company news about Innovative Applications of UV LED Technology in Footwear Manufacturing

Innovative Applications of UV LED Technology in Footwear Manufacturing

  In the field of footwear manufacturing, technological innovation has always been crucial for improving production efficiency and ensuring product quality. The emergence of UV LED technology, with its advantages of high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and precision, has brought new solutions to footwear manufacturing, especially showing significant value in two key links: glue curing and surface disinfection & protection.

  1. UV LED Curing Technology: Enhancing Bonding Efficiency and Quality
  In footwear manufacturing, the curing of glue is an important link that affects product stability and production efficiency. Traditional curing methods such as thermal curing or infrared curing generally have problems such as low efficiency, high energy consumption, and easy damage to materials. The application of UV LED curing technology has effectively solved these pain points.
  The specific operation steps are as follows:
- Glue application: Evenly apply UV-curable glue on the joint of the sole or upper to prepare for subsequent curing.
- UV LED irradiation: Use UV LED curing equipment to irradiate the area where the glue is applied. Usually, the wavelength of UV LED is chosen to be 365nm or 385nm, which is the optimal absorption wavelength for UV-curable glue, ensuring the curing effect.
- Curing time control: Adjust the irradiation time according to the type and thickness of the glue, generally ranging from a few seconds to tens of seconds. The high energy density of UV LED enables rapid curing, significantly shortening the production cycle.
- Cooling and testing: After curing, cool the sole or upper and test the curing effect to ensure no bubbles or residues, thus guaranteeing product quality.

  The practical application case of a shoe factory fully demonstrates the advantages of this technology. The factory applied UV LED curing technology to the bonding of soles and uppers, and the glue could be cured within a few seconds, increasing production efficiency by 30%. Compared with traditional thermal curing methods, energy consumption is reduced by 40%, and there is no thermal damage to shoe materials. In addition, the long service life of UV LED (up to 20,000 hours) reduces the frequency of equipment replacement and lowers maintenance costs.

  2. Application of UV LED Technology in Footwear Surface Disinfection and Protection
  During the manufacturing process of footwear, the surface may retain dust, oil stains or other pollutants, affecting product quality; at the same time, footwear products are also prone to contamination by bacteria and viruses during use. UV LED technology provides an efficient and safe solution for the disinfection and protection of footwear surfaces.
  The specific operation steps are as follows:
- Equipment installation: Install UV LED disinfection equipment in the final link of the footwear production line, specifically for the sterilization of shoe surfaces.
- UV LED irradiation: Use UV LED with a wavelength of 254nm (i.e., deep ultraviolet LED) to irradiate the shoe surface. This wavelength of ultraviolet rays has a strong bactericidal effect and can effectively kill a variety of bacteria and viruses.
- Irradiation time control: Adjust the irradiation time according to the material and surface area of the shoe, usually 10-30 seconds, to ensure the sterilization effect while avoiding impact on the shoe material.
- Testing and packaging: After ensuring that the disinfection effect meets the standard, package the shoes and then store them in the warehouse or deliver them directly.

  In summary, the application of UV LED technology in footwear manufacturing, whether in glue curing or surface disinfection and protection, has greatly promoted the high efficiency, environmental protection and high quality of footwear production, injecting new impetus into the development of the footwear manufacturing industry.