#South Korea #Seoul #Lubrizol #Foam Center #Footwear Innovation

Lubrizol's Innovative Leap in Footwear Technology

In an exciting development for the footwear industry, Lubrizol, a prominent leader in specialty chemicals, has officially launched its Foam Center of Excellence (COE) located in both Seoul, Korea, and Shanghai, China. This venture represents a significant commitment to enhancing innovation, sustainability, and collaborative progress in the realm of footwear midsoles.

Aiming for Performance and Sustainability

The new Foam COE is designed to serve as a hub for high-performance material development, particularly specialized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foams. By gathering a team of scientists with deep expertise in both material science and advanced processing technologies, Lubrizol positions itself to address the growing demands of the athletic shoe market, focusing on delivering exceptional performance while prioritizing sustainability.

Driving Collaborative Growth

Jane Cai, Lubrizol’s Senior Business Director for the Asia Pacific, commented on the strategic importance of the region, highlighting its status as one of the most dynamic consumer markets globally. "Our Foam COE is strategically located to synergize global expertise with local insights, allowing us to anticipate emerging consumer needs and deliver innovative solutions that set new benchmarks in the industry," she explained.

Adding to this, Justin Park, Director of Global Footwear Marketing, noted that the rise of physical foaming techniques in the footwear sector is significant due to their environmentally friendly attributes and superior performance characteristics. The new facility emphasizes Lubrizol's dedication to their “local for global” approach, adapting quickly to regional shifts while ensuring a broad global impact.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The Foam Center of Excellence has invested heavily in advanced production technology. Among the notable equipment is a supercritical fluid (SCF) injection foam machine based in Korea and an autoclave foam machine in China. These state-of-the-art facilities not only streamline the product development lifecycle but also accelerate insights into processing while ensuring that new products comply with the current rigorous performance standards of the footwear industry.

The testing and analytics capabilities available at both centers facilitate swift evaluations of material performance, allowing for rapid innovations in application. Such capabilities provide unprecedented technical support to customers and partners alike, helping them navigate complex challenges faced in today's market.

Fostering an Application-Driven Ecosystem

Through fostering collaboration among various stakeholders—including processors, brands, and material engineers—Lubrizol is championing a collaborative ecosystem that drives innovation within the footwear midsole sector. The company’s commitment to seamless knowledge exchange translates into tangible benefits for processors and brands alike, enabling them to achieve faster prototyping and manufacturing efficiencies that are crucial in today’s fast-paced market.

Future Forward

Lubrizol's strategic initiative with the Foam COE is a reflection of their “local for global” philosophy. This framework enables them to remain agile, adapting swiftly to developing consumer preferences and regulatory changes across different regions while leveraging global expertise to cultivate sustainable innovations.

Prominently, Lubrizol will showcase its latest advancements in physical foaming technology at K Show 2025, taking place from October 8-15. Attendees are encouraged to visit Booth 6E29 to explore Lubrizol’s cutting-edge TPU solutions and engage in discussions about future partnership opportunities.

A Visionary Company

For over nine decades, Lubrizol has contributed to advancements in industrial chemistry, with more than 100 manufacturing facilities and a strong workforce of over 7,000 employees worldwide, all striving to create sustainable solutions that enhance modern life. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol continues to forge ahead, leveraging science to meet market needs and refine business strategies that drive breakthrough solutions for diverse applications.

To learn more about Lubrizol and their initiatives, you can visit www.Lubrizol.com.