Without laces, without glue and manufactured in a mold, it is a football shoe “unique in the world” that is about to launch
Kipsta, a Decathlon brand, all in its factory near Nantes. Its name: the Traxium Compressor. It is the first soccer shoe made from a single thermoplastic piece.
A technical feat for Kipsta, which has partnered with the plastics company Demgy, located in Gétigné, south of Nantes. An expert in the field of plastics processing, the company is launching a new challenge with this shoe, which mainly manufactures plastic parts for the automobile (counters, key boxes, etc.). However, the plastics factory now speaks the language of the round ball. “We have been working with Decathlon on this project for three years,” says Ophélie Westphal, R & D manager at Demgy. “It took about fifty prototypes to arrive at the production model we have today.”
A 100% recyclable shoe
The challenge was sizeable. Because unlike a classic shoe, the Traxium Compressor does not require any assembly. Demgy uses the “NetShape” process. Which means there is no screwing or gluing. For a shorter production time, with much less labor and intermediaries. A real plus today, its manufacture not being dependent on a supply that would come from abroad, more particularly from Asia. “Usually, there are about ten different materials in the same shoe. Here, we are dealing with a very limited number of plastics, which will also allow the recycling of the shoe, ”adds Matthieu Crépin, Director of Development and Innovation. Because this shoe, which comes out of a mold, will also be 100% recyclable “in an almost infinite way”.
Made in France and eco-designed, the shoe designed by Kipsta is unique in the world, as is its manufacturing process. For the first time on the market, this shoe will be guaranteed for 10 years against the detachment of its soles, the main problem for football players with regard to equipment. “A football shoe has a very short lifespan, and we think this is not normal,” says Frédéric Boistard, Mr. Foot at Kipsta. “It is the iconic product of the footballer, we tried to improve its lifespan. “
Coming soon
A first production batch of a few thousand pairs will be launched by the end of the year. The shoe will be available in test stores and on the brand’s website in early 2022. “We first have to make sure that the product enchants users. The first of its qualities is that it is a very good football boot, before being virtuous in terms of eco-design and recycling ”, specifies Matthieu Crépin. Professional players are currently testing the shoe with Kipsta.
For his part, Demgy has only one desire: to start production. “We can’t wait to see if people are as excited as we are! The Traxium Compressor is expected to sell for around 90 euros. A high-end price for Kipsta, which is committed to ensuring that 80% of its textile offer will be eco-designed by 2022.
Cleaner football
With this innovative technology, Kipsta is clearly positioning itself on a new mode of production, aimed at making football cleaner. “We have a huge stake in saying that football and eco-design go hand in hand. We have a responsibility, we have to assume it, ”explains Frédéric Boistard. With the Traxium Compressor, the brand is thinking about comfort, but also circular economy. “We can redo shoes. There will be an aesthetic dimension to take into account, depending on the sorting of plastic colors in particular. We can also imagine being able to make pads or shin guards with it ”. For this, the Decathlon football brand has received financial support from the Pays-de-la-Loire region and from Ademe, the Ecological Transition Agency.