alternative to the inner tube.”

The technical advantages only cause a slight loss of performance, so the rolling resistance and the weight are slightly higher than for inner tubes. However, wherever a 100% maintenance-free system has the priority, the Airless System beats the inner tube.

Exclusively for specialist retailers

The Schwalbe Airless System is to be mounted with a special assembly tool. The installation time is not much longer per tyre as usual. Installation is only possible for bicycle dealers and only by bicycle technicians, who are certified after a Schwalbe training. This training will start in May 2018, initially only in the Netherlands and Germany.

Schwalbe’s Airless System consists of a 40-622 sized tyre, an Airless tube of white thermoplastic polyurethane and a blue Airless ring. This ring ensures compatibility of the system with different rim sizes. The system is suitable for rims with a rim width of 19 to 21 millimeters. The Schwalbe Airless System retails for 84.90 euros.

Published by Jack Oortwijn on 1 Mar 2018
last update: 1 Mar 2018
http://www.bike-eu.com/sales-trends/nieuws/2018/3/schwalbe-takes-airless-tyres-to-next-level-10133030

February 19, 2018

3D Printed Shoes

Covestro enables shoe innovator to 3D print on-demand shoes at Milan show

by

19 February 2018

15:03

ATOM Lab, the research unit of cobbling machines maker ATOM, will show an automated process for shoe production for the first time at the Simac Tanning Tech trade fair in Milan from February 20–22, 2018. At its booth in Hall 14, visitors can select 3D-printed soles and uppers, and have customised shoes made for them.

The most technically challenging step in this process is bonding the outsole to the shoe upper. Plastics company Covestro has made an efficient solution based on polyurethane raw materials for adhesives, which are applied to the outsole or upper by means of digital printing.

ATOM Lab used a variation of the melt layer method, Fused Deposition Modelling, using strands of melt-processable adhesives – the filaments – which are melted. The molten adhesive is applied according to a digital print layout. The sole and upper are then joined under pressure. This creates a solid, permanent adhesive bond.

This application using adhesive filaments is quick and efficient. Furthermore, it is very precise and reproducible, and it is also well suited for absorbent substrates. Due to the use of solid filaments, for example, the subsequent drying process may be dispensed. The adhesive features a high initial strength. Since application takes place from the melt, the adhesive is already activated. If the open time is sufficiently long, the fabricator can dispense with prior heat activation.

Polyurethane adhesives have proven to be successful in shoe manufacturing. They are easy to process and result in flexible yet strong and durable adhesive joints with high impact resistance. Covestro offers a comprehensive range of raw materials for one- and two-component adhesives that are often developed in close collaboration with formulators.

February 19, 2018

3D Printed Shoes

Covestro enables shoe innovator to 3D print on-demand shoes at Milan show

by

19 February 2018

15:03

ATOM Lab, the research unit of cobbling machines maker ATOM, will show an automated process for shoe production for the first time at the Simac Tanning Tech trade fair in Milan from February 20–22, 2018. At its booth in Hall 14, visitors can select 3D-printed soles and uppers, and have customised shoes made for them.

The most technically challenging step in this process is bonding the outsole to the shoe upper. Plastics company Covestro has made an efficient solution based on polyurethane raw materials for adhesives, which are applied to the outsole or upper by means of digital printing.

ATOM Lab used a variation of the melt layer method, Fused Deposition Modelling, using strands of melt-processable adhesives – the filaments – which are melted. The molten adhesive is applied according to a digital print layout. The sole and upper are then joined under pressure. This creates a solid, permanent adhesive bond.

This application using adhesive filaments is quick and efficient. Furthermore, it is very precise and reproducible, and it is also well suited for absorbent substrates. Due to the use of solid filaments, for example, the subsequent drying process may be dispensed. The adhesive features a high initial strength. Since application takes place from the melt, the adhesive is already activated. If the open time is sufficiently long, the fabricator can dispense with prior heat activation.

Polyurethane adhesives have proven to be successful in shoe manufacturing. They are easy to process and result in flexible yet strong and durable adhesive joints with high impact resistance. Covestro offers a comprehensive range of raw materials for one- and two-component adhesives that are often developed in close collaboration with formulators.

February 15, 2018

PFA Call for Papers

Polyurethane Foam Association Accepting Abstracts For Technical Presentations For May 2018 Meeting

Abstract Deadline March 2

LOUDON, TN (February 2, 2018)— The Polyurethane Foam Association is accepting abstracts for technical presentations for its spring Technical Program, May 24, at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL

Authors must submit an abstract with request for presentation. Presentations must not exceed 25 minutes in length. A written paper and slide file are also required to become part of PFA’s online information library.

The Paper Selection Process

PFA welcomes technical papers summarizing recent research and commercial product developments related to the processing of flexible polyurethane foam, innovations in formulation, and foam production technology. The Association also encourages papers on product sustainability and environmental issues that may affect flexible polyurethane foam production or specification.

Papers must have a non-sales focus and specifically address topics related to slabstock or molded flexible polyurethane foam production in the Americas. Abstracts will be reviewed prior to acceptance.

A maximum of eight presentations will be selected for the May 24 program. Individuals interested in presenting should submit a short summary (abstract) of the intended content with your request to make a presentation.

The request with abstract should be sent no later than March 2, 2018 to Bob Luedeka, PFA Executive Director (rluedeka@pfa.org). Based on a program that includes at least six technical papers, the presentations will be scored to compete for a $500 Technical Excellence Award provided by the Herman Stone Family Endowment. Deadline for submitting an abstract or summary of proposed presentation is March 2, 2018

For more information, visit http://pfa.org/cfp518.html, or contact Bob Luedeka, PFA Executive Director, by email (rluedeka@pfa.org) or telephone (865.657.9840).

February 15, 2018

PFA Call for Papers

Polyurethane Foam Association Accepting Abstracts For Technical Presentations For May 2018 Meeting

Abstract Deadline March 2

LOUDON, TN (February 2, 2018)— The Polyurethane Foam Association is accepting abstracts for technical presentations for its spring Technical Program, May 24, at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL

Authors must submit an abstract with request for presentation. Presentations must not exceed 25 minutes in length. A written paper and slide file are also required to become part of PFA’s online information library.

The Paper Selection Process

PFA welcomes technical papers summarizing recent research and commercial product developments related to the processing of flexible polyurethane foam, innovations in formulation, and foam production technology. The Association also encourages papers on product sustainability and environmental issues that may affect flexible polyurethane foam production or specification.

Papers must have a non-sales focus and specifically address topics related to slabstock or molded flexible polyurethane foam production in the Americas. Abstracts will be reviewed prior to acceptance.

A maximum of eight presentations will be selected for the May 24 program. Individuals interested in presenting should submit a short summary (abstract) of the intended content with your request to make a presentation.

The request with abstract should be sent no later than March 2, 2018 to Bob Luedeka, PFA Executive Director (rluedeka@pfa.org). Based on a program that includes at least six technical papers, the presentations will be scored to compete for a $500 Technical Excellence Award provided by the Herman Stone Family Endowment. Deadline for submitting an abstract or summary of proposed presentation is March 2, 2018

For more information, visit http://pfa.org/cfp518.html, or contact Bob Luedeka, PFA Executive Director, by email (rluedeka@pfa.org) or telephone (865.657.9840).