Lubrizol, a global leader in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, hosted its inaugural Asia-Pacific Innovation Summit today in Shanghai. The landmark event convened more than 150 industry leaders, technical specialists, and strategic partners from across the region. Together, they explored emerging trends in material science, examined the evolving forces driving innovation, and discussed how collaborative ecosystems can accelerate sustainable industrial development in the years ahead.
Against the backdrop of rapid industrial transformation and a global push toward sustainability, market demand across sectors is becoming increasingly diverse and fast-evolving. This shift is reshaping the very nature of innovation. What was once dominated by technology-led advancement is now becoming more value-driven, application-centric, and collaborative. In this context, material science plays an essential role—not merely as a technical enabler but as a strategic bridge that links innovation with real-world applications, translating scientific breakthroughs into tangible value for industries and consumers alike.
Henry Liu, Vice President of Lubrizol Asia Pacific, emphasized this transformation during his keynote remarks. “Diversified and rapidly evolving market demands are reshaping traditional industry models, propelling us toward an era of collaborative growth and value co-creation,” he said. “Asia-Pacific—with its fast-moving markets, unique application scenarios, and dynamic innovation landscape—has become fertile ground for breakthroughs in material science and technology.”
Liu elaborated on Lubrizol’s long-term innovation strategy for the region. He stressed that the company’s approach integrates a global perspective with deep local engagement. “Lubrizol remains committed to an innovation model that embraces openness and agility,” he explained. “We see ourselves as a co-creator within the broader innovation ecosystem. Market needs sit at the center of our strategy. By building a fully integrated loop of ‘R&D–manufacturing–co-creation,’ we accelerate the conversion of ideas and technologies into real business value. This empowers our partners to achieve growth and breakthroughs across different market cycles.”
He added that Lubrizol’s innovation centers across the Asia-Pacific region serve as important bridges—localizing global technologies to meet local needs while translating regional insights into global solutions. This dual-direction innovation flow is helping transform regional creativity into globally scalable applications.
Lubrizol has recently taken significant steps to enhance its local presence and innovation network. The company launched its Southeast Asia Innovation Center in Singapore and opened a new office in Jakarta. In Shanghai, Lubrizol is expanding local production capacity for medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), further strengthening its ability to meet regional needs in healthcare, mobility, and consumer markets. These investments demonstrate Lubrizol’s commitment to advancing innovation, collaboration, and sustainability across Asia-Pacific.
Breakthrough Technologies Make Their Asia-Pacific Debut
A highlight of the summit was the regional unveiling of several groundbreaking technologies. These solutions reflect Lubrizol’s dedication to improving quality of life and advancing sustainable progress by pushing the boundaries of material innovation.
1. Advanced Additive Solutions for Next-Generation Mobility
Lubrizol presented a suite of cutting-edge additive technologies tailored to support the evolving needs of the mobility sector—including China VII commercial vehicle regulations and the accelerating adoption of electrified passenger vehicles.
One of the featured innovations, Lubrizol® CV1150, is a heavy-duty diesel engine oil solution with a next-generation low-ash formulation. It not only fulfills China VI requirements but also anticipates the stringent protection needs associated with upcoming China VII emission systems. Certified under the GB11122-2025 D1 specification, the solution demonstrated strong durability and hardware protection in a 100,000-kilometer field trial, showing reduced wear on key engine components and significantly lower ash buildup in diesel particulate filters (DPFs).
For passenger vehicles, the PV3610 platform addresses the increasingly diverse demands placed on engine oils, particularly in hybrid powertrains such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and extended-range EVs. With an innovative formulation that combines multiple newly developed chemical components, PV3610 delivers improved performance across high-temperature deposits, water emulsification, and fuel economy—especially in the low-viscosity lubricants favored by modern engines. This ensures long-term stability and durability whether the vehicle operates in traditional combustion mode, hybrid mode, or extended-range scenarios.
2. Innovative, Sustainable Packaging Coating Material
Lubrizol also unveiled a new waterborne acrylic emulsion designed for sustainable food packaging applications, including paper cups, bowls, bags, and wrappers. Unlike traditional materials, this coating technology is free from PFAS and polyethylene (PE) film, offering a safer and more environmentally responsible alternative.
Despite being water-based, the coating delivers excellent oil and water resistance comparable to conventional solutions. It features low VOC emissions and supports recyclability, biodegradability, and repulpability. The material also offers strong heat-sealing capabilities even at low temperatures, providing brand owners with a high-performance solution that meets both functional and sustainability requirements.
All products within this platform are manufactured locally and fully compliant with China GB9685, U.S. FDA, and EU No. 10/2011 food-contact regulations. This ensures that companies can meet global safety standards while advancing their sustainability commitments.
3. Biotech Skincare Breakthrough – Lectroglaze™
In the beauty and personal care category, Lubrizol introduced Lectroglaze™, the industry’s first cosmetic active ingredient powered by electrogenic bacteria. The ingredient delivers a novel prebiotic effect by stimulating the skin’s microbiome to generate bioelectricity, which neutralizes free radicals and helps prevent oxidative stress caused by UV exposure and aging.
Clinical testing conducted by Lubrizol’s Research Institutes in Barcelona and Shanghai revealed notable improvements after four weeks of use. Results included a 10.2% reduction in pore length and a 14.2% reduction in pore area, contributing to visibly smoother and healthier-looking skin.
4. Next-Generation Foam Technology for Sustainable Footwear
Lubrizol also debuted new grades of ESTANE® BCX TPU designed specifically for physical-foam solutions used in footwear. The newly developed ESTANE® BCX AM and BCX HS grades are optimized for both melt- and solid-state foaming processes, supporting improved production efficiency and promoting recyclability in footwear manufacturing.
Depending on the foaming method, midsoles produced with these materials can achieve densities as low as 0.12 g/cm³ and vertical rebound levels up to 75%. This combination of lightweight performance, energy return, and long-term durability positions the new BCX TPU series as a next-generation solution for sustainable, high-performance footwear.
To accelerate innovation across the footwear ecosystem, Lubrizol has established Foam Application Centers of Excellence in both China and Korea. These centers support collaboration with brands, manufacturers, and designers seeking sustainable foam solutions.
Throughout the summit, participants engaged in thoughtful discussions about industry challenges, emerging opportunities, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration. The event strengthened the foundation for transforming ideas into actionable innovations that will move industries toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Lubrizol closed the summit by reaffirming its long-term commitment to Asia-Pacific and its goal of fostering an innovation ecosystem that supports growth for partners across the region.
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