Under Armour Opens 'Lighthouse' Innovation Center In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—They're printing shoes on 3D printers, and using 3D imaging to design sportswear for athletes. It's part of Under Armour's newest venture: "The Lighthouse."

On Tuesday, the Baltimore-based brand, unveiled its high tech design and innovation center.

"As Under Armour celebrates 20 years in business, we are more committed than ever to staying ahead of the curve and creating cutting edge product for athletes around the globe," said Kevin Plank, CEO and Co-Founder of Under Armour. "By coupling incredible machinery, technologies and material sourcing under one roof, UA Lighthouse will offer immediacy in manufacturing and will allow us to be more responsive to the needs of athletes in local community. This venture will allow Under Armour to make product better, faster, and more efficiently while working hand-in-hand with our manufacturing and factory partners across the world."

Former Ravens receiver Torrey Smith, who calls Baltimore home, was also on hand for the unveiling.

"It means a lot to me to be a part of Under Armour because it's family," he said.

UA Lighthouse will be a space for designers and makers to develop best practices for how product is made in terms of speed, quality, and cost, reducing the need to outsource prototyping internationally. Employees and partners will have access to cutting-edge technology and machinery including, among others.

• 3D Design and Body Scanning: Allows for the design of custom footwear and apparel while reducing waste in the development process and providing better service for Under Armour's growing roster of athletes.

• 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping: Where ideas are turned into tangible products, this hard good model shop has a state-of-the art 5-axis simultaneous machining center as well as a suite of fabrication tools.

• Apparel and Footwear Prototyping: Where designers and developers come to ideate, test, and refine products and processes with concepts brought to life in new ways beyond the traditional cut-and-make methods.

• Apparel + Footwear Pilot Lines: Proving ground for process and evaluating how concepts will perform in a full-scale production environment.

"We have the opportunity to revolutionize beyond our industry and the way the product is made and bringing it to the consumer faster. The technology that we are bringing to Lighthouse is nothing short of the absolute pinnacle."

Athletes like Smith, can now have products designed to fit their body perfectly.

The brand plans to send this factory of the future to their suppliers.

"The Lighthouse is going to be creating jobs, and we are ultimately going to take it local for local all around the world to make product, the likes of which the consumer has never seen before."

There are areas that are off-limits at the Lighthouse where designers are creating products that are strictly confidential.

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