On’s Three‑Minute Robot Revolution: A New Era for Running Shoes

A robotic arm in a Zurich lab can spin a human‑foot mold and spray 1.5 km of molten plastic in a single, three‑minute cycle, turning a traditionally labor‑intensive process into a streamlined, seven‑part assembly.

Robotic Innovation, Creative Design

On’s LightSpray technology turns a traditionally 200‑300 hour manual process into a three‑minute operation, reducing the number of parts from 200 to 7.

Market Share and Competitive Edge

■$15 billion market cap, 3 billion CHF annual revenue

■58% of net sales in the U.S., 17% in Asia‑Pacific

■Compared to Nike ($46 bn) and Adidas ($29 bn), On’s growth rate underscores its status as a rapid‑growing challenger

Financial Highlights and Investor Appeal

■NYSE debut in 2021, reaching $15 billion market cap by 2024

■High‑profile investors and brand collaborations: Roger Federer, Zendaya

■200+ patents focused on manufacturing technology

Operational Breakthrough

■Robotically switches between shoe sizes instantly, offering production flexibility

■South Korea plant adopts a “capex‑over‑human‑labor” model, lowering costs

■Design labs capture performance data in real‑time, accelerating iteration

Future Vision: Small, Local Factories

On plans to redefine the geographic distribution of production: “Shortening the distance between product development, manufacturing, and the consumer” by establishing small, customer‑proximate facilities.

On’s pivot to a fully robotic, low‑part‑count manufacturing model not only reduces labor costs but also positions the company to scale rapidly across emerging markets, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of athletic footwear.