New balance made only 44-pairs of 3D-printed shoes for $400!
Late last year, New Balance announced it was working on a limited edition sneaker with a 3D-printed midsole, which would be released sometime this April. Well it's April, and that sneaker, called the Zante Generate, will be available to purchase this week. Buying a pair won't be that easy though, because New Balance is only making 44 pairs, and you'll need a cool $400 to snag one of them.
“New Balance is at the forefront of 3D printing and has been utilizing this exciting and innovative technology to customize product for our athletes for a number of years,” says New Balance President and CEO Robert DeMartini. “Our unique position as both a manufacturer and retailer allows us to bring the world’s first 3D printed running midsole to market. The Zante Generate demonstrates the strength of New Balance design and innovation and will allow consumers to own a piece of running technology history.”
To print the midsole, New Balance used a "selective laser sintering" process that converts a powder polymer into a solid, layer by layer. New Balance claims that this process gives its shoe better flexibility and durability. Then again, it's $400, and the midsole looks like somebody's pores under a microscope. Still, as 3D-printing becomes more readily available, it could give consumers more design and sizing options, and shrink production time for companies.
“New Balance is at the forefront of 3D printing and has been utilizing this exciting and innovative technology to customize product for our athletes for a number of years,” says New Balance President and CEO Robert DeMartini. “Our unique position as both a manufacturer and retailer allows us to bring the world’s first 3D printed running midsole to market. The Zante Generate demonstrates the strength of New Balance design and innovation and will allow consumers to own a piece of running technology history.”
To print the midsole, New Balance used a "selective laser sintering" process that converts a powder polymer into a solid, layer by layer. New Balance claims that this process gives its shoe better flexibility and durability. Then again, it's $400, and the midsole looks like somebody's pores under a microscope. Still, as 3D-printing becomes more readily available, it could give consumers more design and sizing options, and shrink production time for companies.
Material Preparation: thermoplastic powders are mixed with a set of additives to optimize their performance during and after printing
Printing: midsoles are printed from a Thermoplastic powder by laser consolidation. Printing progresses layer by layer over many hours until the job is complete.
Post-processing: parts are pulled from a volume of powder and individual midsoles are put through a series of processes to remove remnant, nonexposed, build materials.
Assembly: just a few floors down from where the midsole is designed and printed, our manufacturing team proudly assembles the Zante Generate
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