Vapesol invests €1.5 million in rubber sole production
Will produce 5,000 pairs per day
Vapesol, one of the largest Iberian producers of soles for the footwear industry, recently released its Sustainability Report, prepared in collaboration with the CTCP – Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre. The company has now established a commercial agreement with Tecnirolo/Lary Portugal to create a rubber sole (SBR) production unit.
This agreement will enable the daily production of 5,000 pairs of two-tone rubber soles by injection starting in February 2026, following an investment of approximately €1.5 million. The new process will result in lower energy consumption, reduced material waste, and less manual labour when compared to similar existing equipment in Portugal.
This partnership involves a company with over two decades of experience in the rubber market and a leader in the implementation of one of the most advanced technologies in the industry, ensuring higher production efficiency and lower waste rates.
At Vapesol, all rubber soles—whether single-colour or two-tone—will be produced exclusively by injection, moving away from the traditional compression method. The company is focusing on innovative methods that enable full production monitoring, aligned with the principles of Industry 4.0.
This gradual investment will begin with the equipment being installed in Vapesol’s existing facilities, with plans to build a new industrial unit to accommodate future expansion.
As the process moves forward, the company, headquartered in Felgueiras, will continue to invest sustainably, aiming to showcase the results by February 2026. “It will be the major innovation we’ll present at the world’s leading footwear components trade fair,” says Vapesol’s CEO, Décio Pereira, referring to Lineapelle.
“It’s a natural consequence of Vapesol’s evolution”
Décio Pereira highlights that Vapesol is the market leader in TR, TPU, and EVA soles, and is currently the largest Iberian producer. According to him, it was the clients themselves who began to question the possibility of adding rubber sole production to the company’s portfolio.
He explains that the decision follows “too many times” that the company had to say no. “Clients like coming to Vapesol and finding a complete package of soles — TR, TPU, EVA, and now rubber. This move is a natural step in our evolution, addressing client needs and strengthening loyalty,” he says.
The company also sees this as an opportunity to enter new market segments. “Trail footwear is a segment we’d like to explore, and rubber is the main material used. That’s why we felt this was the right time to move forward. Also, the barefoot footwear trend is growing, and it too relies on rubber soles,” he adds.
In short, this is a strategic investment of €1.5 million aimed at creating competitive advantages for clients, who will now find a full range of sole materials available at Vapesol.
According to the CEO, the company is not entering this new area unprepared: “Rubber is a material we know and master. We’ve only used it internally, never on a large scale for the market — but now we’re ready to change that,” he says, hinting at what’s to come in 2027.
“The plan is to double the installed capacity of this new rubber injection system, capable of producing both single-colour and two-tone soles. We’ll go from 5,000 pairs per day in 2026 to 10,000 pairs per day in 2027,” he concludes.
Source: https://www.ctcp.pt/noticias/vapesol-investe-15-milhoes-na-producao-de-solas-de-borracha/5993.html