Zellerfeld is committed to shipping out your shoes in a timely manner. At the same time, we are constantly expanding our capabilities and output. As processes evolve, sometimes orders can get lost in a big transition or a shoe is simply having a difficult time getting through our production process. 

This article is meant to shed light on common delays and why they occur. Just know that our main goal is to always get your shoes to you in quickest way possible. 

Tracking

To track your Sample orders, select the Order History tab at the top of the screen within Zellerfeld Studio.

From here you are able to visually track your order throughout our production pipeline.

Below is a clarification of the statuses listed:
 

1) CREATED: The order has been queued in our system.
As soon as a printer is available, your order will begin Printing.

2) PRINTING: Your shoes are printing; each on their own printer. If the printing process is successful for both sides of your design, the order will move on to Quality Check.

3) QUALITY CHECK: We are verifying the quality of your prints.

QC check passed = the order will move forward to Shipping.
QC check failed = the order will move back to Printing or Created; depending upon if a printer is available for immediate reprint.

If your order has failed QC multiple times, we will investigate internally why this is happening.

If we find the print failures are design related, we will ask you to make changes. 

4) SHIPPING: The order will be shipped as soon as possible.
Once your order leaves our farm it will move to Shipped, with Tracking Info provided.

5) SHIPPED: Your shoes are on their way to you!

Stuck at Created, Printing, or Quality Check

When your shoe is idling at Created, Printing, or Quality Check it usually means your shoes (left or right or both shoes) have failed somewhere in the production process. 

Gcode Issues: Gcode issues arise when the team on our side need to optimize the 3D file for the printer software. Depending on the design of a shoe, this may need extra attention. No intervention from the creator is needed here unless asked by us explicitly.

Printing Errors: Sometimes a shoe fails at this stage due to a number of reasons. Usually a fail at this stage is due to the design of the shoe that is pushing the boundaries of our design guidelines, but it may have passed the autochecks. Large overhanging parts or large surface areas can sometimes cause fails here. We will reprint the shoe multiple times to get a successful print, this is why there can be a delay at this stage. If the issue persists, we will contact the creator for feedback to change the design for a more reliable production.

Washing Errors: When a shoe fails at the washing stage, usually it is revealed that an unseen error occurred during printing and then the shoe is failed, and the process for a reprint begins again. Washing is needed to remove the support material needed to print the shoes. Sometimes this material can leave artifacts on the shoe if a calibration on the printer is needed.

Drying Errors: It is not common for errors to happen at this stage, but this is the part of the process where your shoes are dried after washing to be prepped by QC (Quality Control).

Quality Control (QC): This stage is the final say as to whether a shoe passes or fails. A visual inspection is given by our expert quality control team to ensure every shoe is the best quality it can be once it ships from the Zellerfeld facility. If a shoe fails at this point for any reason, even for a small number of defects, it is sent back to the beginning for a reprint of the shoe.

Pairing: Often, a pair of shoes for an order are at different stages of the production process. One shoe may have passed all stages and QC, while the other has been reprinted several times and waiting to pass. This can also cause delays where a shoe is waiting for it's mate and to be paired.

Zellerfeld Expansion

As of 2026 we are in the midst of expanding our operations globally with a budding facility in Austin, Texas and a brand new facility in Hamburg, Germany!

As we build out these facilities and new printers come online every day, this can create opportunities for errors and gaps. Our aim is always to minimize these errors as much as possible. To put printed shoes on every foot we must continue to expand our output which will bring many benefits to you as the customer and creator. As we build, costs for shoes will go down, shipping times will decrease and happy feet across the world will increase.