CLEVELAND, Ohio – Lubrizol, a global leader in specialty chemicals, announces new Foam Center of Excellence COE) in Seoul, Korea, and Shanghai, China. With a long history of innovation in the footwear industry, this investment marks a significant milestone in Lubrizol’s commitment to driving innovation, advancing sustainability and nurturing collaborative growth.

Located within Lubrizol's thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) innovation centers, the new Foam COE brings together scientists with significant expertise in material science, cutting-edge processing technology and comprehensive testing and analytics capabilities. This holistic approach, bolstered by value chain collaboration, positions Lubrizol at the forefront of transformative trends in physical foaming technology. The Foam COE is poised to accelerate the development of breakthrough midsole products that meet demands for performance and sustainability.

"Asia Pacific is one of the world's most dynamic consumer markets, demanding continuous technological advancement and innovation." Jane Cai, Lubrizol's Senior Business Director in Asia Pacific, said, "Our Foam COE is uniquely positioned to blend global expertise with local insights, anticipate emerging needs, and bring groundbreaking TPU foam solutions that set new industry benchmarks."

“Physical foaming is rapidly emerging in the global midsole market, driven by its superior performance and advanced sustainability,” Justin Park, Director of Lubrizol Global Footwear Marketing, added, “Our new facilities and capabilities at the Foam COE illustrate our local-for-global commitment, reflecting Lubrizol’s dedication to meet local needs swiftly while delivering global impact.”

Agile Innovation from Design to Commercialization

The Foam COE has invested in advanced processing equipment, such as a super critical fluid (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 the time needed for new product development and validation, and ensure that new products meet the rigorous demands of today’s athletics and footwear midsoles.

Comprehensive testing and analytics capabilities at both locations can accelerate the evaluation of material performance, speed up application innovation and deliver exceptional technical service to help customers and partners overcome complex challenges.

Empowering Value Chain Collaboration

Through seamless cooperation and knowledge sharing among processors, brands and other stakeholders, Lubrizol is building a dynamic, application-driven ecosystem within the footwear midsole industry with this new Foam COE. Processors benefit from technical support, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing efficiency, while footwear brands can confidently 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. This philosophy enables Lubrizol to quickly adapt to evolving consumer preferences, regulatory requirements, and industry trends in key regions, while sharing advanced technologies and best practices across markets. This fosters the next generation of innovation in the global footwear industry and ultimately supports long-term sustainable development.

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 new opportunities for partnership and growth.

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