Sports and footwear giant Adidas (Herzogenaurach / Germany; www.adidas-group.com) extended its collaboration with 3D printing technology specialist Carbon (Redwood City, California / USA; www.carbon3d.com) beyond high-performance footwear (see Plasteurope.com of 25.01.2018). The two companies are now producing 3D-printed face shields to support healthcare organisations, first responders and underserved communities. The same elastomeric polyurethane material created through the collaboration and typically used in the Adidas “4D” midsoles is now used to create a piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be sanitised and reused.

Carbon has scaled production of PPE up from 18,000 face shields a week to upwards of 50,000 per week with the support and quick production turnaround of the 3D printing technology. To help expand PPE production, Carbon is sharing print files on its global network, so anyone with access to a Carbon printer and material will be able to create face shields to address needs in local areas, said Adidas.

The German sportswear specialist has taken other steps to support Covid-19 relief efforts, including donations to the World Health Organization (WHO), the China Youth Development Foundation, the Red Cross and hospitals in South Korea. Adidas has also incorporated other types of materials into new footwear designs, including recycled plastics waste (see Plasteurope.com of 07.02.2020)