Wedoany.com Report on Mar 2nd, Swiss sportswear brand On has opened a new LightSpray factory in South Korea, equipped with 32 robots, which is expected to increase global LightSpray production capacity 30-fold by 2026.
Built upon the foundation of the first factory in Zurich, Switzerland, which began operations in July last year with four robots, the opening of the Korean factory marks a significant step for On in large-scale automated footwear production. Future plans include expanding production to the Americas and Europe to establish a regional network of LightSpray factories.
On co-founder Caspar Coppetti stated: "The opening of our second LightSpray factory is a milestone in mastering this advanced manufacturing process. I sincerely congratulate the entire team for their tremendous effort and dedication in making this possible." He added: "LightSpray demonstrates On's ability for continuous innovation through Swiss engineering, significantly enhancing the manufacturing efficiency, sustainability, and performance of high-performance footwear."
On chose South Korea primarily due to its expertise in robotics and automation, as well as local manufacturing infrastructure and partnerships. The company plans to expand LightSpray technology from racing shoes to training shoes to attract a broader consumer base and will evaluate the technology's application in other product categories in 2026.
Coinciding with the new factory's launch, On introduced the LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, the first product manufactured at the new facility, featuring "Sprayed in Korea" on the shoe's insole. According to On, this model will be available in limited quantities on on.com and in North American retail stores starting March 5, 2026, followed by a global release on April 16, 2026.
Since introducing LightSpray in 2024, On has developed an operational framework for robot-driven footwear production to manage multiple robots and set quality standards for automated processes. On's Chief Innovation Officer, Scott Maguire, said: "The beauty of LightSpray is that we can precisely program each robot, whether in Zurich or Busan, to execute meticulously choreographed movements, creating the unique look and feel of each pair of shoes." He further emphasized: "This innovation embodies On's uniqueness, and South Korea is the ideal region for us to learn and implement global expansion."
