The advanced materials engineering group Versarien (VRS ) will supply graphene enhanced elastomers to its US partner Flux Footwear to bring an improved model of Flux’s ‘Adapt’ shoe, a model that has been advanced with Versarien’s Graphene-Wear™ technology, to market.
Today’s news, which follows a previous collaboration between Flux Footwear, an adaptive footwear company, and Versarien, comes ahead of the official launch of Flux’s new shoe - the ‘AdaptMid’ model - which is anticipated for launch this year in the autumn and winter months.
Under the terms of the partnership, the ‘Adapt’ barefoot athleisure model has been enhanced with Versarien’s Graphene-Wear™ technology, following research and testing to improve the rubber outsole and augmenting the shoe’s mechanical and physical properties, it highlighted.
The new shoe model, the ‘AdaptMid’, is said to provide greater durability ‘through improved abrasion resistance whilst maintaining the shoe’s traction characteristics’ the group explained.
Addressing shareholders today, Versarien confirmed that ahead of the launch, a limited number of shoes can be pre-ordered in the UK directly through its products website.
The technology, which has been developed by the company’s in-house technology teams at University of Manchester and University of Cambridge, respectively, as part of the ‘GSCALE project’ (a project designed to significantly increase its manufacture of quality-assured graphene), has the potential for multiple elastomer projects, the company told investors.
Neill Ricketts, CEO of Versarien, said: “I am delighted to announce the pre-launch of Flux’s ‘AdaptMid’ shoe, enhanced by Versarien’s Graphene-Wear™ technology, our first footwear product to market. As more products enhanced using Versarien technology are coming to market, there is now a definite shift within the Company towards commercialisation.”
He added: “It is great that our supporters are able to pre-order via our Versarien products website ahead of the full launch by Flux later in the year.”
Founded in 2020, Flux aims to create adaptive shoes that move ‘with rather than against foot movement, by utilising low profile floating cushion pods and tread that contours to the foot.’
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