Adidas are to open a pilot manufacturing facility in Germany to be run almost entirely by robotic technology, as part of their research project, Speedfactory. The facility will produce 500 concept pairs of running shoes in the first half of 2016, with plans to implement full commercial production in the near future.
The Speedfactory research project is aimed at innovating not only the product itself, but also the actual manufacturing process. Jan Hill, the Senior Development Engineer at Adidas, says: “Combining state-of-the-art information technologies with manufacturing processes and innovative products will be key in finding the answers. Speedfactory will be our research vehicle for the next three years to test and try how we can shape the Future of Manufacturing.”
Adidas have responded to consumer demand for quick turnaround of individual, personalized and customizable products. They currently manufacture most of their products in Asia, but Speedfactory is to bring a flexible, decentralized and almost fully automated manufacturing process to the consumer at a local level. Plans for the future include having in-store machines that are able to customize shoes with meticulous attention to detail, as well as utilizing interactive digital technology to improve and enhance the customer experience.
The Speedfactory project will have a positive affect on the environment as well, with a vast reduction in use of adhesives, and of course cutting down on shipping emissions due to the localization of the manufacturing process.
The news comes on the same day that Adidas CEO, Herbert Hainer, announced he would stay with the company until the end of his contract in 2017 after the board of directors revealed they were looking for a new CEO in February. Hainer has been in the same job for almost fifteen years, and said he was confident about the future, expecting increased sales next year.
