• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
reebok_liquid_speed_grey_side

Nasa scientist behind Reebok’s new ‘Liquid Factory’

October 22, 2016 by David Edwards

reebok_liquid_speed_grey_side

Sportswear giant reveals new technique – invented by a Nasa scientist – for 3D printing training shoes tailored to customers’ individual specifications 

Reebok has unveiled something it calls “Liquid Factory”, which the company says will bring back sports shoe manufacturing back to the US. 

Reebok calls its new factory idea a ground-breaking manufacturing innovation that could fundamentally change the process and speed of footwear creation.

Developed by the Reebok Future team, the Liquid Factory process uses state-of-the-art software and robotics to literally draw shoes in three dimensions. 

reebok-liquid-factory

The new technique uses 3D drawing, where a proprietary liquid material, created especially for Reebok by BASF, is used to draw shoe componentry cleanly, precisely and in three-dimensional layers.

This proprietary layering technique is used to create totally unique footwear, without the use of traditional molds.

The Liquid Factory project is spearheaded by Bill McInnis, head of future at Reebok and a former Nasa engineer.

Reebok says this next generation of footwear manufacturing allows the fitness brand to design and create a high performance athletic shoe faster and more efficiently than ever before.

bill-mcinnes-reebok
Bill McInnes, formerly at Nasa, currently at Reebok

McInnis says: “Footwear manufacturing hasn’t dramatically changed over the last 30 years. Every shoe, from every brand is created using molds – an expensive, time-consuming process.

“With Liquid Factory, we wanted to fundamentally change the way that shoes are made, creating a new method to manufacture shoes without molds. This opens up brand new possibilities both for what we can create, and the speed with which we can create it.

“With this new process, we were able to program robots to create the entire shoe outsole, without molds, by drawing in layers with a high-energy liquid material to create the first ever energy-return outsole, which performs dramatically better than a typical rubber outsole.

“The all-new Liquid Factory process is also used to create a unique fit system that stretches and molds around the foot, providing a three dimensional fit.”

The first concept shoe born from this manufacturing process is the Reebok Liquid Speed. Liquid Speed is an energy return-focused running shoe that also brings the outsole and lacing together in one piece for a comprehensive feel and sensory feedback for the entire foot.

Reebok is releasing the Liquid Speed with a limited edition 300 pair production run.

Each of the 300 pairs is individually numbered, tagged and boxed. They are available at Reebok.com and FinishLine.com for $189.50.

The Liquid Speed shoe was designed and assembled in the USA and created with a three-way collaboration between Reebok, BASF and Rampf Group in Wixom, Michigan. Final assembly for the Liquid Speed shoe took place at Reebok Headquarters in Canton, Massachusetts.

In early 2017, Reebok plans to open its own Liquid Factory manufacturing lab in collaboration with AF Group, of Lincoln, Rhode Island.

McInnis says: “One of the most exciting things about Liquid Factory is the speed. We can create and customize the design of shoes in real time, because we’re not using molds – we’re simply programming a machine.

“Liquid Factory is not just a new way of making things, it’s a new speed of making things.”

The Reebok Future team is Reebok’s brand new innovation department dedicated to creating new technologies, ideas, techniques and prototypes.

Reebok’s president, Matt O’Toole, says: “Reebok has a long history of innovation and our commitment to looking outside our industry to drive this forward is big part of that.

“The Reebok Future team was created to innovate not only the products we make, but also the process by which we make them. We’re looking at how we can bring speed, customization and enhanced product performance to the process of creating footwear – and Liquid Factory is a very exciting development in this area.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industry, Manufacturing, News Tagged With: create, factory, footwear, liquid, manufacturing, molds, process, reebok, shoe, shoes, speed

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • Geek+ provides 82 robots to C-StoreMaster’s new $20 million distribution warehouse in Huntsville, Alabama
  • Flexiv launches ‘revolutionary’ force-controlled parallel robot
  • The Core Concepts of Successful Online Stock Investing
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • stow Robotics and Phononic collaborate to design cold chain fulfillment solutions
  • Three strikes and you’re out! Humans give up on robots after multiple mistakes
  • China overtakes USA in robot density
  • Luwu Intelligence launches ‘world’s first’ Raspberry Pi robotic dog with arm
  • Ronovo Surgical raises $50 million to commercialize robotic laparoscopy system
  • Wandelbots expands no-code solution to US with Yaskawa as early customer

Most Read

  • Supply chain robotics company Symbotic reports $12 billion in orders
    Supply chain robotics company Symbotic reports $12 billion in orders
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • DHL becomes first to install Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot to unload trucks
    DHL becomes first to install Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot to unload trucks
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Wandelbots expands no-code solution to US with Yaskawa as early customer
    Wandelbots expands no-code solution to US with Yaskawa as early customer
  • Recycleye raises additional $17 million in Series A funding
    Recycleye raises additional $17 million in Series A funding
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
    UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • Starship expands robotic delivery to more college campuses with Grubhub
    Starship expands robotic delivery to more college campuses with Grubhub

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • Geek+ provides 82 robots to C-StoreMaster’s new $20 million distribution warehouse in Huntsville, Alabama
  • Flexiv launches ‘revolutionary’ force-controlled parallel robot
  • The Core Concepts of Successful Online Stock Investing
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • stow Robotics and Phononic collaborate to design cold chain fulfillment solutions
  • Three strikes and you’re out! Humans give up on robots after multiple mistakes
  • China overtakes USA in robot density
  • Luwu Intelligence launches ‘world’s first’ Raspberry Pi robotic dog with arm
  • Ronovo Surgical raises $50 million to commercialize robotic laparoscopy system
  • Wandelbots expands no-code solution to US with Yaskawa as early customer

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

October 2016
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Sep   Nov »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT