SATRA’s research capability

Providing the competitive edge to members through the innovative skills of SATRA’s research team.

SATRA was formed in 1919 with the original purpose of helping manufacturers and suppliers to evolve by providing technical knowledge, research and testing – the three pillars of strength. The SATRA brand is now recognised and respected in over 70 countries for our expertise in consultancy, research and testing a wide range of products. The advanced facilities at our head office, including a chemical analysis laboratory and the capacity to design and manufacture test equipment, is at the centre of an international company, which includes a growing test facility in Dongguan, China.

The key to our success and sustained growth is our commitment to the three pillars mentioned above, which assists in the advancement and development of industries that are continuously evolving. This commitment requires SATRA staff to keep abreast of new technologies and improve established knowledge, thus maintaining SATRA’s status as a leading research and technology organisation in the fields of footwear technical development and consultancy, production efficiency and planning, troubleshooting and test method development.

Members of our research team form a dynamic and versatile group of personnel with several decades of combined industry experience. Their skills and backgrounds encompass a considerable range of disciplines, which enable SATRA to solve problems from a number of different angles.

Ongoing development

SATRA research has two main objectives: the development and advancement of industry knowledge through authorised projects funded by SATRA, and consultancy and troubleshooting available to SATRA members as contract work.

SATRA invests heavily in the development of new tests and services. This relies on research to provide solutions, covering all fields from non-standard testing to large product development projects across a range of industry sectors. Numerous tests are established in principle and developed through the prototype stages to become SATRA test methods. A number are accompanied by a SATRA test machine, many of which have been adopted into international standards.

The organisation’s research facilities reflect its wide range of diverse testing and expertise, and allow members of staff to efficiently solve difficult or non-standard problems for both SATRA and SATRA members quickly and with confidence. A high-speed camera, thermal imaging equipment and an X-ray cabinet allow for detailed and accurate measurement and analysis, while climate chambers capable of recreating environmental conditions from the Arctic to a rain forest, give the capacity to test and analyse a vast range of products in a variety of conditioned surroundings. Pressure mapping facilities and the expertise behind them are available at SATRA, and can be tuned to suit a multitude of applications. With an advanced laboratory, SATRA research personnel are able to produce rapid machine prototyping (including the use of 3D printing), while control and data logging can be quickly achieved by utilising the skills of our team members.

Although recent research work has involved a diverse range of products, emphasis remains on footwear. This has resulted in such industry advances as the development of water resistance testing, cold rating and accelerated ageing. SATRA research personnel are proud of their reputation for providing quality customer service, and work closely with customers to understand and respond to their requirements. We provide detailed reports both on the performance of test items and the conditions in which they are tested, in addition to providing detailed analysis and recommendations based on results. Amendments to manufacturing processes or material have been made as a result of recommendations that significantly improve the end product durability and performance.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 36 of the December 2017 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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