New Balance wants to lead the way in domestic manufacturing
05/07/2019
This platform, known as TripleCell, has been developed in partnership with 3D printing specialists Formlabs, with whom New Balance began working in June 2017.
The first fruit of this relationship is a new photopolymer resin known as Rebound Resin. New Balance has said it is designed to create springy, resilient lattice structures that offer the same levels of durability, reliability and longevity associated with injection moulded thermoplastic. The material forms the basis of the TripleCell platform.
The brand has said it will roll out the technology at its factories in the US, adding that it will allow it to establish itself as “a leader in 3D printing and domestic manufacturing”. Katherine Petrecca, general manager of the New Balance Innovation Design Studio said TripleCell has the potential to “disrupt” the industry in performance, but also in customisation and speed to market.
For his part, David Lakatos, chief product officer of Formlabs, said: “3D printing is changing how companies approach manufacturing. With this announcement New Balance is pioneering localised manufacturing.”
He added that by reducing its dependency on moulds at the prototyping and production stages, New Balance will be able to shorten development and production cycles.
The first model to be made as part of the TripleCell platform will be the 990 Sport, one of New Balance’s classic designs. The brand has said that using it has made the product 10% lighter. It will be manufactured at its factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Image credit: New Balance.
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