3D Printing

CRP Brings the First 3D Printed Ski Boot Prototype to the ISPO Fair

Each year, more than 2,560 international exhibitors and more than 81,000 visitors attend the ISPO fair in Munich to show and view the latest products for outdoor activities, skiing, health and fitness, as well as the latest innovations in materials and fabrics. This edition of the fair has been enhanced with a cutting-edge application in the ski products category: a fully 3D printed Ski boot prototype.

3D-printedSkibootWindformSP2

The inventor of the Easystand ski boot, Franz Egger, syas that he used his over 30-year experience in the sports apparel sector to develop a deeper understanding of what a ski-boot should provide, in terms of comfort and performance. “With ‘Easystand’,” he explained, “I wanted to find innovative solutions that will prove valuable both for manufacturers and for retailers of sporting goods and skiers. My main goal is bring as many people as possible to the slopes, including both beginners and former skiers.”

The innovative aspect of this project consists implements 3D printing to create three different insoles inside the boot, each of which is higher in the front than at the back. This ensures a better fit in the heel and more space for toes. The skier is, thus, able to exert more pressure at the start of the curve, while maintaining a better grip, which translates into a way of skiing that is considerably safer and less exposed to the risk of injury. The boot is characterized by a split insole and an integrated adjustable wedge, connected to a controller by means of a rod. By acting on the regulator, the wedge can be brought into three different positions, varying the position of the foot inside the boot.

3D-printedSkibootWindformSP1

The structure of the boot was made entirely using CRP Technology’s Windform SP material, the flagship material in the Windform family of high performance products, via laser sintering. The highly versatile Windform SP is a black composite polyamide loaded with carbon fiber and is also waterproof and has excellent sealing characteristics both for liquids (water, oil, gasoline, etc.) and gas. Because of its mechanical strength, it is used in contexts which require a high impact resistance under repeated stress, such as vibrations or shocks, without the risk of breakage, due to the material’s elasticity. Unlike other materials for 3D printing, Windform SP is able to preserve its distinctive characteristics even at low temperatures, an aspect that is of great importance in the case of products for skiing.

Apparently CRP’s work is paying off, as the Easystand won an ISPO award in the category of products for skiing. The project has gained significant recognition by a jury of independent professionals working in the sporting goods industry, so this award is a significant point of reference both for the industry and for end users. The project represents a new chapter in the application of laser sintering technology in the sector of clothing and accessories, where materials make a significant difference. Not to mention the radical difference in comfort and performance that a Ski boot made specifically for the shape of a person’s foot can make. That is what 3D printing is all about.

EasyStandWindformSPSkiboot