There is such a demand for high-performance ice sports footwear that BMW has begun manufacturing customized 3D printed traction aids for the 2025 Winter Olympics.
Unlike track and field, where different spikes are available to suit individual preferences, the options for ice sports have so far been limited. BMW has therefore teamed up with the German Federation for Coxed, Coxless and Steel Bobsleigh (BSD) to come up with an innovative solution: customized spikes developed using advanced 3D printing technology, designed to maximize athletes' performance and comfort at the highest level of competition.
Claudia Rackl, BMW Group Additive Manufacturing Programs and Qualification, said:
"For more than 30 years, we have been using 3D printing to manufacture prototype parts, one-off customized parts as well as mass-produced parts." "The main advantages of 3D printing are time and cost savings and a high degree of flexibility. This allows us to quickly manufacture, test and effectively optimize different variants."
"We tested the pegboard at the World Cup and received a lot of positive feedback from the athletes," said coxed bobsleigh head coach René Spies. "That said, there are still some adjustments to be made, but we expect to have the perfect shoe for competition by the 2026 Winter Olympics at the latest."
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