Lining Expects Patent Technology To Compete With Nike Air Cushion Technology

In the first year after the launch of Lining's bow technology running shoes, the first professional basketball shoe, "Zhong Kui", which applied Lining bow technology, was listed in October 2007. The price of 990 yuan set a new price for Lining basketball shoes series. "Value for money". Ned Frederick, director of Exeter Research, Lining, chief designer of bow technology. Now, Ned has been responsible for the second generation of Lining bow technology research and development. As early as Lining was born, Ned had a difficult problem for his designer friend who worked with Nike. The friend wanted to do research on the template. Ned's answer was, "if you're interested in Lining's bow, go to the shop yourself." You know, Lining bow sports shoes were only sold in the Chinese market at that time. If friends want to do research on this technology, they may have to trustee specially express from China. In 1970s, Nike launched the first pair of Tailwind running shoes equipped with advanced Nike-Air shockproof technology. Since then, air cushion shoes have become synonymous with high technology. It is known as the revolution of shoemaking industry, and has also achieved Nike's brilliance. For Li Ning Co, an important step towards Nike is to own its own technology patent. Their own patents, "real sports brands have their own proprietary technology of shock absorption, and Nike has thousands of technology patents." This is the topic of Ned, which was invited to speak at Chinese University Hong Kong in 2004. This makes Zhang Xiaoyan, the manager of footwear products in charge of Li Ning Co, has a more bold idea. Why not learn Nike and Adidas? In January 2004, Li Ning Co dug Zhang Xiaoyan from DuPont Co. The most important task is to search for excellent design resources for Li Ning Co worldwide. In 2004, Li Ning Co listed in Hongkong. This year, Li Ning Co established foot database in Chinese University Hong Kong. This is the first Oriental foot database built by domestic sports brands. Nike and Adidas, though rich in foot database, are limited to the West. "There are differences between the eastern and Western foot types. The shoes developed according to the eastern foot type will be more suitable for Chinese people." Ned said. His speech clearly gave Li Ning Co a new inspiration. "The most important thing for sports shoes is shock absorption and avoid sports injuries. We should have our own proprietary technology." The proposal was agreed by the board of directors. Lining is racing against the giants. In order to design more competitive shoes, the number of R & D personnel hired by Nike has exceeded 3000 by 2005. Many of them have degrees in biomechanics, experimental physiology, industrial design, chemistry and related fields. In 2004, Li Ning Co signed a contract with Ned's research and development company Exeter Research for more than one million dollars a year, and Li Ning Co set up a project team. Ned, who has worked for Nike R & D studio for several years, began working for Lining, developing the core technology of Li Ning Co. "There are more than 1200 patents that have been registered, and finding new breakthroughs is a very difficult task." Ned decided to go to China to find inspiration. One day, Ned saw the introduction of Zhaozhou Bridge. The arch design was subjected to the force and the pressure of the buffer water. This coincided with the requirement of the bearing of the sports shoes. However, after the arch was pressed down, it was difficult to restore the original shape and no longer give the athletes a strong recovery force. It happened that a friend invited Ned to experience an ancient sport, archery. With the strength of string, the bow can be restored to its original form quickly. The design of the bow was initially formed by Ned. Since then, it has been a long test. As a visiting professor at the Department of physical education, University of Massachusetts, Ned chose the test in the most famous sports room in Massachusetts, where there are state-of-the-art test equipment, including motion trajectories, stress tests and so on. Nike, Adidas and other brands all use this as a testing base. "Nike's air cushion technology uses air to buffer pressure to achieve shock absorption, and the design of the bow has even better movement protection function. When the human body is running, the bow force will extend. With the strength of the string, the bow can quickly restore the original shape and increase the bouncing power. Ned explains. "A bow or two bow crossover will bring different shock absorption index, suitable for different sports, and can be applied to different sports shoes." Ned believes that, like Nike air cushion technology, Lining bow technology can also extend to all kinds of products. With the gradual maturity of Chinese and Western technology, what the Li Ning Co needs is the design of Lining bow technology, which is worthy of research and development. The US DRD company took the responsibility. "How about applying the bronze pattern to the upper?" In Beijing Lining sports shoes design department, a designer is discussing with his partner. The computer in front of him has stored a large amount of picture materials such as the Great Wall, tri colored glazed pottery and bronze ware. These data filled with oriental elements were compiled into Lining's overseas design company, American DRD company. Designers from both places will work together to complete the final design. While signing a contract with Ned to develop its own patented technology, Li Ning Co began to search for an overseas design team, hoping to integrate Oriental elements and international thinking into one. Zhang Xiaoyan's team of six men from the United States designed the master gathered in California, to Nike design headquarters, and then to Massachusetts, six teams to each design company scoring, and finally elected the Dan DRD in Massachusetts. Dan used to be a designer of Nike. At present, the company's customers include PUMA and other famous brands, and the design team is 30 years old. According to Li Ning Co's idea, after signing the contract, DRD company will provide 160 sports shoes design from 2005. DRD company should apply Oriental elements to the design of sports shoes. Dan and his colleagues had to read a lot about China. Before that, Dan knew only the Chinese theme movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. In order to communicate well with Li Ning Co product managers and domestic designers, Dan took a 300 thousand kilometer flight to the Great Wall and the Imperial Palace to find oriental charm. DRD meets the requirements of Li Ning Co for international quality. Whether it is pattern design, material usage or production process, DRD is no less inferior to Adidas and Nike. For example, high-grade sports shoes no longer use traditional rubber, adhesives, plastics and other toxic materials, but choose advanced safety and health materials. DRD's design is applied to various delegations sponsored by Lining and star shoes, including O'neal's basketball shoes on the court. In September 2006, the first generation of Lining's bow shoes was listed as an attempt, and the price of running shoes series was as high as 699 yuan. In the first half of 2007, sales of Lining footwear products increased by 44.5% over the same period last year, due to the integration of high-tech elements in product design. In addition, the "Zhong Kui" facial makeup on the tongue buckle has become the biggest embodiment of Oriental elements in October 2007. The professional basketball shoes applied in the Lining bow technology are in addition to the application of various technologies. This pair of shoes has a domineering name, "Zhong Kui", priced at 990 yuan, creating a new high price of Lining's listed basketball shoes. But even with the technology comparable to air cushions, Li Ninggong's success in air cushions is unknown. In 1978, Nike's sales volume was $300 million. In 2005, Lining's sales volume was $300 million. Li Ning Co seemed to be comparing everything to Nike. Why not?