Professional

Each model is the result of a lengthy research process that blends the values ​​of traditional craftsmanship with the best technical solutions available on the market. Even today, most of the models in the collection are entirely hand-assembled with care and precision, respecting an age-old manufacturing tradition that underpins the product's quality. The entire design and development process is carried out directly by AKU in its own factories, with the operational support of suppliers selected among the best specialists on the market, ensuring complete quality control throughout the entire production chain.

It has always been the key identifying feature of AKU footwear, the result of a manufacturing specialization focused on the anatomical care of the shoe's last. This value is expressed as the ideal combination of comfort and precision, both in classic hiking footwear and in high-performance models for sports and professional activities.

Before developing the entire production program, the footwear undergoes a series of technical tests in the laboratory and in the field. The former verify the product's structural integrity and performance in terms of warmth, breathability, and waterproofness. The latter, performed by professionals, assess the footwear's durability, comfort, and performance level in relation to the actual environment in which it will be used.

The certification of PPE footwear is regulated by a set of standards that define the test methods, protection parameters and marking and documentation requirements, based on the specific risks identified in the workplace where they are used.

The main regulations governing safety and occupational footwear are:

EN ISO 20344
Specifies test methods and provides detailed guidelines for performing the tests
necessary for the certification of safety footwear.
EN ISO 20345
Defines the parameters for safety footwear (SB) with protective toecap.
EN ISO 20347
Defines the parameters for occupational footwear (OB) without toecap.
EN ISO 17249
Defines the requirements for safety footwear with chainsaw protection. The footwear must meet the requirements of EN ISO 20345 and offer additional protection against chainsaw cuts.
The 2022 update introduced new marking categories and requirements, making footwear safer and more suitable for different work environments.