U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center Utilizes Aetrex Technology for Department of Defense Footwear Initiative

Cross-service effort focusing on design and fit improvements for female Warfighter combat and safety footwear

TEANECK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetrex, Inc. (“Aetrex”), the global market leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics and comfort & wellness footwear, today announced the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center’s (DEVCOM SC) rental of the brand’s Albert 2 Pro 3D foot scanner for use in their investigation of the need for – and potential impact of – combat and safety footwear designed for women, specifically. This is a cross-service effort between DEVCOM SC, the Navy Exchange Service Command’s Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) and Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) to make design and fit improvements for combat and safety footwear for U.S. female Warfighters. After the rental period was over, NCTRF purchased an Albert 2 Pro 3D scanner and used it for the last test location.

The Army Combat Boot Improvement and cross-service Female Fit and Size efforts aim to bring the issue of fit to the forefront, as well as determine whether female Warfighters are adequately accommodated by the current combat and safety footwear.

Fit plays an all-important role in Warfighter footwear because improperly fitted boots can cause discomfort and impact performance. Improperly fitted boots can also increase the risk of injuries, including blisters and stress fractures. The goal of the footwear fit effort is to improve the fit of combat boots for female service members, ultimately improving Soldier performance, enhancing comfort, and preventing injuries.

With the help of the Albert 2 Pro, DEVCOM SC, NCTRF, and AFLCMC teams will be able to gain a better understanding of the unique requirements of female Warfighters’ feet. The effort will help to determine if there is a need for female-specific footwear "lasts” (the forms on which footwear is constructed) and which design and fit improvements are key.

“The Albert 2 Pro provides a streamlined process for accurately collecting scientific data, including 3D foot measurements, static pressure underfoot, and the dynamic pressure for gait analysis, in a matter of seconds,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO at Aetrex. “For the past 20 years, our scanners have performed over 40 million foot scans that have helped inform our footwear and orthotics designs. With the innovative capabilities of our premium scanner, we are confident that researchers will find the information needed to determine the best approach for their cross-service Female Fit and Size efforts.”

To learn more about Albert 2 Pro and Aetrex’s technology suite, please visit www.aetrex.com.

About Aetrex
Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. is widely recognized as the global leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics, and comfort and wellness footwear. Aetrex has developed state-of-the-art foot scanning devices, including Albert, Albert 2 Pro, a CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree, and iStep, designed to accurately measure feet and determine foot type and pressure points. Since 2002, Aetrex has placed over 10,000 scanners worldwide that have performed more than 40 million unique customer foot scans, currently averaging more than 2.5 million scans a year.

The company is renowned for its over-the-counter orthotics – the worlds #1 premium foot orthotic. With fashion, function and quality at the forefront, Aetrex also designs and manufactures stylish, performance footwear. Based in New Jersey, Aetrex is consistently named one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Privately Held Companies and was also included in NJBIZ’s Top 30 Manufacturing Companies. It has remained privately owned by the Schwartz family for three generations. For additional information, visit www.aetrex.com.