By 3dzyk 
When I have been asked recently why so many are fixated on 3D-printed footwear, my answer was simple: it represents a story with immense potential.
Think about this: with a global population exceeding 8 billion and annual shoe production reaching 24 billion pairs, even producing 10 million 3D-printed shoes annually would account for less than 0.05% of the market. The room for imagination—and growth—has only just begun.
As I’ve noted before, 2025 marks the true breakthrough year for 3D-printed shoes. Global giants like Adidas and Nike have formally entered the arena, launching multiple fully 3D-printed models—a clear sign that the technology is transitioning from proof-of-concept to scalable implementation.
At the same time, emerging brands such as STARAY, GEEXFOOT, and Muxiaoli have accelerated into rapid growth, gaining recognition among a growing base of consumers.
While these developments are already visible, beneath the surface, even more forces are quietly gathering. By next year, the landscape of 3D-printed footwear may look entirely different.
As the Chinese old saying, “The duck knows first when the river warms in spring.” As a specialized industry media outlet with years of deep engagement, we’ve already sensed shifts and signals in the market—and we’d like to share some of these observations.
01、
Not only DLP application anymore
Historically, the mainstream technological route for 3D printed footwear has primarily centered on DLP (Digital Light Processing) based photopolymerization. Key industry players such as Suzhou Polly, Beijing LuxCreo, and U.S.-based Carbon 3D have dominated this segment. However, current market trends indicate a noticeable increase in new participants.
To put it plainly, many equipment manufacturers originally focused on DLP systems can now enter the 3D printed footwear market with only minor modifications to their existing machines. This development signals not only lowering barriers to entry but also intensifying competition in the sector.
Equipment that previously sold for several hundred thousand yuan may soon be pushed below the ¥100,000 threshold due to this heightened competition.
Concurrently, we are observing the maturation of LCD-based photopolymerization technology. The widespread adoption of LCD projection optics and micro-nano centrifugal films by equipment manufacturers has significantly reduced overall system costs, further lowering technical barriers.
It’s worth noting that the cost-efficiency advantages of LCD technology, already demonstrated in fields like dental applications, are now gradually transitioning to footwear manufacturing.
As this technology continues to become more accessible, companies including HeyGears have introduced consumer-grade LCD 3D printers capable of directly manufacturing shoes. We anticipate a substantial increase in such equipment in the coming years.
At the industrial level, both SLA and SLS processes are being increasingly adopted for shoe manufacturing. Industry reports indicate that companies like UnionTech and TPM 3D are actively developing specialized solutions in this area.
When discussing 3D printing technologies, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) remains the most accessible process for most users and represents the technology most likely to achieve widespread household adoption. In this particular segment, Germany’s Zellerfeld has emerged as an industry frontrunner.
Their newly launched third-generation platform, Gen3, not only triples printing speed compared to its predecessor but also supports multi-color printing and features fully automated operation requiring minimal human intervention. This development signals the gradual arrival of the “lights-out factory” era for 3D printed footwear.
Naturally, many wonder whether desktop-grade FDM printers can effectively produce footwear. Bambu Lab’s H2D has indeed demonstrated this capability. However, in our assessment, this may not represent the optimal solution. For footwear applications, multi-nozzle systems likely offer superior efficiency and structural performance. We are currently evaluating Quickmake’s quad-nozzle Snapmaker U1, anticipating promising results from this configuration.
02、
Apart from machine, material is more critical in this field
Within the DLP/SLA segment, materials commonly used for printing footwear are predominantly dual-component resins. Similar to the principle of two-part epoxy, these require mixing two distinct material components. Compared to conventional resins, they exhibit poorer flow characteristics, have limited pot life, and must be used in conjunction with oxygen-permeable membranes. This results in a more complex printing process and places higher demands on equipment stability.
Currently, there are still relatively few photopolymer resins truly suitable for footwear printing on the market, with genuinely mature material solutions being exceptionally rare. However, some manufacturers have indicated that recent tests of new material batches show promising competitiveness in both performance and cost.
While maintaining optimism, we also advise a measured perspective. After all, Polly Polymer, the current market leader, originated as a materials company and only achieved its present performance after several years of sustained development and refinement.
If dual-component materials face challenges in breaking through their performance ‘ceiling,’ could the answer lie in exploring the potential of single-component materials? The successful development of such a resin—one that could even be adopted by standard 3D printers—would undoubtedly reshape the entire industry landscape.
We have recently learned that certain companies have made tangible progress in this very direction, with results potentially announced as early as next month.
As for which companies these are… we’ll keep that under wraps for now, preserving a bit of suspense.
03
The industry has entered a “Warring States period” where capability, not pedigree, determines success.
The industry is transitioning from a phase dominated by a single leader to an era of fierce competition among numerous contenders. With continuous technological advancements, a growing number of competitive players are emerging. While this shift is still in its early stages—with nearly every company claiming to have the “best technology, superior equipment, and optimal materials”—only those with genuine capabilities will endure. Time will ultimately reveal the true leaders.
Some companies have considered extending their reach into the end-product brand market for 3D-printed shoes. However, we believe this approach is misguided.
Equipment manufacturers should focus on perfecting their machines; material suppliers should concentrate on enhancing the performance and stability of their materials. Blindly pursuing a “full-stack” strategy only dilutes resources and attention, ultimately slowing progress and causing companies to miss critical opportunities.
At its core, the high cost of equipment and materials remains the primary barrier, keeping the price of a pair of 3D-printed shoes well above a thousand yuan. As long as prices remain elevated, the sector is unlikely to achieve true mass adoption. Therefore, the industry’s focus should remain squarely on advancing equipment and materials. Only when machine prices fall to around ¥70,000–80,000 per unit and materials cost ¥50–60 per kilogram, enabling shoes to be sold for just ¥200–300 per pair, can 3D-printed footwear be considered a commercial success.
We are confident, however, that this milestone is not far off. The “zero to one” validation phase has already been completed. What comes next—scaling from “one to N”—will progress rapidly, especially here in China.
Finally, for individuals looking to enter the 3D-printed footwear sector with limited investment, two paths are worth considering:
- Sales: Your understanding of 3D printing gives you a persuasive edge over traditional salespeople.
- Engineers: Individuals with a technical background are encouraged to learn 3D shoe design.
Over the next three years, this is expected to be one of the most in-demand and highest-paying roles in the industry.