Footwear glossary · Construction
What is cemented shoe construction?
Cemented construction
Cemented construction bonds the outsole to the upper with adhesive under heat and pressure. It is the most common, lightest and most cost-effective method, used for sneakers, casual and dress shoes — flexible and suited to almost any sole design.
In cemented (or "glued") construction the lasted upper and the outsole are cleaned, primed, coated with adhesive, heat-activated and then pressed together under high pressure. Done correctly the bond is permanent and very strong.
It dominates modern footwear because it is fast, low-cost and works with virtually any outsole material and shape. The trade-off versus a welted shoe is that cemented shoes are generally not designed to be resoled.
DOING runs cemented lines across sneakers, casual and dress styles, and pull-tests whole-shoe bond (peel) strength against the approved sample before shipment so soles do not separate in wear.
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