ZURICH, Switzerland, February 25, 2026: Today, On announces a major expansion of its LightSpray™ technology with the opening of its second robot production facility worldwide near Busan, South Korea. Following the opening of the first facility with four robots in Zurich in July 2025, the new South Korea factory adds another 32 fully automated robots set to increase the brand’s global LightSpray™ production capacity 30-fold in 2026. The expansion marks a significant step for the brand in scaling the technology globally, with further production growth planned over the coming years.
Since introducing LightSpray™ in 2024, On has been building the operational framework for automated shoe production from the ground up. What began as a four-year development journey, followed by the opening of On’s first factory, has now advanced significantly in scalable manufacturing. With no existing blueprint for scaling robot-sprayed footwear uppers, the approach involved developing the systems to coordinate multiple robots simultaneously and establishing quality protocols for automated production.
“The opening of our second LightSpray™ factory is a monumental milestone for us in mastering this advanced manufacturing process,” says On Co-Founder Caspar Coppetti. “I want to sincerely congratulate the tremendous effort and dedication of the entire team who made this possible. LightSpray™ is a pinnacle example of how On continues to innovate through Swiss Engineering, dramatically changing the way we can create high-performance shoes with unmatched efficiency, sustainability, and performance results.”
South Korea’s position as a global leader in robotics and automation, combined with On’s partnerships and footprint in the region, made it the strategic choice for the second LightSpray™ facility. The factory also demonstrates that the technology and processes developed in Switzerland can be replicated globally while maintaining consistent quality standards. The country’s advanced manufacturing infrastructure provides the ideal environment to refine processes that will inform On’s broader global rollout, with plans to scale production across other continents in the coming years.
“The beauty of LightSpray™ is that we can precisely program each robot, whether in Zurich or Busan, to execute precisely choreographed movements to craft each shoe’s unique look and feel,” says On’s Chief Innovation Officer Scott Maguire. “The innovation remains distinctly On, distinctly Swiss—made for the world. South Korea represents the perfect territory to learn and implement learnings for our global expansion.”
On’s strategic goal is to achieve large-scale global production through LightSpray™ factories at nearshore locations worldwide within the next years. Specifically, the company plans to initiate production in the Americas and large-scale production across Europe.
The facility’s launch coincides with the introduction of the LightSpray™ Cloudmonster 3 Hyper—the first shoe upper sprayed at the new factory. Engineered for those who want to run faster and further, it’s the ultimate super trainer for long runs and tempo runs, featuring full-length Helion™ HF hyper foam and “Sprayed in Korea” visible on the inside sole. The shoe debuts with a limited release at on.com and in On retail stores in North America on March 5, 2026, with a full global launch on April 16, 2026.
The technology’s expansion from racing to run training shoes reflects On’s product strategy to make LightSpray™ available to a broader audience beyond elite athletes. As production scales, On plans to explore LightSpray™ applications in other categories, alongside new drops in 2026.
About LightSpray™
LightSpray™ condenses traditional upper production—which typically requires approximately 200 steps across multiple factories—into a single, fully automated process. A robotic arm sprays 1.5 kilometers of specialized filament onto a last, creating an ultra-light, one-piece upper in around three minutes. The process requires less space than conventional manufacturing, generates minimal waste, and produces uppers with fewer carbon emissions compared to On’s other racing shoes.
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. Sixteen 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.
