Fresh Air from Oregon: A Look Inside Nike’s Air Manufacturing Innovation Facility

The NIKE AIR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION FACILITY is where the Nike Air magic happens and has remained an unseen entity… Until now, that is!

The words ‘Nike’ and ‘Air’ go hand-in-hand. After an inventor named Frank Rudy approached Phil Knight to place air bags inside shoes back in 1977, the Nike co-founder went for a test run – the rest is history. From the Tailwind through to the new Nike Air VaporMax, the idea of utilising air cushioning in footwear transformed the industry, establishing Nike as a leading innovation company.

A short walk from Nike’s World Headquarters, in Beaverton, Oregon sits one of two facilities that has invented, re-invented and perfected Air. The Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation building, and its counterpart in St. Charles, Missouri have created a combined 3.5bn Nike Air units. Created and maintained by a force of 1300 highly skilled people, each person plays a vital role in fine-tuning Air technology to deliver leading performance. New materials, computational design, and cutting-edge manufacturing tools enable Nike to develop, fine-tune and produce this unique science. The new Nike Air VaporMax takes full advantage of the facility and expertise, offering the unparalleled sensation of walking on air.

For the first time ever, Nike has offered everyone a unique insight into the process in a new video, ‘Fresh Air from Oregon’. See the video below and then click the banner to check the NIKE AIR VAPORMAX FLYKNIT release page ahead of the drop on AIR MAX DAY 2017 which takes place on SUNDAY 26 MARCH.