French materials company Arkema announced on November 4 that it is deepening its long-standing partnership with U.S. 3D printing technology company Carbon to advance next-generation 3D-printed consumer products. The two companies have collaborated for more than 13 years, with this effort focused on applying digital manufacturing to footwear, sporting goods and consumer products.
According to Arkema's press release, Carbon develops high-performance elastomeric resins engineered for its Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology, drawing on Arkema's expertise in UV-curable specialty materials. Together they enable customers to print complex lattice structures in footwear and sporting equipment, with properties precisely tuned for cushioning, support and energy return. A recent result of the collaboration is Vivobarefoot's custom 3D-printed sandal, which uses individual foot scans for made-to-order production, reducing inventory and material waste.
In the release, Carbon CTO Jason Rolland noted that 3D printing is becoming increasingly competitive with traditional manufacturing, giving brands greater freedom to rethink how products are designed and produced, with material science providing a reliable foundation for developing elastomers. Julie Haevermans, Vice President of Marketing at Arkema Coating Solutions, said the companies will continue pushing the boundaries of innovative material development, with performance and sustainability at the forefront.