Bata Industrials launches The Energy Footwear Walkline® Inside: a revolution in shoe design
Most accidents on the work floor occur at the end of the day when employees become tired. This is why good safety shoes shouldn’t just offer protection, they should also keep the wearer fit and alert. This is the basic assumption behind The Energy Footwear from Bata Industrials. This total concept is based on a completely new, ergonomic and biomechanically responsible shoe design: Walkline®.
The Energy Footwear is a total solution that consists of shoes, insoles and socks. These products are so well-adapted to one another that they complement and reinforce each other’s protection, support, ventilation and moisture-removing qualities, in the most varied of work situations. The Bata sock collection includes Thermo as well as Cool socks, each with its own unique mix of materials and design features. Air Flow for optimum ventilation, for example, Shin Bone, Toe, Ankle and Heel Protection, and Ankle, Arch and Leg Support, and Shock Absorption. The insoles also incorporate smart design features such as Air Flow, Arch Support, Shock Absorption and Cool Zone.
Walkline® Inside
The Energy Footwear safety shoes boast a completely new design: Walkline®. Bata Industrials developed this revolutionary design in close collaboration with the Norwegian scientist, Terje Haugaa, an authority in the field of biomechanics. For decades, Haugaa has been conducting research on safety shoes as an etiological factor in feet, knee, leg and hip problems. One out of every three industrial workers appears to suffer from non-specific symptoms as a result of wearing shoes that hinder the foot’s biomechanical functions. The result? Employees who do not feel fit, are in pain, and thus cannot function optimally, rising absence due to illness and increasing costs to fight the symptoms via physiotherapy and podiatry.
Revolutionary design
Safety shoes with the Walkline® Inside technology give feet all the freedom they need to move in a natural manner. They do this thanks to seven unique design features.
Three-width system
No two feet are alike. This also applies to width; shoes should not be too wide, but also definitely not too tight. This is why Walkline® utilises the three-width system. Thanks to the different widths, Bata Industrials’ safety shoes always have the perfect fit.
Natural last
Most safety shoes are based on a curved, crooked last which forces the foot into an improper, cramped position, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the mid-foot’s shock-absorbing ability. Walkline® has a straight last, which gives feet all the room they need to absorb shock in a natural manner while you walk. This means the wearer doesn’t tire as easily, suffers fewer injuries and experiences more comfort. A traditional last is not only curved, but also concave, causing the mid-foot to sag. The Walkline® last on the other hand is nearly completely flat, ensuring that the foot’s shock-absorbing ability remains intact.
Triple shock-absorption system
Shoes with Walkline® Inside have a triple shock-absorption system, consisting of the Tunnelsystem®, shank and mid-sole. This design ensures that the shoe will absorb shock from impact, thus relieving pressure on joints.
Locking of the foot
A traditional fastening pulls the top of the shoe tightly against the instep, preventing the foot from springing downward. Walkline® applies a fastening system which causes the shoe to be pulled firmly against the heel. The angle of the laces and the shape of the shoe enable the mid-foot to move more freely and in a more natural manner.
Dynamic sole
Walkline® has a sole with varying densities. By placing harder and softer sections in exactly the right spots on the soles, a perfect balance is created between shock-absorption, stability and support for the foot’s natural rolling movement.
Flexlines
The Walkline® sole is equipped with so-called ‘Flexlines’ which precisely follow the foot’s flexing zones. This means that the sole gives in just the right places, requiring less energy, so it is less tiring for the wearer and reduces the likelihood of accidents.
Anti-slip soles
Different types of surfaces demand different soles. Walkline® takes this into account, and uses different combinations of materials and treads that ensure optimal grip on a variety of different types of surfaces.
Scientific research
Walkline® Inside is the result of independent scientific research conducted according to different methods. In addition to extensive surveys, these include clinical function studies, data pedography (which uses a special insole to record the footprint for six months), and laboratory tests using a digital pressure plate. All of the measurements show that Walkline® provides optimal support for the biomechanical functions of the foot. The percentage of shoe-related foot problems was cut in half, from 60% to 31% among employees who wore safety shoes with the Walkline® Inside concept for six months. In addition, 94% of the test subjects felt the shoes were comfortable to wear and walk in. The Energy Footwear is better for comfort, safety and health.
