www.3ders.org

Aug 31, 2017

Materialise has partnered with winter sports gear and tailored footwear specialist Tailored Fits to launch an end-to-end digital supply chain for custom-fit ski boots. The supply chain is supported by a customization platform for wearables which includes a customer interface, design and process automation. Materialise provides the entire production capacity for the certified additive manufacturing of the customized ski boots.

The customization platform for wearables was developed over the course of one year’s intensive co-creation between Materialise and Tailored Fits. Customers will now be able to have their feet 3D scanned by Tailored Fits’ speciality sporting goods retailers within ten minutes. After analysing anatomically detailed 3D scans of the wearer’s feet, the design automation software translates the data into individualized inserts. The platform conveys these as print-ready instruction to the Certified Additive Manufacturing facility at Materialise, where the inserts are produced in a flexible 3D printing material, TPU 92A-1. Customers will receive customised, 3D printed boot insoles in under ten days. The partners say that they will soon provide skiers with the option to fully customize either their ski boot liner or the entire ski boot for maximum comfort and performance.

Founded in 2016, Tailored Fits AG is a start-up company based in Horw, Switzerland. The company offers an industrial solution for mass manufacturing individually customized fits for footwear, sports gear and protection gear. The anatomical fits created, support the wearer’s natural biomechanics while doing their preferred sports, preventing pressure points and pain, lowering signs of fatigue and reducing wear and tear of joints.

“At Tailored Fits, we understand skiers’ needs and the biomechanics of sports motion. And we have access to one of the world’s best sports gear development labs. From the partnership with Materialise, we gained access to the additive manufacturing expertise to develop the best 3D printed solution for making mass customized production a reality,” said Reto Rindlisbacher, CEO of Tailored Fits AG. “I believe each company has brought out the best in the other.”

Images credit: Tailored Fits

“The creation of a unique digital supply chain meant working incredibly closely with the Tailored Fits team to develop the ‘tailored fit’ for them,” said Dr. Alireza Parandian, Corporate Innovations and Global Strategist for Wearables at Materialise. “I look forward to the identification of similar applications in consumer goods where we can add real value with this customization platform for wearables.”

Materialise say they will manage and continue to enhance the automation process, and provide 100% of the production capacity required to support the supply chain. Tailored Fits ski boots are scheduled to be available from leading sporting goods retailers from December 2017.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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