Sportswear manufacturer Adidas has opened an innovative production facility in Germany that uses advances in robotics to deliver customised, small-run products more quickly. The "Speedfactory" is intended to bring production of premium products closer to key markets, cutting shipping costs and reducing beginning-to-end design and production time to as little as 45 days – currently it can take up to 18 months. "The Speedfactory will be the first step towards a new era for sportswear," said Adidas' head of global production, Thomas Schmitt-Matzen.
Sportswear manufacturer Adidas has opened an innovative production facility in Germany that uses advances in robotics to deliver customised, small-run products more quickly. The "Speedfactory" is intended to bring production of premium products closer to key markets, cutting shipping costs and reducing beginning-to-end design and production time to as little as 45 days – currently it can take up to 18 months. The first products to be offered using the new facility are a series of six running shoes inspired by different cities, with the first one, themed on London, launching this week at £169.50 ($220).