Technical advances and major trends in the use of machines, materials and designs for polyurethane shoe sole production will be discussed during the footwear technical session, ‘Step Into The Future’, at the Polyurethanes 2007 Technical Conference. The conference will be held September 24-26 at The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The event will feature 100 technical papers, more than 90 exhibitors, educational seminars and two panel discussions.

The footwear session includes a paper from DESMA of Germany on automation advances and concepts in footwear production and an overview on the latest developments and trends in shoe production equipment, materials and designs. Scientists from Momentive Performance Materials will report on the use of new silicone surfactants developed to reduce the density of microcellular shoe soles and researchers from Japan's TOSOH Corporation will discuss their use of delayed-action catalysts to improve processing and performance of polyurethane footwear and other microcellular applications. Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Switzerland, will report on new light stabiliser systems for thermoplastic polyurethanes used in sports and leisure wear, resulting in improved initial colour and long-term light stability and UK-based expert Steve Lee will provide a review of the global polyurethanes footwear market over the last 15 years.

Two technical sessions will be dedicated to Renewable Content Polyols – the use of natural oil polyols derived from soy beans, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and/or caster oil. In addition, a TPU-Cast Elastomer technical session will examine the development of a new family of soft elastic TPUs from Huntsman Polyurethanes, which can be used in shoe soles.

It is anticipated more than 1,200 people from 40 countries will attend.