Comfortable Feet in Safety Shoes

Base Protection is an Italian SME that manufactures industry-leading comfortable and technologically advanced safety shoes. Ingecon, as part of the CloudSME project led by the University of Westminster, have created a cloud-based 3D Scan Insole software that works with a scanner to produce a 3D scan of a person’s foot via the CloudSME Simulation Platform. This scan allows an insole to be created that makes it possible to create a new high quality line of personalized products, especially for people with special conditions and pathological problems of their feet. Ingecon and Podoactiva are working together to create a seamless process from scanning to insole creation. Leveraging this experience, Base Protection is creating a new range of safety shoes that combines this tailored insole technology with their own expertise in safety shoe manufacturing. To ensure the highest quality product, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, a centre with an internationally excellent reputation in orthopaedic health care is supporting Base Protection in the technical development of the customized insoles. The Institute is providing assistance in the design process and quality control of the manufactured shoes with the aim of developing novel business processes reflecting this advanced ICT. I4MS has made possible this collaboration between Italy and Spain, as well as the multinational team of the CloudSME project. The customization of high specification footwear and associated manufacturing processes can give this European sector a major competitive advantage over the rest of the world. For Base Protection this means new products and services with an estimated increase in turnover of 750 k€ in three years through new customers and improved customer loyalty and satisfaction.