Award Sub-Category: Modernizations

This is the first pair of pants in the world made from 3D weaving. We invented a robotic 3D weaving machine that inputs yarn and outputs seamless 3D legs. These pants vary in shape throughout to custom-fit the consumer: pants in 10 minutes. An apparel invention like this hasn’t been realized since the sewing machine in the 1840s.

90% of factories worldwide are out-dated and non-digitized. Factoroid transforms conventional factories into Industry 4.0 smart factories with our fully wireless, self-powered sensors that measure dozens of activities including vibration, heat, light, and voltage to save costs and improve efficiency.

FōM is the first extruded polystyrene, or XPS, product for the craft and floral foam industry made with post-consumer plastic. It saves hard-to-recycle plastics from landfills by using recycled garment hangers from retailers nationwide. FōM is the first true innovation in this market in 70 years.