After the A+A trade fair in Germany, Lavoro’s ‘spaceship’ landed in Madrid at Sicur, Spain’s leading health, safety and fire protection exhibition. During the event, the Portuguese professional footwear company showcased its commitment to the professional footwear of the future, unveiling several innovations on the edge of science fiction.

The groundbreaking SpaceTrip range is at the heart of this corporate message of space exploration. In shoes and boots, the futuristic design is supported by the innovative Super Critical Foam process, the Supernova technology for soles’ production, which represents a revolution in the engineering of professional footwear.

"With improved mechanical performance, lightness and better energy return, the Space Grip sole made with this technology is reactive, provides a spring effect with every step, guarantees uniform distribution of impact forces during walking, excellent shock absorption, stability, and a reduction in fatigue during daily work”, explains the company in a statement.

This innovative Space Grip sole foam "is formed by the conflagration resulting from the combination of supercritical fluid (a gas, for example, nitrogen, subjected to high pressure and temperature) and polymeric material, TPU.  It is a foam with a fine microcellular structure, extremely uniform, which offers a perfect combination of performance, comfort, and sustainability: air-compressed, 100% recyclable, 80% less material consumption, no added chemicals, less energy consumption, less waste and less C02 emissions”.

Footwear that humanises working conditions by stimulating arterial, venous and lymphatic circulation; therapeutic footwear with intelligent materials adapted to the condition of diabetic feet; footwear that respects anatomical differences between women and men, and footwear made with responsible leather (100% metal-free) are four of the latest research, development and innovation (RDI) missions that Lavoro presented at SICUR, in collaboration with SPODOS – Centre for Foot Science.

Lavoro is also at the forefront of leather footwear protection with the introduction of several offers such as the TT range.  Healthy and untreated with heavy materials or chrome, with traceable protection and 100% biodegradable leather, responsible leather can ensure the production of high quality and durable products. "Once the toxicity issues of leather have been overcome, imagination is the only limit to its use. And even when it comes to conquering space, it’s an inescapable material because of its unique properties”. This is the view of Teófilo Leite, director of ICC - Indústrias e Comércio de Calçado SA, which owns the Lavoro brand.

Models for firefighters and security personnel
At SICUR, Lavoro also presented six new models for firefighters and security or military personnel. The Fénix 5.1 PRO, which provides extra protection for firefighters, including the metatarsal, is one of these proposals that promise to revolutionise the relationship between firefighters, police officers, private or military security guards and technical footwear. The Fénix 5.1 PRO is a new addition to the Lavoro range because it not only meets the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards for firefighters, but it also complies with the PPE standards for forestry work, such as the chainsaw anti-cutting system. The use of this type of machine is not without risk, and firefighters are often forced to use them due to the circumstances of fighting forest fires.

At the end of 2023, the brand associated with the conquest of space defined a new positioning, committed to the constant discovery of materials, techniques, and processes that would allow it to go beyond the limits of traditional professional footwear.

The Lavoro brand is part of ICC – Indústrias e Comércio de Calçado, SA, based in Guimarães, which since 1986 has been the leading Portuguese manufacturer of professional footwear for a wide range of working environments. From industry to forestry, including logistics, firefighting, security and the military, the company has an annual turnover of 20 million euros. It is currently investing 5 million euros in the renovation and expansion of its facilities, production using photovoltaic energy, robotics, digital cutting, automatic sewing and robotic injection with material recycling.