Reebok secure sales landmark for Sensor

Sensor - SATRA's pocket-sized process control aid and transit condition monitor - is in demand at Reebok. The footwear manufacturing giant confirmed an order for 27 Sensors at the SATRA stand at this year's SIMAC shoe machinery exhibition - taking total purchases of the product to more than 150 since it was launched in March 2001. 'We were most impressed when Sensor was demonstrated to our personnel and our contract factories by SATRA at an earlier seminar in Bangkok', says Reebok's Paul Means. A high proportion of heat setters used to create the final shape of the shoe are incorrectly set, or do not perform properly. Sensor monitors the actual conditions using data logging equipment, together with specially-written software, and can be inserted into a production batch of shoes to record time, temperature and humidity. Carried out at regular intervals, this will show if the heat setter - or other manufacturing equipment - is functioning properly. Corrective action can therefore be taken before the quality of the product is compromised. However, footwear produced under correct process conditions may still suffer as the result of poor or incorrect storage or distribution conditions - such as in a hot and humid warehouse or container. Sensor can also monitor these conditions during storage and transportation. Such conditions can also affect the quality of many other leather products. Excessive heat, coupled with low humidity, can dry out leather, and/or cause cracks in veneered items. Excessive moisture or high humidity can cause grain raising on wooden furniture, or affect the dimensional stability of fabric articles and clothing, as well as weakening adhesive bonds. The development and increasing sales success of Sensor has interested major resourcing companies transporting large quantities of leather products around the world and purchasers have also included Nike, adidas, Oakley and several south-east Asian companies.