Calle Raposal, 65
26580 Arnedo
Spain
The Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja (CTCR) was constituted in July 2006 as a private non-profit association for the promotion, research, development and technological innovation of the footwear industry in La Rioja.
Located in the industrial town Arnedo, the Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja serves as the hub of the sector and the area, providing with its special design and architecture, one of the best facilities in the north of Spain. The Center integrates equipped labs as well as rooms specially designed for trainings, seminars, congresses, business meetings, etc.
Our mission is:
- Research, development and innovation to create added value for business.
- Improvement of the competitiveness of the industry, at a national and international level.
- Specialization in giving comprehensive solutions to businesses (more than 10 years of experience managing projects for the future).
The CTCR has more than 110 partners, of which 80% are footwear manufacturers or distributors and 20% are related industries. In addition, more than 400 customers have hired the specialized services of the CTCR: 54% manufacturers or distributors, 38% related industries and 8% others.
Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja
Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja
The Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja (CTCR) has 5 research departments with their appropriates laboratories and work areas:
- Nanotechnology and New Materials.
- Cost reduction and production increase through nanomaterials.
- Shape memory polymers.
- Intelligent materials that change color under certain external stimuli.
- Microcapsules containing active substances.
- Energy efficiency technologies.
- Additives and new polymers capable of self-regenerating.
- Technical improvements through new materials or nanotechnology: slip resistance, fireproof, antibacterial, impact resistance, electrical conductivity...
- Chromatography.
- Rubber mixer.
- Hydraulic press.
- Mechanics and Prototyping:
- Rapid prototyping.
- 3D printers.
- 3D digitalization of models.
- Electronics and Automation.
- Development of wearables.
- Technological automation and process controls.
- Collaborative robots
- Tracking technologies.
- Production, stocks and logistics control through RFID tags.
- Technologies to improve the ergonomic and heat comfort.
- Development of protective equipment through new intelligent materials and embedded electronics.
- Development of integrated security systems.
- Technologies for the personalized adaptation of the garment to the client.
- Smart textile fabrics.
- ICTs:
- New technologies that involve the consumer in the design process.
- Artificial intelligence for the development of competitive products.
- Technologies for the personalized adaptation of the garment to the client
- Technologies that analyze the client’s behavior.
- Personalized marketing strategies adapted to the consumers.
- Technologies that dynamically create segmented information.
- Apps that recommend products based on the user’s needs.
- Augmented reality on smartphone apps.
- 360º or 3D photography.
- Design and development of virtual 3D catalogues.
- Quality and Environment:
- Life Cycle Assessment, to reduce environmental impact.
- Recycling technologies and raw material reuse technologies.
- Study on residues and on the recovery of its components.
- Development of biodegradable materials.
- Ecodesign.
- Microbiological development of bacterial cellulose.
- Slip resistance equipment.
- Impact resistance equipment.
- Footwear heat insulation equipment.
- Footwear cold insulation equipment.
- Suntest - Light ageing chamber.
- Spectrophotometers.
The Footwear Technology Center of La Rioja (CTCR) offer the following services:
- Sustainability
- LCA and ecodesign.
- EU Ecolabel for footwear.
- Corporate Social Responsability.
- Carbon footprint.
- Accoustic emissions control.
- ICTs & Industry 4.0:
- 360º product photography.
- Development of wereables.
- Automation and process control technologies.
- Intelligent and electronic textiles.
- Tracking technologies: production, stock and logistics control using RFID.
- Technologies for sensorisation, geolocation or intercommunication.
- Virtual 3D catalogues.
- Online shops.
- Online backup.
- Virtual reality and.
- Augmented reality on smartphones apps.
- Soldering station.
- Advanced materials nanotechnology:
- Nanocomposites.
- Impact energy absorbing materials.
- Bactericidal materials.
- Microencapsulation of substances.
- Shape memory polymeric materials.
- Self-reparing materials.
- Synthesis and use of ionic liquids.
- Quality:
- PPEs certification according to international standards.
- PPEs testing and evaluation.
- Implementation and consulting on management systems.
- Internationalization:
- International legal and financial advice.
- Development of strategic plans.
- Grant management for the attendance to national and international fairs.
- Support in the organization of consortia for international promotion purposes.
- Project Management:
- Technological supervision.
- Management of public funding for R&D&i projects.
- Fashion:
- TrendHelp.