Evonik has launched a new push into sports-material innovation with the opening of a dedicated polyamide research and development hub in Asia. The aim is to speed up how high-performance materials move from lab to finished products in footwear and consumer goods.

 

The new facility, called the “Evonik Asia PAthletic Center,” is focused on polyamide-based innovation—particularly polyether block amides (PEBAs)—alongside application development and technical support for sports and consumer goods manufacturers. 

 

The goal is clear: faster product iteration, tighter collaboration with brands, and quicker paths to commercialization.

 

“Asia is a key engine for innovation and manufacturing in the global sports and consumer goods industry,” said Jinhong Zhang, Vice President and General Manager of Evonik’s High Performance Polymers business line in the Asia-Pacific region. 

 

“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 center was officially inaugurated at the CHINAPLAS international exhibition for the plastics and rubber industry, underscoring Evonik’s intent to anchor its innovation strategy directly within one of Asia’s key industrial stages.

 

Industry partners are already signaling expectations for deeper technical collaboration. 

 

“Evonik PEBA supercritical foaming materials have proven their exceptional performance in a wide range of running shoe models,” said Forrest Gan, Senior Manager of Compound Engineering at Deckers International HK Limited. 

 

“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.”

 

The hub is equipped with extensive testing and evaluation capabilities covering both rigid PA12 materials and soft PA12 elastomers. It supports international standards such as ISO and ASTM as well as brand-specific testing requirements. 

 

The facility also includes pilot-scale plastics processing systems, enabling rapid production of 3D-printed samples, injection-molded test pieces, and films for early-stage validation.

 

“We will translate our products portfolio and global application experience in long-chain polyamides into solutions that can be validated for sports applications,” said Dirk Heinrich, Global Head of Applied Technology & Technical Service in long-chain polyamides, in Evonik’s High Performance Polymers business line. 

 

“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.”

 

Long-chain polyamides such as PEBAs are already widely used across athletic footwear, apparel, sports equipment, and protective gear, where they contribute to lightweight construction, durability, comfort, and performance gains.

 

With this new hub, Evonik is doubling down on its role as a core materials supplier in the global sports innovation chain—linking local market insight with advanced polymer science to accelerate the next generation of high-performance sporting goods.