Covestro will showcase its new applications of TPU materials in additive manufacturing at the K 2019 trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Covestro said in a statement on October 1 that the company will showcase 3D printed orthopedic insoles that are efficiently produced using "an automated and completely digital process with almost no waste."
Orthopedic insoles are usually produced by hand and undergo a time-consuming manufacturing process.
Parts that need to be developed can be sent to anywhere in the world in the form of 3D files. In the field, small or large quantities of products are produced through data transmission.
"The thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has good properties and is therefore the material of choice for insoles," said Patrick Rosso, Covestro's head of additive manufacturing.
The company's TPU products have a variety of hardnesses that can be adjusted by changing the structure of the print.
According to Covestro, this allows manufacturers to produce insoles that are tailored to suit the site.
Covestro and an anonymous partner are currently testing different shoe designs to determine which is the easiest to print and the most durable.
According to Covestro, initial testing shows promising products in terms of functionality and longevity.
Covestro believes that the traditional insoles currently produced by foaming or processing rigid foam blocks can be improved by 3D printing.