On opens the world’s first LightSpray™ production facility in Zurich
Swiss premium sports brand On formally unveiled the world’s first production facility for its revolutionary LightSpray™ technology in Zurich yesterday. In doing so, the company has successfully scaled up the innovative fully automated robot production of high-performance running shoes, which it introduced last year, and, at the same time, has brought shoe manufacturing back to Zurich.
ZURICH, Switzerland, July 3, 2025 – Swiss premium sports brand On formally inaugurated the world’s first production facility for its revolutionary LightSpray™ technology in Zurich yesterday. At an event attended by some 100 VIPs from Switzerland’s business, sports, political, and scientific fields, along with media representatives, On’s three co-founders, Caspar Coppetti, David Allemann, and Olivier Bernhard, unveiled the new LightSpray™ Factory. The facility comprises four robots and enables On – for the first time – to manufacture all the uppers for its performance running shoes directly in Switzerland using fully automated and industrially scalable processes and procedures.
“We’re incredibly proud to have achieved this milestone in the On and LightSpray™ story”, says On co-founder Caspar Coppetti. “It’s innovations like this, developed and perfected by our Zurich-based teams, that have helped us from the very beginning to earn our global success. And LightSpray™ is the epitome of the kind of product that makes On what it is: innovation made in Switzerland, for the world.”
The opening of the Zurich factory follows last summer’s announcement of the revolutionary LightSpray™ technology at the Olympic Games in Paris. The new facility marks a milestone in mastering the manufacturing processes involved and demonstrates the flexible production capabilities offered by the LightSpray™ technology. Further production facilities are planned worldwide.
Swiss technology to revolutionize global running shoe production
LightSpray™ is a revolutionary technology for the manufacture of high-performance shoe uppers, which enables production by robots in a fully automated single-step process. While traditional shoe upper production involves some 200 steps and various locations (from the manufacture of the yarn to the final assembly), LightSpray™ uses a robot arm and 1.5 kilometers of filament to produce an ultra-light one-piece upper in just three minutes. The highly efficient process saves both space and time, minimizes waste and produces an upper with 75% fewer carbon emissions than On’s other racing shoes.
Four years from innovation to product maturity
The new LightSpray™ technology was developed, programmed and brought to product maturity in Zurich over four years by a multi-faceted team of some 20 On personnel.
The On sports brand has been steadily creating jobs at its headquarters in Switzerland since the company was founded 15 years ago. Over 1,100 people are presently employed in Zurich, more than 300 of them in R&D, where they continue to drive innovation in product and materials development, sports science, and design.
“Swiss innovation doesn’t just happen”, stressed Professor Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, one of the world’s foremost research universities, in a keynote address during the opening of the new LightSpray™ facility. “Collaboration, investment in education and research, boldness and openness remain the best guarantors of continued success, even in today’s far-from-certain times.”
On opens its labs to the world
To celebrate the opening of its new LightSpray™ production facility, On is holding a series of open days at its Zurich headquarters. Sports fans, innovation aficionados and further interested parties can visit On’s premises at Förrlibuckstrasse 190 between July 3 and 6 to view the new robots, try out the LightSpray™ shoes and attend a range of fascinating workshops and panel discussions. On Labs Zurich will be open each day from 11:00 to 18:00. Further details will be found here.
- High-resolution photo material is freely available here.
- Factsheet on the LightSpray™ technology can be found here.
- General information on LightSpray™ will be found at www.on.com/lightspray
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fifteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® and LightSpray™ innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 80 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.