German sporting goods maker Adidas aims to open its first fully automated shoe factory in Germany next year, part of an effort to bring manufacturing back closer to its consumers in more affluent countries, Reuters reports.

The sporting goods maker signed an agreement to obtain technology from German engineering group Manz that will allow it to design and make custom-tailored shoe components in a new type of automated plant it calls "Speedfactory", Manz said on Tuesday, October 20.

Adidas has been working with the German government, academics and robotics firms on new technologies it hopes will trigger a significant a shift in the footwear industry as the move led by its arch rival Nike to produce in Asia decades ago.

Adidas wants to speed up delivery times to fashion-conscious customers and reduce freight costs.

Key to moving footwear manufacturing closer to Western markets are technologies that cut the need for workers to piece together shoes.

As part of that initiative, Adidas unveiled a 3D printed running shoe sole this month that can be tailored to a person's foot.

Adidas will open its first "Speedfactory" in the southern German town of Ansbach near its Herzogenaurach headquarters in 2016, a spokesman for Adidas said.