New Balance have partnered with 3D printing giant 3D Systems. Through extensive work and research together, they have created a trainer with an unusual midsole that New Balance says will “Represent an advance in high performance running shoes.”

The 3D printed outsole provides superior flexibility, balance, lightness, and durability. The material used has been developed by 3D Systems which have made many advances in materials science to achieve the promised material properties, and it is called DuraForm Flex TPU. The midsoles are created through Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) from the elastomeric powder.

New Balance and 3D Systems believe that this technique has not only brought about superior technical advancements but also offers the potential for custom shoes to be made for or by the consumer. There may come a point when consumers simply buy and download a file of the shoe before printing it at home. Or they might collect their custom 3D printed shoes at a New Balance shop.

Sean Murphy, the Senior Manager of Innovation and Engineering at New Balance says that: “To deliver this level of performance with a 3D printed component, we paired experts in running and biomechanics with leaders in plastics engineering, material development and generative design. These are the types of collaborations that will drive footwear design and manufacturing in the future.”