When style and hype are no longer enough, function and comfort—especially sole performance—become the new battleground for brands. NIKE, ADIDAS and ANTA are pouring R&D budgets into sole technologies, forcing sole molds to upgrade simultaneously in three dimensions: free-form complexity, product-life-cycle speed and quality grade. As a buyer, you need a new selection logic that secures the highest-value orders with the shortest lead time and the lowest total cost.
Multi-material co-molding is now routine—e.g. RB outsole + EVA midsole + TPU stability plate. Confirm early whether the mold is designed with interchangeable inserts or two-color cavities and you can drastically cut post-assembly costs.
II. Three core mold-specification metrics
Surface accuracy – Cooling efficiency – Cavity life
III. Fast-track order checklist
• Supply 3D files (STP or OBJ)
• State material & process (IMEVA or CMEVA?, TPU insert?)
• Target annual output (pairs/year or shots/month)
• Environmental/certification requirements (REACH, ROHS, ZDHC)
