Use case / PROTIQ orthopedic shoemaking

PROTIQ: Enabling patient-specific
orthopedic shoemaking


The challenge

Tailor-made orthopedic footwear takes weeks to produce because it requires a shoe last, a 3D representation of the foot. Traditionally, shoe lasts are milled from wood or created with plaster casts, both time-consuming and costly methods. Often manufactured in Asia and shipped to Europe, this process causes delays and potential fit inaccuracies, making patients wait longer for their orthopedic shoes.

The outcome

trinckle developed a web-based configurator that allows orthopedic technicians to design and order customized orthopedic shoe lasts in minutes. This tool, developed with paramate, combines digitization with medical craftsmanship.

protiq-shoes-hero

Location

Blomberg, Germany

Industry

Manufacturing marketplace

Size

20+

Product

Custom solution

<1 hour

onboarding time

using a web-based configurator app that enables functional 3D design without CAD skills

<1 week

lead times

using a combination of design automation and affordable desktop 3D printers

100%

optimized design

A range of customization parameters ensures a perfect custom fit every time

Why use 3D printing for orthopedic shoemaking?

3D printing produces shoe lasts overnight, ready to ship in a few days. Using durable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), these shoe lasts can withstand heavy stress, resist abrasion, and provide an easy-grip surface. Their low weight reduces strain on the shoemaker's arms, making them superior to their wooden counterparts.

This rapid production method speeds up the manufacturing process without disrupting the established workflow.

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Design is the bottleneck

Before printing an individual shoe last, a corresponding 3D model must be generated. While CAD software can be used, orthopedic shoemakers often lack the necessary design expertise and access to appropriate software. Conventional CAD software is also expensive and highly complex to use.

"As an orthopedic shoemaker, I want to be able to concentrate on the medical aspects of my work. The design of 3D model data in classic CAD programs is not one of them. In order to be able to use 3D printing technology for my work in a meaningful way, I need software that takes the actual design load off my hands and guides me intuitively through the configuration process."
Stefan Brockmann

Orthopedic Technician

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Design automation is the solution

PROTIQ now has a free configuration module on their website that allows orthopedic shoemakers to design customized shoe lasts in minutes. Built on trinckle's paramate software, this tool integrates seamlessly with standard orthopedic shoemaking processes.

Using 3D scan data and manual measurements of the patient's feet, the configuration aligns closely with traditional manual shoe last design. The straightforward interface requires no CAD or 3D printing design expertise, empowering orthopedic technicians to independently configure shoe lasts.

How the configurator works

The shoe last configurator was developed in collaboration with experienced orthopedic shoemakers to meet all the needs of shoe last manufacturing. trinckle collaborated throughout the development and testing process to create the best possible tool.

trinckle orthopedic 3D printed shoe configurator
1. Start configuration: Customers can begin a new last project or open a saved project.
trinckle orthopedic 3D printed shoe configurator
2. Data upload and insole outline: Customers can upload their foot scans and shape the outline based on these scans.
trinckle orthopedic 3D printed shoe configurator
3. Detail customization toolbox: The toolbox in the shoe last configurator provides a range of options to model shoe lasts exactly as desired. It's possible to set toe and heel pitches, add individual deformations, and access all necessary tools for a precisely tailored item.
trinckle orthopedic 3D printed shoe configurator
4. Additional customization options: Customers can add leg extensions and pads. These customizations are optional and can be set individually for the left and right foot.
trinckle orthopedic 3D printed shoe configurator

5. Finish configuration: Customers can choose how to split their shoe lasts: heel cut, 2-part, 3-part, or step cut.

"We are now capable of serving our customers with a simple and intuitive way to design their individual shoe lasts online – effortlessly, quickly and at the expected high quality. All this is thanks to trinckle's software solution."
Dr. Johannes Lohn

Head of Development, Marketing & Sales, PROTIQ GmbH

Innovating orthopedic solutions together

By combining the potential of 3D printing with design automation, new doors are opened for novel applications in orthopedics.

trinckle's cloud-based paramate software is key to transforming a formerly cost-intensive manual process into a scalable application. Because it's cloud-based, this software solution can be continuously refined in collaboration with the orthopedic shoemaker community. Each iteration aims to create an even more optimized solution.

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