The product was created in partnership with General lattice, DyeMansion and EOS.
Chicago-based sporting goods manufacturer Wilson has unveiled the first-ever airless basketball. It is a unique prototype made using 3D printing technology. The new invention was seen in the hands of Houston Rockets forward K.J. Martin at the Slam Dunk Contest.
Unique in its kind, the ball requires no inflation, relying on a special structure and materials. Despite the lack of air, the ball provides a traditional basketball bounce. The ball's porous surface features hexagonal holes for airflow and a traditional eight-panel structure with seams.
“This is a ball unlike anything we’ve ever seen designed to play like the basketballs we’ve always known,” says Wilson.
The product was created in partnership with General lattice (computational design), DyeMansion (dyeing and finishing) and EOS (additive manufacturing). It is reported that no changes to basketball standards are planned in the near future.
