Crewe Alexandra F.C. has used full-colour 3D printing technology to launch its new 2026-27 home kit. The team worked with official printer partner and Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services to create a miniature version of club captain Mickey Demetriou.
Mini Mickey Demetriou with the full size version
The project began as a collaboration between the football club and Hybrid Services, with the aim of creating a more distinctive kit launch. The idea was developed by Crewe Alexandra’s head of commercial, James Beckett, who wanted to incorporate Mimaki technology into a major club production.
“We’re constantly amazed at the capabilities of the various Mimaki technologies, and ever since we first saw the full colour 3D printer in action, we had an idea to somehow include it in a big production for the club,” he commented.
Mr Demetriou was scanned at the club using an Artec Leo 3D Scanner supplied by Europac 3D. He was first scanned wearing the outgoing shirt and then again in the new Puma home kit. The handheld scanner captured details including shirt textures, branding elements and facial features.
After processing and colour balancing by the Europac 3D team, the scan files were sent to Hybrid Services for production on a Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 full-colour 3D printer at the company’s headquarters near Crewe Alexandra’s stadium.
According to Hybrid, the Mimaki system can reproduce more than 10 million colours, enabling realistic skin tones, gradients and detailed design elements to be incorporated directly into printed models. The finished print measured approximately 20cm in height and was used as the focal point of the club’s kit launch video.
The Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 full colour 3D printer
The video documented the process from scanning through to production before revealing both Mr Demetriou and the printed model together on the pitch at the Mornflake Stadium. The club said the video generated almost 40,000 views on Instagram following its release.
Alongside the model used in the launch campaign, Hybrid also produced smaller commemorative versions for Mr Demetriou’s children.
Mr Beckett said the project helped create additional interest around the club’s annual shirt launch.
“Kit launches are always popular with our fans on social media, but this one has done incredibly well,” Mr Beckett concluded. “No pun intended but the 3D print from the Mimaki added another dimension to it, making it all the more intriguing and memorable.”
