New 4D Fusio model from Adidas confirms 3D printed midsoles are here to stay
And they're getting more colorful
In spite of all the doubts about pricing and workflow, in spite of tough competition from Asian footwear manufacturers, adidas’ idea to bet on Carbon’s technology for footwear midsoles continues to pay off. Pricepoints for some models have dropped below $150 and new models keep coming out, such as the multi-colored 4D Fusio. And with many new technologies coming into this segment, 3D printed footwear is most definitely here to stay.
the 4D Fusio is a lightweight running sneaker with the upper made from Primeknit technology, which is the ideal combination for automating the footwear manufacturing workflow at adidas. This upper’s color is a mix of black, pink, and orange knits: the main innovation of the 4D Fusio is that the 3D printed midsole is also multicolor.
Using Carbons’ proprietary Digital Light Synthesis tech, the lattice weave of light and oxygen to create a workable resin appears thinner than other 4D line products. While adidas has already begun offering white and black colored 3D printed midsoles, to differentiate form the original greenish base color, the 4D Fusio actually presents a mix of colors with the white tip gradually changing an entirely new bright orange color (which matches parts of the upper).
