Today, Nike announced a new partnership with HP that will accelerate the sportswear brand's capabilities to create 3D printed footwear.
"The move builds off of over three years of innovation in the 3D printing and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) space that has allowed Nike to make and tweak prototypes in hours, instead of months," the brand wrote in a press release. "This process has fast-tracked the creation of everything from the [Nike Zoom Superfly Flyknit] track spike to football cleats, such as the Nike Vapor Laser Talon and Nike Vapor HyperAgility."
For now, it sounds like Nike's moves in the 3D printing space are focused more on prototyping and sampling than actual manufacturing of sneakers to be sold at retail. But, the brand does now have access to a powerful tool enabling 3D printed production.
USA Today reports that Nike will use the new HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution, the first 3D printer for large-scale production. The printer was announced today by Stephen Nigro, head of 3D printing at HP.
Nike hasn't disclosed what sort of gear it will use the 3D printer for.
