Product quality

ENVIRONMENT

SOCIETY

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

PRODUCT QUALITY

ENVIRONMENT

SOCIETY

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

PRODUCT QUALITY

PRODUCT QUALITY

Our high quality standards serve to optimise health protection and ensure a long product life. In order to further improve the comfort and safety of foot protection, we have been investing heavily in research and development in Uedem for years, working together with experts and scientists. The result is pioneering technological innovations and protective footwear products that offer even greater safety and comfort at work.

Foot protection standards

We fulfil the quality and safety requirements for our shoes by complying with international standards and specifications. Our foot protection, including orthopaedic modifications, is EU type-tested and bears the CE mark. Alongside EN ISO 20345 for all safety footwear and EN ISO 20347 for occupational footwear, our fire and rescue boots meet EN 15090 standard. We also offer cut resistant footwear, in accordance with EN ISO 17249, and protective footwear for foundries and welding, in accordance with EN ISO 20349-1.

Quality management standard ISO 9001

ELTEN GmbH has successfully worked with a quality management system, certified in accordance with ISO 9001, since 1993. The focus here is on optimising processes in order to continuously improve our corporate performance and meet and exceed customer expectations in the best possible way.

We’re constantly improving the quality of our processes and products. That’s how we were able to keep our complaint rate for material and manufacturing defects below 0.2% in 2023.

In order to strengthen resource efficiency, we follow the principle of sourcing and using materials that are as long-lasting as can be, helping us make products that offer extended useful lives. A long-life product is consumer-friendly and puts significantly less strain on people’s wallets and the environment over the years than shorter-life products.

Use of recycled materials

Using recycled material is a good way to conserve primary raw materials and protect the environment. This doesn’t just help reduce the amount of materials we consume, but also the amount of waste and CO₂e emissions we produce. . Recycled materials are for instance used in uppers, laces, inlay soles, heel caps and inner linings. We do not compromise when it comes to product quality and durability.

Leather

ELTEN uses leather from tanneries that are audited according to the Leather Working Group’s protocol. In 2023, this share of leather was already more than 90%. By the end of 2025, we wish to use only leather sourced from LWG-certified tanneries.

Vegan shoes

Some of our models are completely animal-free, which means that not a single component of the shoes is of animal origin. This also applies to production, by the way. In order to qualify for the “100% vegan” label, even the auxiliary materials used in the shoes (such as adhesives) must not contain any components of animal origin.

Environmentally friendly and high-quality production hinges on the machines and materials used. Our production facilities use state-of-the-art production technology from the world market leader DESMA. Their machines are long-lasting and focused on both energy- and material efficiency. As a machinery manufacturer, DESMA is a partner in the German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (VDMA) sustainability initiative.

The majority of ELTEN’s outer soles are directly moulded using a DESMA soling machine, rather than being glued on. That’s one way in which we’re now working more precisely and sparingly when it comes to use of materials. Thanks to modern machinery, we can do without adhesives, especially solvent-based adhesives, when moulding. For applications that do require adhesives, we only use hot melt or water-based adhesives, except for specialist applications.