HP Inc. announced FitStation powered by HP, a new platform that will deliver custom-fitted, individual footwear through 3D scanning, dynamic gait analysis, and manufacturing technologies. The platform is the next step in the company’s journey to reinvent how the world designs and manufactures with commercial 3D technologies.
FitStation powered by HP is a hardware and software platform that captures 3D scans of the foot, foot pressure measurements and gait analysis to create a one-of-a-kind digital profile of each foot. It provides individual off-the-shelf shoe and insole recommendations, 3D printed insoles, and custom footwear. The system will use HP Multi Jet Fusion printing technology to manufacture a 3D printed insole.
Said Louis Kim, Global Head of Immersive Computing, Personal Systems, HP Inc., “We are reinventing the footwear shopping experience, bringing a new level of customization and personalization. We are stitching HP’s capabilities in 3D scanning and 3D printing and are working with leading partners within the footwear industry to develop this revolutionary platform.”
FitStation works with Superfeet, a leader in over-the-counter insoles. The platform is in pilot programs in select stores across 4,000 retail locations where Superfeet has a presence.
Steitz Secura, the specialist for safety shoes manufactured in Germany, will use FitStation to aid in its focus on comfort, preventative health and safety.
“Until today, the technology to deliver a 3D printed insole that meets Superfeet’s exacting standards didn’t exist,” said Eric Hayes, Chief Marketing Officer at Superfeet. “Our new solution allows us to create individualized shape and fit.”
“This footwear innovation campaign moves us to the technological forefront of the industry,” said Steitz Secura CEO Michael Huth. “The concept of custom safety shoes is an innovation and will be a benchmark for the future.”
FitStation is reinventing the in-store retail experience for shoppers by delivering custom results that are produced locally. Customers use the digital foot-scanning platform to create a profile, and receive off-the-shelf insole and shoe recommendations and custom 3D printed insoles. Or customers can design their own pair of custom footwear.
With FitStation’s 3D scanning capabilities, it collects the customer’s foot length, width, and volumetric data and compares that to the available shoes to determine the ideal fit. FitStation also provides off-the-shelf insole recommendations for added support within shoes.
Alternately, FitStation can be used to create polyurethane injected midsoles that vary in density based on the customer’s needs.
Consumers are not the only one who will benefit. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize the footwear industry by disrupting the usual supply chain. FitStation enables local on-time manufacturing, allowing retailers to sell products they don’t have to keep in inventory.
HP Inc.
www.hp.com
