In 2025 a footwear component manufacturer in Sialkot, Pakistan, producing EVA and PU foam insoles for local brands and export orders, replaced hand-guided cutting with a TDP-4LS automatic vertical cutting machine. Within three months of commissioning the factory had stabilised sheet thickness, reduced foam scrap and moved from four skilled cutters to two operators per shift.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Sialkot, Pakistan |
| Industry | Footwear components – EVA and PU foam insoles |
| Company size | 100-200 employees |
| Main products | Insole sheets, die-cut insoles, shoe lining foam |
| Equipment installed | TDP-4LS automatic vertical cutting machine |
| Cutting height | 1250 mm |
| Worktable | 1320 x 2500 mm inner, 1800 x 2500 mm outer |
| Band blade length | 8000 mm |
| Motor power | 1.68 kW |
| Machine weight | 1800 kg |
The factory was cutting EVA and PU foam buns into thin insole sheets with a hand-fed vertical cutter. The process depended almost entirely on operator skill, and the problems had become a bottleneck for export orders:
After reviewing the cutting height, table size and thickness range required for insole production, we recommended and supplied the TDP-4LS automatic vertical cutting machine. The configuration matched the factory's actual bun size, so no oversize table was needed and floor space stayed within the existing cutting room.
Installation and commissioning took five working days, including foundation levelling, electrical connection, blade tracking adjustment and operator training on thickness setting and blade tensioning. Two operators and one maintenance technician were trained on daily checks, blade replacement and the safety guard sequence.
| Metric | Before | After TDP-4LS |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet thickness consistency | 2-4 mm variation, manual sanding needed | Within ±0.3 mm, sanding largely eliminated |
| Cutting output | Baseline | Up about 35 percent on the same floor space |
| Foam scrap rate | High, rejection at assembly | Reduced by roughly 8 percent of material cost |
| Operators per shift | 4 skilled cutters | 2 operators |
| Changeover between gauges | 20-30 minutes | Under 5 minutes |
| Unplanned blade stops | Frequent | Rare, planned blade changes only |
The factory now runs the TDP-4LS across two shifts and has taken on additional insole orders from Middle East buyers without adding cutting staff. Because thickness is set digitally, new operators reach production quality within days rather than months.
Factories running this configuration often pair the vertical cutter with a foam laminating machine for bonding fabric to insole sheet, and a die-cutting press for final insole shapes.
"Thickness is now something we set, not something we hope for. Our sanding station is almost idle and we ship the same insole gauge every time." – Production manager, insole division
If your factory cuts EVA, PU or EPE foam for insoles, footwear lining or mats, contact our team with your bun size, target thickness range and daily output so we can confirm whether the TDP-4LS or an oversize model fits your line.