The Lombardy company ESSEBI, a market leader for its thermoplastic industrial adhesives, continues on the path of innovation also in the safety and work footwear sector.
Vigevano, the city of footwear, is home to a company that has conquered the heart of the footwear industry: Essebi, specialising in the production of industrial thermoplastic adhesives.
What makes Essebi so special? The company is distinguished by its research in creating adhesives, in step with the various designs dictated by fashion, without neglecting the needs of classic production, its national and international clientele.
Essebi works closely with its clients, understanding their needs and offering customised technical support. Innovation is the driving force that pushes the Vigevano company to go beyond its limits, also adopting eco-friendly policies and production processes, reducing environmental impact and promoting the conscious use of resources. The company constantly invests in research and development to improve the performance of its products and to meet the challenges of the ever- changing footwear industry, as one of its owners, Cinzia Sormani, tells us in this interview.
What were the results of your participation in Simac Tanning Tech?
“Attendance at the exhibition this year was generally positive. In previous editions, the first day was often characterised by few people and a sleepy atmosphere. By contrast, this year, there was a high attendance already from the first day, with many visitors – in short, a trade fair with a certain vibrancy. This result is in contrast to the current time period, which is characterised by a recessionary economy. Nevertheless, we are pleased to see that our sector is still able to attract the interest of the public; the preparation of the exhibiting companies undoubtedly contributed to this success. This is an incentive to work even harder in this sector as well.
In a few but impactful words, what is the history of the company?
“Essebi was founded in 1978 by two significant figures: my father and his partner. Today, the company is headed by the Sormani family.
The uniqueness of our company was that it was the first to introduce the thermoplastic adhesive thread on the market, a real innovation in the footwear sector. Traditionally, the bonding of footwear was done using thermoplastic granules, a process that was less efficient. The introduction of the thermoplastic adhesive thread has led to numerous advantages, including greater efficiency in the assembly process and, consequently, in the production of the footwear itself. Essebi started from this innovation and developed its products in an increasingly high-performance direction. Today, the company is a leader in the shoe adhesives market; however, the results obtained are still, for us, starting points.
What are your target markets?
“Essebi is a global company, with a presence in all markets of the world. The main market is abroad, which accounts for about 80 per cent of turnover. However, the Italian market always remains a focal point for the company. The company is constantly evolving and, consequently, adapting to the needs of the market. In recent years, Essebi has made significant investments to improve its production and efficiency. In particular, we have invested in the efficiency of our production lines and in the quality of our products. Investments that will enable us to approach the future’.
Do you have any plans to develop new products or services?
Absolutely, we are working on several new projects, particularly for the automotive and footwear sectors. In the latter, we are developing new adhesives; specifically, we have perfected a new polyester that is specifically designed for footwear in the Work & Safety sector. Another important focus is 3D printing: we have agreements with an exclusive partner for the production of materials dedicated to this technology. At SIMAC we presented our most up-to- date product range for both the Work & Safety market and footwear in general. We are very satisfied with the results achieved so far, and we are confident that these new projects will allow us to continue to grow and innovate”.
What are the main challenges you are facing at the moment?
“The challenges we are facing are many, but one of the most important is the increasing focus on environmentally friendly production and the formulation of adhesives that do not use substances of animal origin. Consumers are increasingly sensitive to these issues, and companies must respond to this need. Essebi has developed one product in particular, a polyester used for footwear, whose production chain is completely free of raw materials of animal origin. This product still represents a niche but we believe it has great potential. The footwear market is a global and competitive market, and companies must be able to offer products and services that meet the needs of the consumer’.
You are a company that is always one step ahead: do you have an innovative project in the works, even if it is not yet ready to be launched?
‘Of course, we are working on some ambitious projects… But this will be a story that we will be happy to tell as soon as we have reaped the benefits’.
Cinzia and Renzo Sormani at Simac Tanning Tech 2023