Nike
Nike Cleats
In terms of implementing technology into sporting goods or vice-a-versa nobody is faster than Nike. You only have to think of their use of Nike+ with smartphones or their new Fuelbands to see how Nike have pushed the boundaries of sport meeting technology.
It comes as no surprise that they are in pole position as the first sports manufacturer to use 3D printing in the design for their new football (of the American variety) cleats (that’s boots to us English folk) Nike Vapor Laser Talon.
In Gridiron football were speed is so key the designing of new cleats that promise to make you faster is huge business. By 3D printing the plates of the cleats using SLS techniques Nike claim that they will make you faster:
“The SLS process allows for the engineering and creation of shapes not possible with traditional manufacturing processes, as well as the ability to make design updates within hours instead of months to truly accelerate the innovation process to never seen speeds. “
The sportswear giant have got ultra-Olympian Michael Johnson in on the design process too and he thinks that the new shapes and moulds could prove a huge success:
“Nike’s new 3D printed plate is contoured to allow football athletes to maintain their drive position longer and more efficiently, helping them accelerate faster through the critical first 10 yards of the 40.”
With Nokia, Nike and Lego all jumping on the 3D printing bandwagon it shows no sign of letting up. Who will be next? Tell us below…
