IO_Fall20_4

Buyer’s Side Inside Outdoor | FALL 2020 36 everyone at Decathlon (internal people only), including product en- gineers or designers, retailers and people in regional workshops. The project interacts with all the various labs and entities of the Tech’off (Decathlon technical office) so that the printed parts are validated and compliant for our users. This internal proximity to all these test centers and talents allows ADDLAB to produce quickly while paying close attention to standards. IO: What were some of the challenges that led you to 3D Sys- tems? GM: Before using Figure 4 technology from 3D Systems, it took most prototyping requests at least one to three days (de- pending on the technology and material chosen) to manufacture the parts in 3D. Today, 3D Systems enables us to obtain the same parts during the day. Sometimes, we can even carry out several it- erations with our designers on the same day. Figure 4 also has allowed us to fill a gap, by manufacturing very detailed parts with high-perfor- mance materials from a technical point of view. This has made our design cycles even more agile and fast. IO: How long has Decathlon been experimenting with 3D print- ing before using 3D Systems? GM: ADDLAB has been offi- cially in existence since 2016, but Decathlon used 3D printing a long time before that in a slightly more decentralized manner. The company is made up of a multitude of internal brands (around 100 brands such as Quechua, Oxelo, and B’Twin). Each one proceeded a little in its own way before the officialization of the AD- DLAB project. IO: Did Decathlon have any specific requirements when look- ing for a 3D printing vendor? GM: The ADDLAB teams are constantly looking for the best for their users. When we choose a partner, it’s necessarily done in re- sponse to a specific need. The re- quests on prototypes have become more and more demanding. Most 3D printed prototypes decide the future of a product. If the rendering does not meet ex- pectations, it may influence the sale of a new product. We are con- stantly on the lookout for new materials and technologies in 3D printing. We are not just peo- ple who send files to the printer. We provide the best solutions to our users. We are therefore very demanding. We test everything, and we want to create a real partnership with our suppliers based on a relationship of trust. The goal is to move forward together, to share and bring mutual knowledge and expertise. If they fail, we would fail with them, and vice versa. IO: Why did Decathlon decide to move forward with 3D Systems? GM: 3D Systems gave us the chance to take control of the ma- chine before it came out on the market. We were thus able to test the machine and we were con- vinced by this technology, as well as the materials offered by 3D Systems. But that’s not all. The other major point has been the re- lationship of trust forged between Decathlon and 3D Systems, notably around material development. GM: What was the implementa- tion process like? The integration of the machines was rather simple, and the machines are intuitive. However, a little time is necessary to take charge of the soft- ware. We currently have two Figure 4 Modular within our premises. GM: We have a lot of in-house knowledge about mold design. After mastering the machine, we were able to make the master model in a short time and send it to the suppli- er for mold making. This was made possible using HI-TEMP, a technical material available in Figure 4. I was also able to count on the help of Martin Johnson, process engineer from 3D Systems who assisted me in the handling of this new machine. IO: How did Decathlon’s engi- neers respond to the new system? GM: The machines have been very well received internally because they enable the production of func- tional prototypes very quickly, allow- ing design to shorten their develop- ment times. However, designers must be convinced, and each new material must perform as well or bet- ter than the previous one. IO: Based on your experience, do you have any tips for compa- nies that may be exploring 3D printing? Would you recommend this solution? GM: The only advice we could give is simply to dare. Go for it and test it. The learning and handling curve will be different for everyone, but it’s so exciting to experience. IO: Are there any metrics that you want to share in terms of ROI? GM: We work on the entire value chain, from the embryo of the idea to the second life of our products with after-sales service. If we take into ac- count all technologies we use to date, the ADDLAB project is at 1,055 proj- ects/prototypes per month. We have also been able to repair and save 263 products to date that were destined for disposal. m Decathlon shoe insole 3D printed using Figure 4 RUBBER-BLK 10.