Nike, Inc. has developed new shoe sole technology, trade named "Shox®", which incorporates actual shock absorbing columns in the sole, providing stability and cushioning for high performance athletics. The plates that house the shock absorbing columns in the sole construction are manufactured from Pebax® Resin, a Polyether Block Amide polymer produced by the Technical Polymers Group of Arkema. Pebax® Resin provides durability and structure to the "Shox" sole, which is currently used in Nike's high-end basketball, running and cross training shoe designs.

The Technical Polymers Global Sports Team also worked very closely with the Nike engineers for the 2002 US Olympic Bobsled shoe development. Early last year, Nike engineers began looking for a light weight polymer that would provide high mechanical properties at low temperatures for the sole of the shoe. Our sport team engineers worked closely with Nike, in a very short time frame, to come up with a solution involving both Rilsan® Polyamide and Pebax^® Resin.

"Whenever we have a high caliber project my first choice is always Pebax," said Tobie Hatfield, Senior Project Engineer for Nike. "After we a were able to complete a field test there was no question that Pebax was the best quality compound plastic for these shoes." The US Bobsled team went on to win gold (women) and bronze (men) medals in the Salt Lake City competitions this year, wearing Nike bobsled shoes manufactured with polymers from Arkema Technical Polymers. We are strengthening our development relationship with Nike and as a result we are working on projects for the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 World Cup Soccer games.