How SFC® Slip-resistant Work Shoes Are Made

When it comes to our slip-resistant outsole technology, there is no handing things over to an outside manufacturer. We fully control the process in-house, and treat every step with the utmost importance.

Find out how Shoes For Crews® (SFC) creates our slip-resistant work shoes, and discover how we oversee every stage of the production process.

Why outsole manufacturing is so complex

Slip-resistance is not a feature that can be tacked on at the end. It has to be built in from the outset. The quality of the outcome depends entirely on how much control you have over every step of the process.

This is the standard we have set.

All of our products feature a unique rubber compound in the soles of the shoes to provide superior slip-resistance. We use high-grade rubber and a micro-channel thread design to increase friction and reduce the risk of slipping or falling. The tread design displaces water under the shoe, enabling it to grip on wet surfaces effectively.

How slip-resistant shoes work and why manufacturing determines performance

Slip-resistant work shoes maximise the friction between the outsole and the floor surface, even when it is wet, oily or greasy. Their performance depends on two things: the rubber compound and the tread.

• If the compound is incorrect, the shoe will grip, but it will deteriorate quickly.
• If the tread geometry is incorrect, the outsole cannot channel liquid away from the point of contact.
• If either one is inconsistent across production, the resulting shoe will perform differently to the one that passed its test.

Slip-resistant outsole technology is not just about design; it is also about the production process.

Every step of the process is done in-house

Since we manufacture our outsoles in-house, we control every variable from start to finish. This includes the rubber compound, heat, pressure and mould. This means we test our slip-resistant work shoes at every stage, not just the finished product.

11 Rubber compounds, different formulations

There are many different types of flooring. Carpets in restaurants, tiles in hospitals and concrete in warehouses are all different conditions. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

This is why Shoes For Crews works with 11 unique rubber compounds. Each formulation is built to our specifications and meets specific performance requirements.

We test every batch carefully

We test the chemical compound before any outsole is made. If it does not pass the test, it does not progress to the next stage.

This is what is known as upstream quality control: spotting problems before they become fully formed products. We test the raw material first and then the finished shoe because our goal is to reduce the number of failure points before they reach a worker.

CNC-cut mould machining method

The grip pattern on an SFC® outsole does not come from a template. Our moulds are CNC (Computer Numerical Control)-cut, meaning the surface geometry is engineered specifically for the performance requirements of each outsole.

The result is a tread pattern that performs exactly the way it was designed to. The grip you see is the one we built.

Ongoing testing and mould replacement when performance declines

If a shoe’s slip-resistance declines at any point during testing, we replace the mould. This means that testing does not stop once production begins.

It is natural for moulds to degrade over time. This wear and tear affects the tread, which also affects grip. Using a mould beyond its optimal performance level results in shoes that do not match their original testing score.

We inspect every pair

Each pair of shoes is inspected by hand after manufacturing. This applies to every single pair, not just lab samples or random production runs. This is the last step in a process that makes sure problems do not get through.

Before reaching inspection, the pair will have undergone chemical testing, batch testing, daily slip resistance checks and mould quality assurance.

What this means for workers

All work-related accidents and injuries are estimated to cost European businesses nearly €476 billion every year. Slips, trips and falls consistently rank as one of the leading categories of non-fatal accidents across EU-member states. For the workers, this could mean unexpected time off, injury, lost income and productivity and, in the worst of cases, long-term physical consequences or death.

From bustling kitchens and busy hospitals, workers need reliable grip to be there when the floor is wet. That is what our process is designed to deliver.

Shoes For Crews has been protecting workers since 1984 and continues to redefine safety footwear across industries and continents. Our success comes from owning our manufacturing process. When you control the materials, the mould, the testing and the inspections, you can be sure of the final outcome. Slip resistance is not just a feature, it is the reason we exist.

FAQs

How are Shoes For Crews slip-resistant shoes made?

Our slip-resistant work shoes are made by combining a high-grade rubber compound with a machine-engineered tread pattern. The rubber is melted down using heat and pressure to create a durable material, while the tread geometry pushes liquid away from the contact point. We control both processes in-house.

What materials are used to manufacture slip-resistant outsoles?

Although rubber is the primary material, the formulation determines performance. The rigidity, grip level and durability of the rubber all depend on how it is mixed and processed. Shoes For Crews works with 11 distinct compounds, each one designed to meet our slip-resistance standards.

How do manufacturers design slip-resistant shoes to meet workplace safety standards?

Designing shoes for workplace safety means taking into account the specific real-life floor conditions workers face, such as wet kitchen tiles, oily factory floors and smooth hospital corridors. The outsole must perform well across all types of surfaces. This requires testing in real conditions at every stage of production.

How do shoe companies engineer outsoles to achieve superior grip on wet surfaces?

Grip on wet surfaces is determined by the compound’s ability to repel liquid and the tread pattern that channels it away from the sole. Shoes For Crews uses CNC (Computer Numerical Control)-cut moulds engineered for precise tolerances, so the surface meets our exact specifications and is not cut out from a generic template.

How do manufacturers measure the slip-resistance of their footwear products?

Slip-resistance is measured by using standardised methods on wet and oily surfaces according to the set of European testing method standards written into EN ISO 20344:2021. Shoes For Crews submits their footwear styles to independent accredited bodies for technical compliance and EU type-examination certificates. In addition to this, we test the rubber compound before starting manufacturing and test slip resistance daily during production, replacing the mould if performance levels decline.