Sols Systems, manufacturer of 3D printed orthotics, is set to be a leading player in the 3D printed footwear market. Co-founded by Kegan Schouwenburg, the company is already rolling in investment capital. In addition to a seed round of funding totalling $1.75 million, in December, the company recently announced a total of $6.4 million in funding from Lux Capital.
Orthopedic doctors can run Sols in their offices, using an iPad app to scan the feet of their patients. The company, then, 3D prints a custom insole, reducing the time and the price seen by traditional insoles. So far, Sols is beta testing the program with 50 doctors, shipping about 500 insoles. Doctors can set their own prices, with a suggested price of $500, set by Sols. In order to expand the product to consumers, the company will be launching an ‘over-the-counter’ insole for about $100 in 2015.
Kegan believes that Sols offers a significant upgrade to the way footwear is typically offered. Shoes are not engineered to fit, and it’s something we’ve been okay with for however long.
3D printing orthotics is a simple, but effective, way to demonstrate the power that 3D printing has to enhance the production of clothing and medical devices. Without getting into the complex realm of 3D-printed clothing or shoes, Sols can use the technology to make simple objects tailored to individual clients. They can produce a custom product that improves the life of a client as a proof-of-concept for what the technology can do for our lives as a whole.
