Lubrizol, a global leader in specialty chemicals, announces new Foam Center of Excellence (COE) in Seoul, Korea, and Shanghai, China. With a long history ofinnovation in the footwear industry, this investment marks a significant milestone inLubrizol's commitment to driving innovation, advancing sustainability, and nurturingcollaborative growth.
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Located within Lubrizol's thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) innovation centers, the newFoam COE brings together scientists with significant expertise in material science, cuttingedge processing technology and comprehensive testing and analytics capabilities. Thisholistic approach, bolstered by value chain collaboration, positions Lubrizol at theforefront of transformative trends in physical foaming technology. The Foam COE ispoised to accelerate the development of breakthrough midsole products that meetdemands for performance and sustainability.
“Asia Pacific is one of the world's most dynamic consumer markets, demandingcontinuous technological advancement and innovation.” Jane Cai, Lubrizol's SeniorBusiness Director in Asia Pacific, said, “Our Foam COE is uniquely positioned to blendglobal expertise with local insights, anticipate emerging needs, and bring groundbreakingTPU foam solutions that set new industry benchmarks.”
“Physical foaming is rapidly emerging in the global midsole market, driven by its superiorperformance and advanced sustainability,” Justin Park, Director of Lubrizol GlobalFootwear Marketing, added, “Our new facilities and capabilities at the Foam COE illustrateour local-for-global commitment, reflecting Lubrizol's dedication to meet local needsswiftly while delivering global impact.”
Agile Innovation from Design to Commercialization
The Foam COE has invested in advanced processing equipment, such as a super criticalfluid (SCF) injection foam machine in Korea and an autoclave foam machine in China.These in-house facilities enable Lubrizol to gain valuable processing insights, reduce thetime needed for new product development and validation, and ensure that new productsmeet the rigorous demands of today's athletics and footwear midsoles.
Comprehensive testing and analytics capabilities at both locations can accelerate theevaluation of material performance, speed up application innovation and deliverexceptional technical service to help customers and partners overcome complexchallenges.
Empowering Value Chain Collaboration
Through seamless cooperation and knowledge sharing among processors, brands andother stakeholders, Lubrizol is building a dynamic, application-driven ecosystem withinthe footwear midsole industry with this new Foam COE. Processors benefit from technicalsupport, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing efficiency, while footwear brands canconfidently develop new products with greater speed and precision.
“Local for Global” Commitment
Lubrizol's Foam COE is a testament to the company's “local for global” strategy. Thisphilosophy enables Lubrizol to quickly adapt to evolving consumer preferences,regulatory requirements, and industry trends in key regions, while sharing advancedtechnologies and best practices across markets. This fosters the next generation ofinnovation in the global footwear industry and ultimately supports long-term sustainabledevelopment.
Lubrizol will showcase its latest physical foaming innovations at K Show 2025, October 8-15. Visit us at Booth 6E29 to experience our advanced TPU solutions and explore newopportunities for partnership and growth.
About Lubrizol
Lubrizol, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a science-based company whose specialtychemistry delivers sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve well-being andenhance modern life. Every day, the innovators of Lubrizol strive to create extraordinaryvalue for customers at the intersection of science, market needs and business success,driving discovery and creating breakthrough solutions that enhance life and make theworld work better. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has global reach and local presence, withmore than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices and more than 7,000employees around the world. For more information, visit www.Lubrizol.com.
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SOURCE THE KOREA INDUSTRY DAILY
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