"Sharing information is always positive. Other companies, at other times, also opened their doors to us, so we decided to give back and open our doors to the industry too”. This was the motto for the AMF Safety Shoes Demonstration Action. The Guimarães company opened the doors to the industry to introduce several solutions developed within the scope of the projects FAMEST and GREENSHOES4ALL, which already have, or will have, a direct impact on the future of the industry and our planet.
"We have wanted to do this for a long time, but the pandemic did not allow it to happen sooner. But with all the projects we have, we thought it was the right time to open the doors”, said Albano Fernandes.
After a brief welcome session done by Albano Fernandes, AMF’s CEO, Alfredo Jorge (from APICCAPS) and Leandro de Melo (from CTCP), the session began with the presentation of the six main innovations developed in the recent past. Albano Fernandes introduced about 100 participants to different developments, such as the RFID System for the control and management of raw materials and products in the production line and warehouse, which aims to carry out a complete and transversal monitoring of the production of a pair of shoes, from the moment of their production to the final distributor. "Nevertheless, we want to go further, so in the next phase we will be even more ambitious, as we intend to provide our distributors with the possibility of using this technology to their benefit”, advances Albano Fernandes.
As for the Planning Simulator of the Direct-to-Cut Injection Machine (optimized algorithm). The variety, quantities, and delivery times verified in the orders of the pairs that resort to the need of the planning of the rotary injection machine is increasing, which raises the complexity in the elaboration of the plan itself. The manual plan implied the use of a resource. Thus, "with the system developed, the process became almost instantaneous and without errors".
Then, Albano presented the Showroom Virtual 3D TOWORKFOR (virtual experience). Using the latest 360º Virtual Reality technology, AMF exhibited virtually in detail its collections, without physical models, offering an immersive 360º experience to users. "This one has attracted a great deal of attention in the stands of speciality fairs”.
In turn, the Ultra-Sensory Insoles "allows to give greater comfort to the worker as well as monitoring his efforts while he performs his tasks”. This new technology lets us "determine the daily effort of the worker in his activity to prevent the risk of exaggerated effort, or even the imbalance that he may be having in the desynchronized wear of the sole”.
At last, the CEO of AMF introduced the Customizer Infinity / 3D Bonding. This innovative customizer, which uses AMF's 3D bonding technology, enables the end-user to customize its safety shoe with various details.
But since sustainability is a cornerstone of the company, Albano Fernandes presented the TOWORKFOR THE PLANET project. "Environmental sustainability has always been vital here at AMF. The project TOWORKFOR THE PLANET was created to unite all actions we have been developing towards a continuous improvement of processes, procedures, and products. It is an idea that brings together partners, customers and suppliers, from the sourcing of materials to transportation. The end-goal is to leave only the footprint of our feet in the environment”, stated the responsible for the company.
"We take this issue seriously. We have people allocated to the area of sustainability, and we are creating a measurable commitment with our customers. I would say we have two levels. On one hand, as a company, we are setting our goals for 2025 and 2030 in several dimensions: social, environmental and organizational. All this will lead to the second level, the product”, advances Albano Fernandes. "We also have to think about upcycling, from the factory floor to end-of-life shoes”.
After the presentation, Albano Fernandes invited the participants to visit the factory and see for themselves the systems working.
"We have wanted to do this for a long time, but the pandemic did not allow it to happen sooner. But with all the projects we have, we thought it was the right time to open the doors”, said Albano Fernandes.
After a brief welcome session done by Albano Fernandes, AMF’s CEO, Alfredo Jorge (from APICCAPS) and Leandro de Melo (from CTCP), the session began with the presentation of the six main innovations developed in the recent past. Albano Fernandes introduced about 100 participants to different developments, such as the RFID System for the control and management of raw materials and products in the production line and warehouse, which aims to carry out a complete and transversal monitoring of the production of a pair of shoes, from the moment of their production to the final distributor. "Nevertheless, we want to go further, so in the next phase we will be even more ambitious, as we intend to provide our distributors with the possibility of using this technology to their benefit”, advances Albano Fernandes.
As for the Planning Simulator of the Direct-to-Cut Injection Machine (optimized algorithm). The variety, quantities, and delivery times verified in the orders of the pairs that resort to the need of the planning of the rotary injection machine is increasing, which raises the complexity in the elaboration of the plan itself. The manual plan implied the use of a resource. Thus, "with the system developed, the process became almost instantaneous and without errors".
Then, Albano presented the Showroom Virtual 3D TOWORKFOR (virtual experience). Using the latest 360º Virtual Reality technology, AMF exhibited virtually in detail its collections, without physical models, offering an immersive 360º experience to users. "This one has attracted a great deal of attention in the stands of speciality fairs”.
In turn, the Ultra-Sensory Insoles "allows to give greater comfort to the worker as well as monitoring his efforts while he performs his tasks”. This new technology lets us "determine the daily effort of the worker in his activity to prevent the risk of exaggerated effort, or even the imbalance that he may be having in the desynchronized wear of the sole”.
At last, the CEO of AMF introduced the Customizer Infinity / 3D Bonding. This innovative customizer, which uses AMF's 3D bonding technology, enables the end-user to customize its safety shoe with various details.
But since sustainability is a cornerstone of the company, Albano Fernandes presented the TOWORKFOR THE PLANET project. "Environmental sustainability has always been vital here at AMF. The project TOWORKFOR THE PLANET was created to unite all actions we have been developing towards a continuous improvement of processes, procedures, and products. It is an idea that brings together partners, customers and suppliers, from the sourcing of materials to transportation. The end-goal is to leave only the footprint of our feet in the environment”, stated the responsible for the company.
"We take this issue seriously. We have people allocated to the area of sustainability, and we are creating a measurable commitment with our customers. I would say we have two levels. On one hand, as a company, we are setting our goals for 2025 and 2030 in several dimensions: social, environmental and organizational. All this will lead to the second level, the product”, advances Albano Fernandes. "We also have to think about upcycling, from the factory floor to end-of-life shoes”.
After the presentation, Albano Fernandes invited the participants to visit the factory and see for themselves the systems working.
