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Content archived on 2024-04-19

Optimisation of the design of steel toe caps in industrial footwear

Objective

Steel toe caps in industrial footwear are designed to withstand crushing due to falling weights. However, their shape and dimensions often mean that the resulting footwear does not provide a comfortable fit for a significant proportion of the industrial population, thus reducing the likelihood of industrial workers wearing such footwear.

This project aims to:

a) Investigate how the design of the toe cap affects its strength and safety characteristics;
b) Determine the relationship between the toe cap shape and foot shape to give a satisfactory fit; and
c) Devise a prototype design support system to optimise shape and dimensions to maximise both strength and comfort/fit for the European population.
The project has resulted in a protocol for evaluating the shape and dimensional characteristics of steel toe caps to determine the fitting characteristics of the resulting industrial footwear.

The results of the surveys of the European industrial population have provided data on foot shape and dimensions in the toe region and how this varies in different regions of Europe. This information is used to define the population data for use with the toecap design protocol.

Computer software has been developed which enables steel toecaps to be assessed against the protocol for a target population, while ensuring that strength characteristics are maintained. It enables the industrial footwear sector to define the shape and dimensions of toecap which will give the optimum fit characteristics for the target population. It also enables the sector to assess the fit characteristics of current production and identify areas where change is desirable when new styles are being developed.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Giffard Newton & Sons Ltd
EU contribution
No data
Address
71 Townsend Road
HP5 2AD Chesham
United Kingdom

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Total cost
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Participants (2)