Nike blends advanced additive manufacturing with sport‑science data to deliver groundbreaking footwear such as the Flyprint 3D‑printed textile upper and lattice midsoles tuned for elite marathoners.
Table of Contents
Mission & Vision
“Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete®* in the world.”*
Nike’s additive‑manufacturing initiatives aim to shorten prototyping cycles, unlock personalised performance, and drive sustainable, on‑demand production at scale.
Key Products & Technologies
| Product / Tech | What Makes It Stand Out |
|---|---|
| Flyprint Upper | World’s first 3D‑printed textile upper; fused‑filament TPU lattice tailored to pressure‑map data |
| Vaporfly Elite 4% Prototype | Integrated Flyprint upper + ZoomX carbon‑plate midsole; worn by Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin 2018 |
| Swoosh Toolkit Additive Manufacturing Lab | In‑house facility accelerating digital last scanning and lattice midsole R&D |
| Nike iD Custom Platform (future) | Roadmap: user‑driven parametric tweaks to sole lattices and fit zones |
Notable Projects & Collaborations
- Breaking2 Initiative – Flyprint prototypes iterated in under 4 days per cycle for sub‑2‑hour marathon project (2017‑18)
- Tokyo 2020 Olympic Track Spikes – 3D‑printed spike plates tuned per athlete and event
- Partnership with HP MJF / Siemens AM for rapid tooling and small‑batch lattices (ongoing)
Our Take
Nike treats 3D printing as a performance multiplier, not a gimmick. By focusing on elite‑athlete feedback loops, they prove out tech at the highest stress levels before democratising it down the product line. Expect Flyprint‑style uppers to hit mainstream racing shoes as material costs fall and print throughput rises.
How to Contact / Follow
- Website: https://www.nike.com
- Innovation Blog: https://news.nike.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nike
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nike
