5/26/11

Boycotted by Adidas

In the mid 90's I got a phone call from Rui Parracho, Advanced Materials Manager for Fila. We enjoyed discussing product development ideas and rui mentioned a new type of pigment that had recently been invented by Flex Products, in Santa Rosa, California. This coloring agent, a remarkable powder, was based on thin-film technology using inorganic chemicals like Mica and Silica-sand, basically. Traditional pigments are primarily organic in origin-made from plant roots and the like. Chromaflair® was an important product that I was convinced I should check out. I spoke with another colleague at Adidas and Nike who concurred ChromaFlair was something they were interested in seeing in synthetic leathers.

I called Flex Products and a few days later met two gentlemen at the Newark Airport Marriott hotel. They flew across the country and then returned to California just to show me their product. After a bit of small talk, they handed me a couple of tiny bottles containing 100 grams of this unusual flake. The price was extremely expensive compared to standard pigments. The cost per sample bottle-$600! Chromaflair® powder sold for over $7,000 a kilogram whereas normal pigments cost $200 a kilo, maybe $300 if pearlized or metallic.

Originally marketed to currency printing companies such as the United States Bureau of Engraving to print uncounterfitable money (check the lower right corner of your $5-$100 bills to see Chromaflair in action), this unique pigment is now used by over 100 countries to secure their currency- no photocopier can reproduce the color shift effect. The security measures to purchase Chromaflair, needless to say, are very stringent. Flex Products (now, JDSU) had the right to enter Sommers' facilities 24/7 to weigh the inventory of our powder. Plus we needed to provide them with a "audited trail of usage" as to what products we were producing

After the success of the currency printing market, Flex began selling Chromaflair for automobile paint. You can see a few video links here: http://www.ovguide.com/chromaflair-9202a8c04000641f80000000006421b6

In 1996, Sommers became the first company in the world to incorporate ChromaFlair into polyurethane synthetic leather. Of course, Fila would get first crack at this novel material since they introduced it to us. Fila was anxious to see the initial samples. It was taking longer than expected; Fila was pressuring for delivery. I called my factory manager in Korea one night and detected an unusual strain in his voice. Pressing Mr. Lee, "What is going on?" He confessed that adidas Korea learned of our developments and insisted that they get samples first, before Fila. Adidas favored this Korean factory with large orders for white, sneaker upper polyurethane. The adidas agent threatened to cancel all orders if our factory didn't comply with their wishes. I was outraged upon learning of this attempt to strongarm our mill. My understanding was that this tactic-"restraint of trade" is illegal in the USA and internationally. I would not let it happen. At 4 AM the next morning, I conference called Herzogenaurach, Germany (adidas headquarters) and adidas's Korean agent in Pusan, Korea. I threatened them right back with an international lawsuit. Shorlty thereafter, Fila got their samples but Sommers was to be forever banned as an adidas supplier. Nike graced us with orders for their foray into Chromaflair-colored sneakers (see photos, below).

There is a most interesting backstory to the origins of the two companies, Puma and adidas. Adi Dassler and his brother, Rudy, were Nazis in Germany during WW II. As I have learned it...one day, as planes from the USA and allied forces were bombing Germany, Adi and his family ran to their bomb shelter. Rudy and family knocked on the bomb shelter door trying to get to safety. Adi them in. Rudy overheard his brother saying, "Here come those bastards again." Adi believed Rudy was referring to his family. The insult began a lifelong rift between the brothers. According to Adi, however, he was not referring to Rudy but the planes bombing overhead. Nonetheless, this family misunderstanding gave birth to two, powerful, competitors. Long live PUMA! (see later blog for a story on a collaborative venture between Sommers and PUMA working with thermochromatic, color-changing materials.  

 http://www.omg-facts.com/view/Facts/2915

                                       
                   Nike and Sommers "Chroma High Intensity" polyurethane 

     

   Video of Chromaflair wall panels by Nunoerin.com                                    Various Chromaflair end products

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