Shanghai, China – Applications in fitness and sports sectors showed the fastest growth in Huafon Group’s new materials unit last year.
PU China 18: Fitness sector drives new materials growth at Huafon
Wipe-clean shoe sole from Huafon. Credit: Jane Ho
Chinese consumers’ growing awareness of fitness is a major driving force behind sales of polyurethane products, Huafon New Materials’ marketing manager Xia Yuechang told UTECH-polyurethane.com.
The company showcased a series of polyurethane applications at PU China. Exhibits included dumb bells, roller skate wheels and shoe soles. The shoe sole display included a model with white midsole which is softer and easier to clean. This is because it is covered with a lamination of graphene film.
The graphene film technology was first developed three years ago, and has been upgraded continuously. ‘Now you can wipe any stain right off,’ said Xia.
A leading polyurethane resin and polyester polyol maker in China, the new materials arm claims to be the world’s largest maker of shoe sole resin in sales volume with 500kT/year capacity for the segment.
The company has production at four sites in China. Most of China’s top-ten shoe makers use the materials, as do international brands such as Adidas and Nike.
It has also spent over CNY 100m ($14.6 m) investing in and developing polyurethane resin for shock absorbing gaskets. These are used in China’s high-speed railways, said Xia.
Currency conversion: XE.com
