Formnext Reveal: A Partnership Built for Scale
At Formnext 2024 HP announced a “strategic partnership” with French-backed start-up Something Added, handing over its Barcelona D-Factory pilot line and 10 Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) printers. All3DP’s Anatol Locker opened his May 28 feature by stressing the production numbers those machines already hit: 50 k–100 k midsoles a year—and the fact that a second plant is already planned for the U.S.
Why HP Picked Something Added
All3DP highlights two quiet advantages.
- Decathlon lineage. The investor behind Something Added sits inside the Decathlon group, which has been tweaking HP printers and materials since 2018.
- Open-materials mindset. HP’s newest polymer programs let partners qualify and color-tune powders themselves, slashing the iteration cycle for consumer products.
From Lattice to Lifestyle: Tech Details that Matter
Locker’s interview with François Minec, HP’s VP & Global Head of Polymers, digs into the engineering:
| MJF Advantage | Impact on Footwear | Quote Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Support-free printing of complex lattices | Tailored cushioning, zoned ventilation, lighter midsoles | “Additive manufacturing enables structures impossible with molding.” |
| Voxel-level control of material & color | Orange energy-return zones next to stiffer gray plates in a single build | “We can now dial different functionalities into the same part.” |
| Design-led compensation for material gaps | Using stiff lattice ribs to turn soft TPU into a responsive spring | “Good 3D design can offset the limits of any one polymer.” |
Materials: Evonik and Arkema Now in the Game
All3DP notes HP’s long-running PA-12 from Evonik, but the story also flags Arkema’s new PA 12 S—a powder with higher re-use rates and better cosmetics—giving brands real choice (and price pressure) for the first time.
Proof Beyond Footwear: Ocado’s 600-Series Bots
Minec tells All3DP the door is open to any company with a “unique, scalable” value proposition. Locker backs that up with HP’s showcase proof-point: Ocado’s grocery-picking 600-series robot, over 50 % 3D-printed and five times lighter than its predecessor—evidence that HP will co-develop materials when the business case is right. (Ocado Group)
Business Playbook for Other Brands
All3DP’s takeaway is practical:
- Start with an application that can justify additive’s premium (high mix, need for mass customization, or weight savings).
- Lean on HP’s open-materials platform to tweak color, Shore hardness, or elasticity without waiting for a brand-new resin.
- Design for print first. HP’s free Lattice Designer lets engineers trade material cost for geometric performance.
- Think factory, not lab. Ten 5600-series printers and a finishing cell are already enough for mid-six-figure unit volumes annually.
Sustainability & Localization Angles
Locker sprinkles in two more nuggets:
- Powder reusability of up to 85 % with PA 12 S cuts waste and cost. (HP)
- Near-consumer production. A Barcelona hub today, a U.S. hub next—shorter shipping and lower CO₂ than Asia-centric mold making. (All3DP)
Why All3DP’s Coverage Stands Out
- Interview-driven. Instead of recycling the press release, All3DP pressed HP on concrete capacity numbers and expansion plans.
- Materials nuance. The article explains how material choice and lattice design interplay—a detail many tech outlets skip.
- Cross-industry lens. By name-checking Ocado, the piece shows footwear is only the first stop on HP’s polymer roadmap.
The Road Ahead
With pilot production underway and a stateside factory on the drawing board, Something Added could be shipping six-figure volumes of custom midsoles by 2026 if demand and printer installs keep pace. For brands watching from the sidelines, Locker’s closing message is clear: approach HP with a problem worth solving, and the materials lab—and maybe even an entire factory—could open up for you next.
Key sources: All3DP feature by Anatol Locker (May 28 2025); HP Formnext 2024 press release; Ocado 600-series bot announcement; HP–Arkema PA 12 S release.
