ASP projects

uFactory

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global supply chains, leading to factory closures and skyrocketing transportation costs, which persisted due to geopolitical instability and increased insurance costs. Additionally, international shipping’s growing contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and shifting consumer demand toward personalized products have fueled interest in more resilient, localized production models.

In response, uFactory partnered with Dutch startup Industrio to establish urban-based mini-factories, focusing on personalized manufacturing. The project emphasized selecting urban locations with minimal disruption, producing custom orthopedic insoles for the healthcare and sports sectors, and designing a fully automated additive manufacturing pipeline.

Key contributions included the integration of Direct Ink Writing (DIW) technology to print sensors onto insoles and the programming of robots for automated production. A strategic partnership with the Italian healthcare network Santagostino validated the project’s commercial potential, while the production model’s modularity supports its application across various wearable products.

The uFactory approach not only reduces reliance on global supply chains and lowers transport emissions but also responds to growing market demands for customization, fostering sustainable urban manufacturing ecosystems.