Objective This proposal has been prepared with the help of an Exploratory Award which included a Research Feasibility Study. The project consists in the identification of an innovative cycle for manufacturing non allergic footwear and various clothing accessories. The industrial process aimed at obtaining leather components for shoe manufacturing and other various clothing accessories (watch straps, bracelets, clothes etc.) uses chromium and other allergizing elements in various phases. Chromium is the main component in chemical tanning processes. Furthermore, the various finishing phases of tanned skin, foresee the use of other elements which, as chromium, may provoke ACD "allergic contact dermatitis": complex metal dyes and pigments, butylphenolic resins (in glues), lanolin (for greasing), various composts such as free formalin, halogenated phenolic composts and corresponding composts (antimould). The number of human beings, also young in age, who suffer from allergic dermatitis caused by contact, is quite elevated. Epidemiological inquiries have pointed out the possibility of completely eliminating the problem by using skins without chromium and other elements that provoke allergies. Currently, seriously ill patients are forced to face the problem on their own: they must order and purchase the skin (tanned and manufactured in a non allergic way) at a tannery and then have their shoes made by hand in shoe laboratories. The manufacturing cycle is neither frequent nor industrialized (both tanning and final manufacturing phase) and therefore results are extremely poor in terms of exterior aspect and in terms of quality and duration. Furthermore, costs are extremely high. It is not particularly complicated to tan leather without using chromium composts: vegetable tanning, for example, which is currently used for manufacturing leatherware. Unfortunately, by using this method, certain characteristics of the finished product, such as softness, impermeability, duration and resistance to bending, cannot be compared to traditional footwear and accessories. It is also theoretically possible to carry out all finishing phases by using natural alternative products to allergizing products. The present project aims at evaluating in an analytic way all products and procedures to be adopted in order to individuate a cycle for producing shoes and accessories which is totally non allergic, and following characterization a quality mark (NAF). For this purpose the following will be examined: (A) choice of type of skin; (B) vegetable tanning treatments; (C) finishing procedures (greasing, water proof agents, binders, dyes etc; (D) mechanical treatments complementary to innovative tanning; (E) manufacturing techniques. The technical feasibility of the new manufacturing methods that will be individuated will be accompanied by marketing inquiries and relative economic evaluations. The proposing firm will carry out an experimental phase, which will follow the theoretical inquiry. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringtextilesengineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationcompostagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturevegetable growingmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineallergology Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0101 - Incorporation of new technologies into production systems Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CRS - Cooperative research contracts Coordinator Condor Snc EU contribution No data Address Provinciale Francesca Nord 133 56022 Castelfranco di Sotto Pisa Italy See on map Total cost No data Participants (15) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Basf Curtex sa Spain EU contribution No data Address Carretera del Medio 08907 L'Hospitalet See on map Total cost No data C.G.S. SAS Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Santa Cecilia 16 56127 PISA See on map Total cost No data CENTRO TECHNOLOGICO DO CALCADO Portugal EU contribution No data Address Rua de Fundoees - Devesa Velha 3700 121 S.JOAO DA MADEIRA See on map Total cost No data Curtumes Miguel Branco Lda Portugal EU contribution No data Address Lugar da Avda. - S. Vicente de Pereira 3880 Ovar See on map Total cost No data Grupp Internacional sa Spain EU contribution No data Address Apdo Correos 03330 Crevillente See on map Total cost No data Hellenic Leather Centre SA Greece EU contribution No data Address 7A,Thisseos Street 17676 Athens See on map Total cost No data Industrias_del Arlanzon_sa Spain EU contribution No data Address Plantio S/N 09007 Burgos See on map Total cost No data Instituto Español del Calzado y Conexas Spain EU contribution No data Address Poligono Industrial Campo Alto s/n 03600 Elda See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Kapp Chemie Gmbh Germany EU contribution No data Address Industriestraße 56357 Miehlen See on map Total cost No data Karagianakis Bross OE Greece EU contribution No data Address Artis 18346 Moschato See on map Total cost No data Kon / Nos Lam Karanikas Greece EU contribution No data Address Pelasgias 12136 Peristeri See on map Total cost No data Oliver Shoes Snc Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Taccino 50054 Fucecchio See on map Total cost No data PRUEF- UND FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT PIRMASENS E.V. Germany EU contribution No data Address Marie-Curie-Strasse 19 66953 PIRMASENS See on map Total cost No data Università degli Studi di Firenze Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Alfani 50121 Firenze See on map Total cost No data Work Srl Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Taccino 50054 Fucecchio See on map Total cost No data