Inkjet & Digital Printing

3D Printing and the Future of Athletic Apparel: Zensah Compression Leads The Way

Thursday 01. August 2013 - Zensah brings innovation to apparel with the use of 3D printing

Zensah is announcing at the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (OR) its plans to incorporate 3D printing into its product development and manufacturing process. Zensah will showcase 3D modeling and printing technology live at its booth, #39170. The Zensah engineering team will demonstrate 3D printing as part of its constant focus to innovate sports apparel. Salt Lake City is hosting OR, the largest gathering of retailers and sport executives from July 31(st) – August 3(rd). It attracts hundreds of brands to showcase their newest products.
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing, in which a three-dimensional object is constructed by adding material in layers. The world is following the emergence of 3D printing and its varied applications. While its future role is still unclear, companies are using the technology to perform rapid prototyping. 3D Printing is a natural progression for Zensah, its roots strong in technology and innovation. Zensah is the first major sports apparel company to market and sell products created on a 3D printer. With this new technology, they are able to speed up production and facilitate the emergence of customized apparel and other products. Also, while many companies are only using plastics such as PLA and ABS, Zensah is innovating by experimenting with nylon and other nonconventional raw materials.
“Zensah was the first to introduce high-tech 3D seamless compression apparel ten years ago. This week we are again leading the charge in innovation through 3D printing,” said company spokesperson Ryan Oliver. “We see Zensah as being on the cusp of a burgeoning field of integrating 3D printing with apparel. This will eventually lead to super smart textiles, wearable technologies, and things we haven’t even imagined. We are focused on creating 3D products that will help athletes reach their goals.”