New Balance introduces the world’s first 3D printed running shoes
Runners, meet the Zante Generate, the world’s first high performance running shoe with a full-length 3D printed midsole.
Proudly printed at our factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts, this midsole allows the shoes to be flexible, supportive and durable. This Friday, April 15th, we’ll release 44 pairs as a nod to our Owner & Chairman, Jim Davis, who purchased the company (44 years ago) on Patriot’s Day in 1972.
“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.”
Through an exclusive collaboration with 3D Systems, we utilized the company’s newly-developed laser sintering powder, DuraForm® TPU Elastomer to make significant advancements in the performance of printed parts for running shoes.For the Zante Generate midsole, we used selective laser sintering (SLS), a process which converts the new powder material into solid cross-sections, layer by layer, using a laser.
The new midsoles leverage the benefits of 3D printing and breakthroughs in available materials to achieve an optimal balance of flexibility, strength, weight and durability in an intricate honeycomb midsole structure.
Within this incredibly flexible midsole, hundreds of small, open cells provide cushioning and structure. The Zante Generate upper is taken from the Fresh Foam Zante v2, which features a bootie construction with an engineered mesh through the midfoot to allow for soft, supple support.
The Zante Generate is more than a pair of running shoes – it’s a testament to our relentless pursuit of innovation. #alwaysinbeta
The 44 pairs will be available starting Friday, April 15th, at 9:00 a.m. EST., for $400 USD on newbalance.com and at our Experience Store at 583 Boylston Street in Boston.
