Arkema and Carbon are strengthening their longstanding partnership to advance additive manufacturing technologies for footwear, sporting goods and other consumer products.
The companies have collaborated for more than 13 years, combining Arkema’s expertise in specialty materials with Carbon’s digital manufacturing technology to develop high-performance 3D-printing applications.
Carbon develops elastomeric resins for its Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology, drawing on Arkema’s expertise in ultraviolet (UV)-curable specialty materials. Together, these technologies enable manufacturers to create complex lattice structures with customizable properties for cushioning, support and energy return.
Advancing Customized Footwear Production
The collaboration supports the development of footwear and other consumer products that can be tailored to individual performance and comfort requirements.
One example is Vivobarefoot’s custom 3D-printed sandal, which uses individual foot scans to create made-to-order footwear. The approach allows products to be tailored to individual consumers while potentially reducing excess inventory and material waste.
“3D printing is becoming increasingly competitive with traditional manufacturing, giving brands greater freedom to rethink how products are designed and produced,” said Jason Rolland, chief technology officer at Carbon.
“Arkema’s material science and expertise in scaling up give our team a reliable foundation, so we can focus on developing elastomers that unlock new levels of performance, comfort and customization,” he added.
Supporting Material Innovation and Sustainability
Beyond footwear, the companies see opportunities to expand additive manufacturing into additional consumer markets where product performance, customization and production flexibility are increasingly important.
The partnership also reflects growing interest in manufacturing methods that can support more personalized products without relying entirely on conventional mass-production processes.
“As brands look for new ways to deliver greater performance and personalization while reducing waste, we see tremendous opportunity to rethink how consumer products are designed and brought to market,” said Julie Haevermans, vice president of marketing at Arkema Coating Solutions.
The companies plan to continue developing materials and manufacturing applications that support new product designs while emphasizing performance and sustainability.
