High-Performance Graft Adhesives in Foxing & Heel Wrapping

In the footwear manufacturing industry, the creation of every perfect pair of shoes relies on precise attention to detail and strict material requirements. “Foxing” and “heel wrapping” are two critical core processes that directly determine a shoe’s shaping, aesthetics, comfort, and durability. Our company’s high-performance graft adhesive series, specially developed for these key techniques, are essential in ensuring strong and reliable bonding.

Before we explore our graft adhesive products in detail, let’s first understand what “Foxing” and “Heel Wrapping” are.

What is Foxing?

“Foxing” is a core forming process in footwear manufacturing. It refers to the initial bonding and securing of the shoe's upper to the edge of the sole.

The quality of the foxing process determines the overall shaping effect of the shoes. If the bonding is weak or the positioning is inaccurate, it may result in misalignment, poor fit, or unsightly wrinkles—significantly compromising the quality of the final product.

What is heel wrapping?

Heel wrapping is a specialized process in footwear manufacturing that involves securely bonding and forming the heel counter—a typically rigid material such as leather or TPU—to the upper or lining material to create a structured and durable heel section.

Why Do Foxing and Heel Wrapping Require Specialized Graft Adhesives?

These two processes face a common challenge: the materials involved in bonding are highly complex. The upper, midsole, and heel counter may consist of a wide variety of polar and non-polar materials—such as PVC, PU, genuine leather, synthetic leather, TPR, EVA, and more. Traditional adhesives often struggle to deliver durable and high-strength bonds across all such material combinations.

Core Advantages of Our Graft Adhesives for Foxing and Heel Wrapping Processes:

1. Broad-Spectrum Bonding for Complex Materials: Our adhesive delivers strong adhesion to a wide range of hard-to-bond materials—including SBS, TPR, PU, PVC, and EVA—effectively addressing the bonding challenges shoe manufacturers face due to material diversity.

2. High Initial Tack for Efficient Fixation: Our adhesive offers excellent initial tackiness, providing sufficient strength during the preliminary stages of foxing and heel wrapping. This ensures the workpiece remains securely in place, greatly facilitating subsequent operations and enhancing production efficiency.

3. High Final Bond Strength and Superior Durability: Once cured, it forms a tough adhesive film that delivers bond strength far exceeding conventional adhesives. This ensures the shoes remain securely bonded even under long-term wear, frequent flexing, and varying temperature and humidity conditions, providing lasting reliability.

4. Excellent Heat Resistance and Anti-Creep Properties: Our adhesive offers outstanding resistance to creep, effectively preventing delamination of the heel and sole under prolonged stress. Its heat resistance also meets the requirements of subsequent processing steps.

Our high-performance graft adhesives provide specialized solutions for critical shoe manufacturing processes like foxing and heel wrapping, ensuring strong bonding across diverse materials and challenging conditions. If you are facing adhesion challenges, contact our technical team for tailored solutions and samples.