Each year, The Running Event (TRE) brings together brands, retailers, and innovators who shape the future of performance running. In 2025, the show returned to San Antonio with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of run-specialty professionals exploring the latest in footwear, apparel, and technology. For Carbitex, a pioneer in flexible carbon fiber composites, The Running Event 2025 was another strong milestone. Product teams from global footwear brands visited the booth to explore how Carbitex’s patented OmniFlex, MonoFlex, and GearFlex technologies can power the next generation of running shoes.
Haumann is proud to support Carbitex as a long-term OEM manufacturing partner, delivering precision injection-molded footwear components and carbon-composite integration for performance applications worldwide.
Below you’ll find a clear overview of what happened at TRE 2025, what “flex is the future of footwear” really means, and how Haumann supports Carbitex and other brands with scalable, high-quality manufacturing.
What Is The Running Event (TRE)?
The Running Event (TRE) is North America’s leading run-specialty trade show and conference, held in San Antonio, Texas. It brings together:
- Running and outdoor brands
- Retailers and buyers
- Product managers, designers, and engineers
- Media and industry partners
For performance-footwear brands, TRE is where they:
- Discover new materials and component technologies
- Evaluate next-season footwear concepts
- Build new partnerships with suppliers and OEMs
- Discuss industry trends such as carbon plates, flexible composites, and sustainable materials
Carbitex: Flexible Carbon Fiber Composites for Performance Footwear
Founded in 2012, Carbitex is recognized as a pioneer and leader in flexible carbon fiber composites for performance footwear.
Its three patented technologies – OmniFlex, MonoFlex, and GearFlex – are designed to give footwear brands a new way to balance power, protection, and natural movement:
- OmniFlex – An exceptionally flexible carbon fiber textile that maximizes power transfer and control while remaining lightweight and comfortable.
- MonoFlex – Asymmetrically flexible plates that are stiff in one direction and flexible in the other, providing underfoot protection and stability while allowing natural forefoot flex.
- GearFlex – Dynamically flexible plates that increase stiffness as they bend, delivering “geared” power at higher speeds while staying flexible at slower paces.
At TRE 2025, these technologies attracted strong interest from:
- Global performance running brands
- Trail and outdoor footwear brands
- Product and innovation teams focused on next-generation propulsion structures
Feedback from the show floor was consistent:
Flex is the future of footwear.
Brands are searching for solutions that are:
- Lighter
- More responsive
- More flexible and adaptive
- Better aligned with natural movement
External link ideas:
- Link “pioneer and leader in flexible carbon fiber composites” to the Carbitex homepage.
- Link each tech name once:
- “OmniFlex” → OmniFlex technology page
- “MonoFlex” → MonoFlex technology page
- “GearFlex” → GearFlex technology page
Haumann x Carbitex: How We Support Performance Footwear Innovation
As a key OEM manufacturing partner, Haumann supports Carbitex with a complete manufacturing workflow built around precision injection molding and carbon-composite integration.
We help Carbitex – and other performance-footwear brands – with:
- Precision injection-molded performance components
- Midsole and outsole structures
- Plates, carriers, and support frames that integrate with carbon elements
- Carbon-composite integration capabilities
- Interfaces between flexible carbon plates and plastic components
- Multi-material assemblies for running and trail shoes
- High-consistency mass production in the U.S. and China
- Manufacturing in Houston and Foshan for flexible scaling and resilient supply chains
- Fast prototyping and engineering support
- Early-stage samples for new footwear concepts
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews for plate–component integration
- Quality-driven manufacturing processes
- ISO 9001 and IATF 16949-certified processes, first article inspection, and traceability
What We Learned at TRE 2025: “Flex Is the Future of Footwear”
During The Running Event 2025 (December 2–4, San Antonio), the Carbitex booth hosted product teams from major global brands.
Their discussions highlighted several clear trends in performance footwear components:
- From rigid plates to flexible composites
- Brands are moving away from purely rigid carbon plates toward asymmetrically flexible and dynamically flexible solutions that feel more natural underfoot.
- Integration is critical
- Performance gains don’t come from plates alone – they come from how plates, midsoles, and injection-molded structures are integrated into a complete system.
- Prototype speed matters
- Leading brands want to test more concepts per season. Having a manufacturing partner who can quickly deliver functional prototypes and then scale to mass production is a major advantage.
- Reliability at scale
- Many conversations focused on consistency, tolerances, and long-term supply stability — especially for high-volume global launches.
Why Performance Footwear Brands Choose Haumann
Performance footwear and sporting goods brands work with Haumann because we combine:
- German-led engineering
- DFM, tooling, and process development optimized for demanding performance components.
- Dual-region manufacturing (Houston & Foshan)
- The ability to balance speed, cost, and capacity across U.S. and China operations.
- End-to-end manufacturing
- From concept and prototyping to tooling, molding, carbon composite, and assembly under one coordinated team.
- Certified quality systems
- ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications, with first-article inspection and ongoing process control.
- Experience in athletic footwear
- Proven track record supporting carbon plate production and high-performance outsole/midsole components.
For brands, this means:
- Faster development cycles
- Lower project risk
- Reliable scale-up from prototype to global launch
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What kinds of footwear components can Haumann manufacture?
Haumann produces injection-molded plastic components and carbon-composite parts for performance footwear, including plate carriers, structural elements, support frames, outsole components, and integrated assemblies.
2. Do I need a final design before contacting Haumann?
No. Many brands involve us early. Our engineering team can support DFM, material recommendations, and cost optimization even when your design is still evolving.
3. Can Haumann work with flexible composite plates from suppliers like Carbitex?
Yes. We regularly collaborate with third-party carbon plate suppliers and assist in designing the plastic components and interfaces that integrate these plates into complete footwear systems.
4. Is Haumann U.S.-based or international?
Both. We have manufacturing capabilities in Houston and Foshan, combining local communication for U.S. customers with global-scale production options.
5. What volumes can Haumann support for footwear projects?
From low-volume prototype runs to high-volume global production, we scale according to your program needs, coordinating tooling and molding across U.S. and China facilities.
6. How do we start a project with Haumann?
You can begin with a concept discussion, CAD files, or basic performance requirements. Our team will review feasibility, suggest materials and process options, and outline a clear path from prototype to mass production.
Conclusion: Partner With Haumann for Your Next Performance Footwear Project
The Running Event 2025 confirmed what many in the industry already sensed – flexible composites and integrated component systems are shaping the future of performance footwear.
Carbitex continues to lead in flexible carbon fiber composites, and Haumann is proud to stand beside them as a precision manufacturing partner, helping translate advanced materials into scalable, production-ready components for global footwear brands.
If you’re developing:
- New carbon plate–based running shoes
- Performance trail footwear with flexible underfoot protection
- Lightweight, high-strength injection-molded components for athletic footwear
…our team is ready to help.
Serving performance brands across the U.S., Europe, and Asia
- Contact us today to discuss your next footwear component project.
- Request a quote or share your CAD files for a DFM review.
Visit: haumann-group.com to learn more about our injection molding and carbon composite capabilities.
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