SATRA expand footwear test capabilities

SATRA has expanded its footwear test capabilities by investing £75,000 in new equipment. These additions reflect the growing demand for assessments in the technology centres core field of footwear and materials evaluation. As a result, SATRA now has two additional Bally permeometers, traditionally used to assess the water resistance of heavy leathers, particularly soling and now required to test insoles and footbeds for the new safety footwear standard EN ISO 20344:2004 An additional Bally flexometer, which assesses the flexing endurance of leathers, textiles and coated fabrics, has also been installed. The Bally penetrometer measures the dynamic water resistance of leathers, textiles and coated fabrics. Another permeability tester, which determines how much water vapour a footwear upper material transmits through in a given time, has also been commissioned. A further whole shoe flexer, designed with a deep trough to assess the water resistance of high-legged boots, has also been incorporated into the test laboratories. 'These purchases are part of a £400,000 capital expenditure programme for new equipment across a wide range of test sectors at SATRA during 2005.