Porsche and Puma Unveil New 3D Printed Sneakers, 3D MTRX
Puma and Porsche Design, a brand dedicated to sportswear and accessories from the famous car brand, have partnered to design the 3D MTRX sneaker, whose midsole was 3D printed. The midsole has a lattice structure, but is inspired by the Porsche Design logo as it is in actually the pattern is the famous cube of the brand repeated. A shape that would not have been possible to design other than by 3D printing. Moreover, thanks to this production method, the two partners claim that the sole offers better performance in terms of tear resistance, flexibility and mechanical resilience.
3D printed shoe soles, and sometimes complete shoes, are not new. The technique is very popular in the market, especially for customizing products. The global 3D printed footwear market continues to grow and, according to ReportLinker, is expected to grow at a rate of nearly 20% between 2022 and 2027.
The 3D printed midsole
Porsche Design highlights the honeycomb structure of the soles, inspired by the brand’s logo, as well as the elastic resins that make them up, supposedly guaranteeing superior performance, durability and comfort compared to foam soles. In terms of performance, Porsche Design even states that the soles would be able to restore “vertical energy” provided by the user during each stride in the form of horizontal movement forward, up to 83%. The polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) used in the 3D MTRX also provide mechanical strength, snag resistance and flexibility, says Porsche Design, which subjected the soles to more than one million compression cycles in laboratory tests.
However, Porsche Design says little about the manufacturing process of the shoes, stating only that the 3D printed sole was “developed exclusively for Porsche Design”. We will not know the process of 3D printing used – a priori a resin process which is often the case with 3D printed shoes, take for example those made by Carbon – Porsche simply indicated that the use of this technique allows “a soft cushioning and a great stability all day” as well as a very high lightness. And though the rest of the shoe is not 3D printed, the details in carbon fiber and leather on the upper still are beautiful to admire.
The sneakers are available in white and black
Porsche Design’s 3D MTRX sneakers are available in two colors, either in white with a black outsole, or in black with a black sole. Still, count on the sum of $430 if you want to buy this pair of shoes. If you would like to learn more about the shoes, you can go to Porsche’s website HERE.
What do you think of the new 3D MTRX sneakers from Puma and Porsche Design? Will you buy a pair? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*All Photo Credits: Porsche Design
