A First in the Sports Industry! Mizuno Manufactures the Ultimate Custom Sole Original Shoes with 3D Printers: "3D U-Fit"

Mizuno has developed technology to design and manufacture custom-integrated soles using 3D printers in the sports industry for the first time. The order reception for personal fitting shoes "3D U-Fit" will begin in April. "3D U-Fit" measures individual foot shapes and creates an integrated sole tailored to that data, allowing the creation of original shoes that fit each foot perfectly. Let's explore the full details of the revolutionary new era of shoes that "3D U-Fit" heralds.

Create Shoes that Fit Your Feet Perfectly

Many people struggle to find the right shoes due to wide, narrow, or uneven foot shapes. Selecting shoes made for wider feet may cause the heel to be loose, or buying shoes that fit the left foot can leave the right foot feeling too roomy. "3D U-Fit" is designed to solve such issues.
 
In traditional manufacturing processes, the sole, which is responsible for most of the shoe's functionality, had technological constraints that made it difficult to easily customize for individuals. However, by leveraging 3D printing technology, "3D U-Fit" eliminates those constraints. Measuring the individual foot shape and creating an integrated sole based on that data allows for the production of original shoes that fit each person's feet perfectly.
 
What inspired the creation of "3D U-Fit"? The development team’s Kenjiro Kita from Mizuno Corporation recalls a certain experience that played a role in this.
 
“This dates back more than 20 years. We received a request to make shoes for a child. Although they were an ordinary person, the child had a disability that caused foot deformity, making standard shoes unsuitable. We were asked to create sports-style shoes designed to fit this child’s feet.
 
"We attempted to make them, but the technology at the time made it extraordinarily time-consuming and costly. While we could create a one-of-a-kind shoe for top athletes, providing custom-made shoes for the general public was not feasible from a business standpoint.
 
"A lot of time has passed since then, but the thought that we could use the latest technology to make shoes fit each person's feet more reasonably and smartly led to the start of the '3D U-Fit' development.”