Safe, comfortable and stylish. This is how BIG Arbeitsschutz GmbH believes work shoes should be. The activeBumper cushioning system developed with VESTAMID® PEBA has raised the bar by setting a new standard for safety footwear.

Safety shoes are generally worn all day and every day. A common aspect of safety footwear across all models is the toe cap – that protective area at the front of a metal or plastic shoe to protect the toes. Usually, safety shoes are made using decades-old technology, which gives that recognizable clunky look. Worse still, they are often heavy and uncomfortable. That was the goal of BIG, a company founded in 1983. “We wanted to bring innovation to the safety footwear market,” says product developer Lothar Merk. “Shouldn’t the shoes that protect us at work also provide optimal support for our feet and be comfortable?” he adds to explain the fundamental objective of BIG. Fellow Marketing Manager Magnus Kirschstein adds: “And beyond function, shouldn’t these shoes also be fashionable and reflect the individual style of the wearer?” For safety shoes, this combination is not easy, and Merk, Kirschstein and their colleagues are always on the lookout for the latest technology and design ideas that they can integrate into RUNNEX® safety shoes – the brand of BIG .

Fellow Marketing Manager Magnus Kirschstein adds: “And beyond function, shouldn’t these shoes also be fashionable and reflect the individual style of the wearer?” For safety shoes, this combination is not easy, and Merk, Kirschstein and their colleagues are always on the lookout for the latest technology and design ideas that they can integrate into RUNNEX® safety shoes – the brand of BIG .

Finding the right partner

Merk came across a promising new technology in early 2020. He wanted to use lightweight, cushioning foam in the latest line of safety shoes to protect workers from the daily wear and tear on their joints as well as athletes. “Look at the factories! Workers have to walk miles, stand all day, climb scaffolding, and, and, and. They are athletes who perform at the highest level every day. in sports shoes, they wear heavy safety shoes,” he explains. “Shoes with cushioning foams provide an additional function. They provide support and comfort to the user by returning impact energy normally absorbed by the shoe back to the user.

Merk, an avid recreational athlete, found what he was looking for while reading a magazine for runners. The magazine had published an overview of companies that produce materials for the soles of sports shoes. Evonik was among them. The specialty chemical company has been developing plastics for sports shoes for around 50 years, always in close cooperation with its customers and keeping pace with the latest trends and requirements of the sports industry. Without any prior knowledge of Evonik or contacts, Merk had to take a fairly simple approach: “I emailed [email protected] and that’s how this partnership started!”