Shoes 3D printed from coal
The Atomic Layers: S9E7 (00244)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
Today marks the 8th anniversary of the launch of Futurecraft 4D – Adidas’ sports shoe collection that used 3D printing technology from Carbon to manufacture the midsoles.
It was one of the most groundbreaking projects in the history of the AM industry. First, because it opened the doors wide to the footwear industry (where it remains to this day, with its share continuously growing). Second, because it was the first widely publicized 3D application geared toward mass production – and, moreover, targeted at the consumer market!
You can find the project details in the historical article linked below. But today, I want to write about something else – a side story.
You see, this high-profile project was reported by all the major media outlets around the world – most of which had little to no real understanding of 3D printing. One of them was Poland’s Gazeta.pl.
So in an article about this, their editor proudly announced that Adidas had started printing shoes out of coal!
And what’s more – despite the eight years that have passed – that article is still available in its original, unedited form!
One of the top three internet media in Poland is Gazeta.pl – a portal created by Gazeta Wyborcza. It’s the Polish equivalent of The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Times, or Le Figaro. Gazeta Wyborcza has a significant influence on shaping public sentiment in Poland and actively engages in political and ideological matters.
For a large number of Poles, the portal – Gazeta.pl – has been a benchmark for “how to live” in accordance with Western values. Especially those of the European Union (which Poland is part of).
Therefore, working at such an editorial office is considered prestigious, and its editors are seen as experts in their respective fields.
So, on April 7, 2017, an editor at Gazeta.pl named Karol Bogusz decided to write an article about the Adidas–Carbon partnership. Here's what he came up with...
"Adidas has introduced a new line of shoes with a “3D” overprint. The company plans to mass produce footwear using the new technology next year."
"Shoes made from coal?
The critical factor in this type of production is the raw material needed to power 3D printers. The main component is coal. The production of this raw material is currently financed by venture capital firms such as Sequoia Capital. It is also done by funds created by Google, a pioneer in the production of light-sensitive polymer resin, which is thermally cured in the final printing process for product durability."
Let me write that again:
The shoes have a “3D overprint.”
Their main component will be coal, from which they will be 3D printed.
Investment funds created by Google produce resin, which is thermally cured.
Now, ignoring all that nonsense, you may be asking:
“But why coal?”
Well, it’s very simple… The editor put the word “Carbon” into Google Translator, and it translated to “węgiel” (“coal” in Polish), so he assumed the shoes were literally made out of coal.
To make matters worse, this assumption was confirmed by the lead image in Adidas' press release, where the sneakers were black…
At the time, I wrote about this on my Centrum Druku 3D website (~40k UU per month) and the situation was commented on by Bartek Jarkiewicz – then spokesperson for an organization called the Polish 3D Printing Industry Association (now head of sales at Flexoo). Bartek issued an official correction statement to Gazeta.pl’s editorial team.
And nothing. As I mentioned, the article is still live in its original form, and the Futurecraft 4D shoes are still described as “coal shoes.”
I once wrote a piece about this on LinkedIn – on how mainstream media, for years, twisted facts about 3D printing into commercial, consumer-friendly crap that had little to do with reality. How, through ignorance, they misled their readers – never being held accountable for it.
But hey – haven’t the media lied to us many times about much more important things? Do the media even tell the truth anymore? Does it even matter?
For now, I’m heading down to the garage to load up my 3D printer with some coal to overprint in 3D something…
Atomic Layer from the Past:
04-07-2017: Adidas announced the use of Carbon 3D technology for producing the Futurecraft 4D collection.
Calling all LFAM 3D printers manufacturers!
We’re kicking off recruitment for the new edition of The 3D Printing World Guide — this time, we’re looking for the largest 3D printers from around the world!
📅 Planned release date: April 15, 2025.
News & Gossip:
One of the biggest revelations on LinkedIn AM today was Manifest Technologies, (formerly Vitro3D), which presented first glimpse of its Parallax Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (P-VAM) evaluation kit. It will be shown at RAPID+TCT in Detroit. The tech, spun out of the University of Colorado in 2020, uses multi-rod light arrays for layerless, volumetric 3D printing, promising speeds 100x faster than traditional methods. CEO Camila Uzcategui highlighted P-VAM’s potential for instant, multidimensional part formation, targeting industries needing embedded electronics, large-scale prints, or high-throughput production. The open-platform approach invites material firms, researchers, and industrial partners to collaborate.
Axtra3D reported its best quarter yet, with significant growth in unit placements and revenue.
Stratasys has teamed up with Germany’s trinckle 3D to integrate fixturemate into its GrabCAD Print Pro software. The solution enables non-CAD users to design precision 3D-printed fixtures, reducing machining costs while maintaining tight tolerances. This partnership streamlines tooling workflows across industries like automotive, aerospace, and contract manufacturing, cutting time and labor while boosting efficiency.