Custom Prosthetic Foot Cover
Technology Partner |
ALTANA Cubic Ink
Sector |
Material Supplier
Year |
2025
Project Type |
Tradefair Demonstrator
THE CHALLENGE
Showcasing ALTANA Cubic Ink®'s Mold 400 VP—a 3D-printable mold material—through its unique capabilities: geometric freedom enabled by water-breakable mold technology that allows unlimited complexity and severe undercuts impossible with traditional methods; economic personalization that makes design variations affordable, turning patient-specific customization into a viable reality; and material flexibility, successfully tested with medical-grade silicone and TPU while preserving full design integrity.
The prosthetic cover's 3D-printed mold, produced using ALTANA Cubic Ink® Mold 400 VP material.
Various designs of prosthetic foot covers celebrating technology rather than concealing it. (CAD model renderings)
THE innovation
What if prosthetic devices could be as individual as the people who use them?
This prosthetic cover represents a fundamental shift—from concealment to celebration. Rather than mimicking natural skin to hide technology, it embraces the intersection of the human body and innovation, transforming prosthetics into opportunities for personal expression.
Where traditional covers attempt to "normalize" appearance, this design proudly reveals technology through nature-inspired patterns, creating a window into both function and personality.
ALTANA Cubic Ink®'s Mold 400 VP material makes this vision possible: customization becomes cost-efficient. The design's complexity—organic patterns, intricate window openings, precise fit, and movement-preserving flexibility—perfectly showcases the material's unique capabilities.
Final prototype made from silicone, molded using the 3D-printed tooling parts produced with Cubic Ink® Mold 400 VP material.
Franziska Valerie Hagenauer at the ALTANA booth at Formnext 2025 in Frankfurt, presenting the final demonstrator—a silicone prosthetic foot cover representing ALTANA Cubic Ink® Mold 400 VP material, the hero of the entire booth.
THE DEMONSTRATION STRATEGY
Two silicone prosthetic foot cover models were exhibited alongside suitable prosthetic feet provided by Ottobock. The 3D-printed molds used in their production were positioned nearby, making the connection between material and product immediately clear and easy to explain from every angle. The mold material was highlighted with backlighting, creating the focal point of the entire booth. A display showed a photo series documenting the cover's production, captured during a visit to the manufacturing site.
Final setup of the demonstrator in combination with a prosthetic foot provided by Ottobock.
IMPACT & VALIDATION
This prosthetic foot cover does more than successfully showcase the advantages of ALTANA Cubic Ink®'s 3D-printable, water-breakable mold material. It proves that personalization no longer requires prohibitive investment—cost barriers dissolve along with the mold.
A hero video capturing the atmosphere of Formnext 2025 and the ALTANA Cubic Ink® booth for social media.
DEMONSTRATOR POTENTIAL
Its one-of-a-kind design makes it a true highlight at the ALTANA booth, attracting clients from diverse fields—including the medical industry—and initiating meaningful conversations.
TECHNICAL SPECS
Materials: Mold: Cubic Ink® Mold 400 VP, divided into multiple pluggable parts | Prosthetic Foot Cover: Medical-grade silicone
Production: LCD printing and manual molding by SK Industriemodell GmbH
Scope: Concept development to production-ready; foto and video material, including professional interviews for website and social media
Applications: Medical industry
3D-printed prototype (SLA print)
