The Swiss sporting goods supplier On Holdings AG put another production facility into operation on Wednesday in which the self-developed “LightSpray” process is used. This enables the quick and environmentally friendly production of shoe uppers using fully automatic robot technology.
On opened the first “LightSpray” factory in Zurich last summer. The second production facility is now located near the South Korean metropolis of Busan. South Korea was chosen as the location “due to its global leadership in robotics and automation as well as On’s existing partnerships and presence in the region,” the company said in a statement.
On wants to establish the new technology “on a large scale”.
The new system, in which 32 robots are used, makes it possible to increase “LightSpray” production capacity “30-fold” in the current year, emphasized the sports shoe specialist. The opening represents “an important step for On in scaling the technology globally, with further production growth planned for the coming years.”
The company hopes to use the technology for additional shoe models and product categories in the future. In the course of this, manufacturing capacities are also to be further expanded. “On’s strategic goal is to realize global production on a large scale in the next few years through ‘LightSpray’ factories at nearshore locations,” it said in a statement. “The focus is particularly on introducing production in the USA and expanding production in Europe.”
