Adidas to open an automated shoe factory in Germany and the United States

By Money Times

Oct 21, 2015 10:21 AM EDT

Adidas will open Speedfactory in Germany and in the U.S. The Speedfactory will boost the manufacturing process of Adidas shoes through the automated technology. The two factories will be fully integrated by the year 2020.

Manz, a German company specializing in engineering, tied up with Adidas to build an automated manufacturing technology for Adidas sports gear.

In a report from the U.S. Fashion Mag, Adidas shoes will be produced in a resource-friendly, customized and a cost-effective manner. The custom-tailored textiles, shoe components and accessories will be manufactured in an automated basis. Adidas plans to build the production in America and Germany.

The automated factory will cut the need for workers and will reduce the manufacturing time. "Speed wins in every sport. And speed is a competitive advantage in our industry, too. Therefore, we are looking forward to working closely with Manz AG as part of our Speedfactory initiative that will allow us bring production closer to our consumer," Executive Board Member of Global Brands Adidas Eric Liedtke said.

Reuters specified Adidas is currently collaborating with the German authorities, robotic firms and academics about the new technology.

It said Adidas is driven to catch up with its rival Nike. The American company had recently launched Flyknit, a new model of shoes made from machine-knitted fiber.

In addition, according to Portland Business Journal, Adidas had just unveiled a 3-D printing technology this month. The 3D printer will be used in making midsole to match the runner's exact foot contour.

The footwear production industry had flocked to Southeast Asian countries for decades. It appears that Adidas wanted to shift the manufacturing trend to Western markets, closer to more affluent countries.

The first Speedfactory will be opened in Ansbach, Germany next year. The company expects the two Speedfactories will be fully operational in 2020.

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