Clarks Deploys Z Corp.'s 3D Printing Technology to Transform Development Process

Footwear provider for men, women and children Clarks has said that with the help of Z Corporation 3D printing technology, it has transformed its development process to release better, more stylish shoes earlier in the fashion life cycle.

Thanks to Z Corp’s 3D printing technology, the company has been able to remove weeks and in some cases, months from the design process by digitizing prototyping.

Traditionally to move concepts toward production, shoemakers use paper sketches, factory-manufactured samples and design reviews, and multiple cycles.

Using 3D printing of new digital designs, Clarks' digital development team can create detailed, colorful physical shoe models in hours. Previously, the company used to take two weeks for manufactured samples to return.

“Rather than wait two or three weeks for a costly prototype to arrive, we now have a full, multicolor prototype in our hands in a day,” said Ross Authers, digital development manager at Clarks, adding that the company saves a lot of time and money both in production and shipping.

“This more efficient process significantly enhances the quality of the final shoe, which arrives in the store much earlier in the style cycle,” Authers said.

Z Corp’s ZPrinter enables Clarks to produce physical models from 3D computer-aided design data nearly as easily as a businessperson can print a letter from a PDF file. Company officials said that these models become a crucial part of the design review and provide the same information as manufactured samples.

Clarks prints one or two physical 3D models per day. Company officials said that normally, it would normally take Clarks months to go from concept to approved product. Now thanks to the new automation strategy, involving digital shoe design and Z Corp.’s 3D printing, the cycle time can shrink to weeks.

“3D printing is the technology that brings all of our development advances together, helping us evolve from the best shoemakers in the world into the best innovators in the world,” Authers said.

Z Corp.’s 3D technologies help product designers, engineers and architects create the right designs the first time. Professionals use ZPrinter 3D printers, ZBuilder Ultra rapid prototyping machines and ZScanner 3D laser scanners to compress the design cycle, generate new concepts, communicate clearly, foster collaboration, and reduce errors.

Last month, the company said that its 3D printing technology helped identify First World War Soldier.