Asics is going to bake your next custom sneaker in a microwave
Custom sneakers can usually take weeks, if not months, to be made, but Asics is going to make you one the same way you make instant ramen.
The sportswear giant says it'll soon introduce microwaves in its stores that can "bake" soles in just around 15 seconds.
It's still in testing, but the company has produced an official site and videos illustrating the process, so it looks like it'll happen sooner than later.
When ready, customers will be able to choose their colour of the various layers of their sneaker soles, including the midsole and upper. The component for the sole comes in pellet form, and gets microwaved in a mold, Asics explains in a new microsite.
Additionally, because you can choose pellets in more than one colour, the sole eventually fuses into a unique colourblend.
The technology appears to be developed by Tayin Research and Development, a Taiwan firm which has a patent on the process. According to patent documents, the lightweight soles will be made with foam thermoplastic polyurethanes in pellet form, and can be customisable down to their firmness.
Tayin also claims that microwave molding is a lot more energy saving than traditional injection molding, which helps the industry move a little closer to being environmentally friendly.
Can't wait to see this in stores.
Victoria Ho is Mashable's Asia Editor, based in Singapore. She previously reported on news and tech at The Business Times, TechCrunch and ZDNet. When she isn't writing, she's making music with her band
