3D-printed saddles are the latest innovation from Fizik, which aims to dominate the component market. Italian brand Concepts Initiative has teamed up with California-based 3D printing specialist Carbon to launch an all-new saddle at Eurobike 2019.

As Cyclingnews recently reported, Carbon is also helping Specialized create a 3D printed saddle, but Fizik claims to be one step ahead in bringing the product to market, hinting at a launch later this year.

The Fizik version uses the same revolutionary Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) printing method to create the polymer lattice pad. This printing method "uses digital UV projection, oxygen permeable optics, and programmable liquid resin to produce parts with superior mechanical properties, resolution, and surface finish." This is very exciting. [Erica Berg, Carbon's director of application development, said, "We are proud to partner with Fizik to unleash their unique product vision and push the limits of saddle design. Fizik used the Carbon Lattice Engine to match an optimized response profile based on rider feedback, creating a digitally tuned lattice shape for the adaptive."

The result is a saddle that Fizik claims offers improved comfort, support, and power transfer. To that end, Fizik's designers, sports scientists, and engineers have spent the past nine years collecting pressure mapping data to identify key areas of the saddle that need attention. The ability to manipulate the lattice and materials allows Fizik to create seamless zone areas with specific engineering characteristics.

Previous manufacturing methods have always been limited by the density of available foam and bonding methods. However, the use of 3D printing should allow much more control over the density, buffering, and elasticity of materials and the transitions between them. Individualizing saddles based on rider biodynamic and biometric data could have a significant impact on how bikes are fitted in the future.

The first adaptive saddle is based on Fizik's Versus Evo 00 platform, a carbon fiber performance saddle that uses a full channel design to provide power transfer in a feather-light package. Based on the already proven high modulus carbon body and rails, the saddle will be fitted with new 3D printed pads. While Fizik has only one model of the adaptive saddle currently on the market, the Italian brand has announced plans to introduce the carbon EPU41 material and technology in a variety of models.

The long-term potential of this 3D printing technology has Cycling News excited. Eventually, an in-store system could collect consumer pressure mapping and feed this data back to the 3D printers at the Fizik factory before the finished units are shipped directly to the consumer.

As Luca Mattia Beltoncello, Fizik Brand Director, explains, this new technology creates all kinds of possibilities: "Digital Light Synthesis is a new era in saddle design and manufacturing, with athlete data and agile manufacturing processes Digital Light Synthesis unleashes a new era in saddle design and manufacturing with athlete data and agile manufacturing processes. Digital Light Synthesis opens up a new era in saddle design and manufacturing with athlete data and an agile manufacturing process. This means we can unleash our full creativity, transforming not only what we make, but how we make it, bringing a whole new way of thinking to cycling saddles. Our goal is to provide riders with tailor-made performance products tailored to their individual biodynamic data."

The saddles come in two lengths (139mm and 149mm) and will be available on Fizik.com and at select retailers in the coming months.

There are still many questions surrounding this product, including the durability of the material, the return policy, how it actually relates to comfort on the bike, and of course the cost. We also wonder if Carbon is preparing to collaborate with other cycling techs. Cycling News will be following this story with a keen eye, so stay tuned.