CAST STUDY

Inkbit Technology Enabling Rapid Prototyping for STAND+ in Collaboration with Makelab.

STAND+, a leader in non-slip safety footwear, needed a more effective way to prototype their medicalgrade protective shoes. Traditional methods were proving inefficient, so they turned to Makelab, which utilized Inkbit’s Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) Technology and TEPU™ 30A soft elastic material. This partnership allowed STAND+ to streamline their development process, reduce costs, and bring their innovative footwear to market more quickly.

Challenge

STAND+’s Prototyping Hurdle: Developing Functional, Wear-Testable Safety Footwear Prototypes

STAND+, an innovative non-slip safety shoe company, faced significant challenges in the prototyping phase of their medical-grade protective footwear. Founder Rob Gregg aimed to design comfortable and durable shoes for healthcare professionals, but the early prototypes were visually accurate yet functionally inadequate—solid and unwearable, making wear testing impossible. Traditional prototyping methods were slow, costly, and limited in their ability to iterate quickly, which hindered STAND+’s ability to bring their product to market efficiently

“The problem was that we could make something that looked like our shoe designs, but they were rock solid and we couldn’t wear test them. We had to move straight to opening production molds to figure out if we got it right.”

| Rob Gregg, Founder & CEO, STAND+

Solution

STAND+’s Prototyping Hurdle: Developing Functional, Wear-Testable Safety Footwear Prototypes
Inkbit’s Technology and TEPU™ Material

STAND+ sought a more efficient and cost-effective solution, leading them to collaborate with Makelab, who utilized Inkbit’s Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) Technology and TEPU™ 30A – Soft Elastic material. This combination offered two major advancements:

1. Process Advancements

Inkbit’s VCJ Technology, enabled rapid prototyping with high precision. The integration of digital design tools allowed for quick modifications, and the ability to produce multiple iterations without expensive mold changes, reduced the prototyping timeline from months to about a week. This technology’s ability to print intricate multi-material parts with high accuracy was crucial in achieving functional prototypes that could be wear-tested.

2. Material Advancements

The introduction of Inkbit’s TEPU™ 30A soft elastic material provided the perfect balance of flexibility and durability, making it ideal for medical footwear. This material ensured that the prototypes were not only accurate in design but also functional, allowing STAND+ to conduct necessary wear tests. The use of TEPU™ 30A material significantly cut prototyping costs, enabling STAND+ to reallocate resources to other critical areas such as marketing and research.

Key Takeaways

Inkbit and Makelab’s Collaboration Drives STAND+’s Success, Enabling Rapid Innovation in Safety Footwear

The collaboration between Inkbit, Makelab, and STAND+ exemplifies how advanced 3D printing technology can transform product development processes. Inkbit’s VCJ Technology and TEPU™ 30A material, combined with Makelab’s production expertise, enabled STAND+ to overcome traditional manufacturing hurdles, bringing their innovative footwear to market faster and more cost-effectively. This partnership not only facilitated STAND+’s growth in the safety footwear industry but also highlights the broader potential of advanced 3D printing solutions to drive business growth and operational efficiency across various sectors.