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Three Trailblazing Companies Named Finalists for the 2024 Polyurethane Innovation Award

Huntsman’s SMARTLITE® O LTPU, Incorez’s Aldirez® A, and Woodbridge’s TrimVisible BIO Compete for the Prize

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Betsy Pray
CONTACT US

WASHINGTON (August 19, 2024) – The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) today announced Huntsman; Incorez, a Sika Company; and Woodbridge as finalists for this year’s Polyurethane Innovation Award. The annual honor recognizes companies and individuals who have introduced new products, technologies, or initiatives to the marketplace between June 2022 and June 2024.

Jason Sloan, Director, CPI | American Chemistry Council
Each year CPI is proud to present the industry’s top technical honor, cultivating a competitive spirit among polyurethane innovators and showcasing how these efforts help address some of the world’s most challenging issues.

“Polyurethanes help create products that make modern life possible, and these new cutting-edge products and technologies are possible because of the dedicated commitment from leading polyurethane manufacturers. CPI congratulates Huntsman, Incorez, and Woodbridge on being named this year’s finalists,” adds Sloan.  

The finalists’ descriptions of their innovations follow:

Huntsman: SMARTLITE® O LTPU is a novel liquid TPU for footwear midsoles. Setting new circularity and performance standards, this innovative system enables the creation of low density, high comfort, hydrolysis resistant midsoles, with excellent rebound properties. Fully customizable, SMARTLITE® O LTPU is easy to process, on low pressure standard equipment. Bio-based versions of the product are also available.

Incorez: Aldirez® A is an innovative aldimine latent curing agent designed to address challenges encountered in moisture-cured PU and polyaspartic coatings. Reacting with water before the isocyanate, it prevents the production of CO2. The intermediate produced in this reaction then goes on to speed up the Isocyanate and polyol reaction offering significant advantages such as faster cure times whilst maintaining a workable pot-life, superior aesthetics and the ability to apply PU coatings in problematic atmospheric conditions including high humidity and extremely low temperatures. 

Woodbridge: TrimVisible™ BIO combines biogenic carbon from forest residue with high-performance polyurethane seating foam chemistry. This exclusive technology reduces automotive seating foam’s overall global warming potential (GWP) by displacing traditional urethane chemical components. This technology is available in automotive seating, ensuring that performance and comfort are not compromised.

The finalists’ presentations are scored by an expert technical panel and then voted on by attendees of the Polyurethanes Technical Conference following the opening session on September 30th. The winner will be announced during the closing awards luncheon on October 2nd.

On LinkedIn and X? Follow the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry here and here for the latest news, insights, and ideas and use the hashtag #PolyCon24 to join the conversation.  

American Chemistry Council

The American Chemistry Council’s mission is to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. To achieve this, we: Champion science-based policy solutions across all levels of government; Drive continuous performance improvement to protect employees and communities through Responsible Care®; Foster the development of sustainability practices throughout ACC member companies; and Communicate authentically with communities about challenges and solutions for a safer, healthier and more sustainable way of life. Our vision is a world made better by chemistry, where people live happier, healthier, and more prosperous lives, safely and sustainably—for generations to come.