By Lori Zimmer / Source: Ecouterre

Adidas is sprinting into the future with the first shoe manufactured almost entirely by robots. The “Futurecraft M.F.G.” (a.k.a. Made for Germany) unveiled, is the first product to roll off the assembly line of the sportswear giant’s Ansbach-based automated “Speedfactory” facility, which Adidas says is just the first in a global network that will “bring production to where the consumer is” and produce footwear even faster than before. The new kicks, which required human intervention only in the final assembly, features the brand’s signature “Primeknit” upper, which is constructed in a way that creates minimal waste, along with a three-dimensionally printed “Boost” midsole.

FUTURE SHOE

Adidas also harnessed a motion-capture technology called “Aramis” to map the natural movement of the foot and create a more supportive and flexible shoe.

Eventually, the Speedfactory process will allow the company to create shoes tailored specifically to the needs of the wearer.

Adidas envisions a decentralized ecosystem of Speedfactories in cities all over the world.

“From a design perspective, Speedfactory presents us with the opportunity to explore new ways of creating the perfect shoe,” Ben Herath, vice president of design at Adidas, said in a statement. “The facility allows us to use data and analytics to shape the future of performance product—we can create a shoe using real-life insight, which can then provide real benefits to the athlete. The Adidas Futurecraft M.F.G. is the start of an exciting journey.”

Although all 500 iterations of the Futurecraft M.F.G. will retail exclusively in Germany, Adidas plans to extend the Speedfactory model to other markets, including the United States, where a similar facility is set to be constructed in Cherokee County in Atlanta.

The Futurecraft M.F.G., in other words, is only the first step. Adidas envisions a decentralized ecosystem of Speedfactories in cities all over the world, which it says will cut down significantly on shipping emissions while better meeting the needs of its customers.

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