The Adidas Group says that its pilot plant for fast footwear production in Ansbach, Germany, is ready to start commercial production in 2017. The Speed Factory is to operate mostly with robots. The project was unveiled last year as part of the group's “Creating the new” strategy, which has speed as one of its key components. The idea is to bring some production closer to consumers, with production technology that allows for more customized footwear. The factory will be operated by Oechsler Motion across an area of 4,600 square meters. The project contributes to a sudden burst of innovation in sports footwear manufacturing, with 3D printing techniques and other technology that could help to reduce lead times in the footwear category. Started as a German shoe-making business, Adidas shifted nearly all of its European footwear production to Asia in the early nineties. Herbert Hainer, the company's chief executive, told journalists on a visit last week that Adidas is hoping to open another Speed Factory in the U.S. next year, for the two plants to jointly produce at least one million pairs in the next couple of years. As reported by Reuters, Hainer said the new plants would supplement rather than replace production in Asia. The company apparently intends to produce 500 prototypes for sale this year ahead of the commercial launch in 2017. The factory in Ansbach is expected to employ 160 people.

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