Sarah Goehrke is the founder of AM-specific contract services company Additive Integrity and sits on the Board of Advisors for the Additive Manufacturing Coalition. She focuses in the additive manufacturing industry on advances in diversity, sustainability, and ecosystem positioning with a heightened focus on messaging. Goehrke has been a leader in the 3D-printing industry since 2014, previously serving as the Managing Editor of Fabbaloo; Editor-in-Chief of 3DPrint.com; and Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Ecosystems at ultrafast 3D-printing leader Nexa3D. Through Additive Integrity, she has worked with more than two dozen companies across the industry, contributed to publications including Forbes.com, and keynoted across three continents. She is deeply and actively passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the 3D-printing industry. Goehrke holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Theatre from Muskingum College, as well as a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion for HR from Cornell University.

“I recently learned about the RPSD (Recycled Plastic Skateboard Deck) and was blown away by the ingenuity of the design. The use of existing and open-source shredder and extruder technology to turn locally-sourced plastic waste into melted plastic for new skateboard decks is truly impressive. The CNC-machined top, bottom, and edge mold sections, along with the thick steel support structure, give the deck a professional and durable look. The edge section and cartridge heaters work together to give the deck its shape and the scissor lift mechanism makes it easy to align the mold with the extruder. The laser-cut metal enclosure for the temperature control electronics is a nice touch and shows the attention to detail put into this project. Overall, the RPSD is a great example of how we can take something as simple as waste plastic and turn it into something useful and sustainable. I can’t wait to get my hands on one!”

With newer solutions coming to market and proving out their claims, injection molding is poised to lose some of its dominance in production.

Saw it here a while back. I should’ve said “transparent”, but you get the idea. Put clear grip tape on it and it would be like skating on a chunk of glycerin soap. You could probably do some pretty cool 3D graphics /holograms too. Similar to clear coating a tabletop with inset decorations.

Why wood aint wood pony for slides anyway (I think you mean boardslides not grinds?)? I mean yeh most slides are done on wood.. cos skateboards are generally made of wood.. but that doesn’t mean wood is good.. I thought wood was too grippy and everything has to be waxed up all the time..

Oh, but they do. Well, if you want to generalize the term “skateboard” anyway. There is for instance a distinction between a “skateboard” and a “longboard”, the latter being a much broader family of … things. It is actually quite common to find glasfiber, kevlar, aramid and/or carbon combined with various woods in those. It depend on what you want to do. Like in every other sport the equipment has undergone quite the evolution, and you are totally able to spend top dollar on a specialized and often custom made deck. This does not apply to the average “trick” skateboard tho, those are mass produced 7ply maple boards where the graphics (and the association with a pro rider, for that matter) are the primary selling point, seconded by the shape (which is not only the outline, but the wheelbase, the angle of the upcurve on nose and tail, and the concave. Skateboards are not flat planks, but very much 3D Objects). Anyhow, you do not want a skateboard to feel like a steel plate or a wet towel under your feet. Maple is very much fine for a trick/street skateboard, a downhill rocket or a “dancer” require different materials. If the recycled plastic boards are the next big thing then I am totally up for it. Still I remain skeptical.

Hey Johnny, thanks for the feedback! We have tested all of the common recyclable plastic types and got validation from skaters say the feeling of PP (Polypropylene) has a very close feeling to Canadian Maple. Its also worth mentioning that our project is not trying to replace the wooden deck completely, we know it will always hold a special place in the hearts of seasoned skaters. Our project is about expanding accessibility, to people who live in situations of hardship, and normally would not be able to afford a deck. For many, having a deck that performs 95% as good as a wooden deck, is better than having no deck atall