Evonik has announced the opening of a dedicated polyamide research and innovation hub in Asia focused on sports and consumer goods. The new facility, named the Evonik Asia PAthletic Center, is intended to concentrate on polyamide-based material innovation, particularly polyether block amides (PEBA), as well as application development and technical support for companies in the sports and consumer goods segments. According to the company, the hub is designed to help customers accelerate product iterations and commercialization.
As stated, the launch is intended to strengthen Evonik’s local footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, from material supply to application collaboration. The company indicates that the center will support work with OEMs, manufacturers, and industry partners to shorten the cycle from concept to production, and to expand collaboration considered necessary for continuous improvements in performance, sustainability, and manufacturing efficiency for sports products. Jinhong Zhang, Vice President and General Manager of Evonik’s High Performance Polymers business line in the Asia-Pacific region, said: "Asia is a key engine for innovation and manufacturing in the global sports and consumer goods industry. With the opening of the Evonik Asia PAthletic Center, we aim to further strengthen our local footprint, from material supply to application collaboration. The new center will support our work with OEMs, manufacturers, and industry partners to shorten the cycle from concept to production. Furthermore, the center will enable the further collaboration that is vital for continuous improvements in performance, sustainability, and manufacturing efficiency for sports products."
The Evonik Asia PAthletic Center was inaugurated during an official ceremony at the Chinaplas international exhibition for the plastics and rubber industry.
Capabilities and testing infrastructure
The center is to offer comprehensive testing and evaluation capabilities for both rigid materials (PA12) and soft materials (PA12 elastomers). As stated, the scope will cover international standards such as ISO and ASTM as well as brand-specific standards. The facility is also expected to include pilot-scale plastics processing capabilities and to provide 3D-printed samples, injection-molded test specimens, and films to support early-stage validation.
Dirk Heinrich, Global Head of Applied Technology & Technical Service in long-chain polyamides within Evonik’s High Performance Polymers business line, said: "We will translate our products portfolio and global application experience in long-chain polyamides into solutions that can be validated for sports applications. On one hand, we will co-develop formulations and processing windows to meet different process requirements. On the other hand, we will use standardized testing and sample validation to help customers complete design verification and scale up to production faster."
Applications of long-chain polyamides in sports
According to Evonik, long-chain polyamides such as PEBA are used in athletic footwear, apparel, sports equipment, and specialized protective gear. Processed into key components and core structural parts, these materials are intended to enable lightweighting, durability, comfort, and overall product performance.
The statement also includes a comment from Deckers International HK Limited. Dr. Forrest Gan, Senior Manager of Compound Engineering, said: "Evonik PEBA supercritical foaming materials have proven their exceptional performance in a wide range of running shoe models. We look forward to the new Asia PAthletic Center bringing Evonik even closer to brand partners, enabling deeper collaboration and more precise solutions to real-world commercialization challenges. We are excited to see Evonik continue to introduce high performance, diversified product solutions that empower brands and drive the next wave of footwear innovation."
Evonik emphasizes that, as a supplier of high-performance polyamides, it intends to continue building on local market insights and further support innovation in the use of long-chain polyamides in sports products, as well as upgrades in manufacturing processes.
