The national-level industry summit in Zibo has concluded! The “smartest minds” of the rigid polyurethane foam sector gathered to jointly chart a new blueprint for green, intelligent manufacturing.

The national-level industry summit in Zibo has concluded! The “smartest minds” of the rigid polyurethane foam sector gathered to chart a new blueprint for green, intelligent manufacturing.

Gathering wisdom through spirited discourse and driving industry-wide collaboration toward innovation, the three-day 2026 China Polyurethane Rigid Foam Industry Sustainable Development Technology Conference concluded successfully on May 29, 2026, at the Shengyuan International Hotel in Zibo. Under the guidance of the China Polyurethane Industry Association, the event was co-hosted by the journal “Polyurethane Industry” and Shandong Yinuowei Polyurethane Co., Ltd., a vice-chairman unit of the Association. The conference brought together over 300 experts, scholars, and business leaders from more than 200 leading institutions, research institutes, and industry‑leading enterprises spanning the entire polyurethane rigid foam value chain. Centered on the core themes of “high performance, green practices, functionalization, and sustainability,” the event conducted an in-depth analysis of industry development trends, showcased cutting-edge technological advances, and forged a comprehensive consensus on collaborative industrial progress—marking a milestone in the sector’s journey as it embarks on a new phase during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

As the host of the conference, Xu Jun, Chairman of Yinuowei, noted in his opening address that the rigid polyurethane foam industry is currently at a pivotal historical juncture marked by industrial upgrading and green transformation. The strategic guidance of the 15th Five-Year Plan, coupled with the explosive growth in sectors such as new energy and high-end manufacturing, has unlocked a market space worth trillions of yuan. This conference aims to break down industry barriers, establish an open and collaborative platform, and foster deeper cooperation across the sector in areas like technological innovation, green transition, and supply-chain integration. By jointly addressing common challenges—such as the implementation of the HCFC‑141b phase-out and breakthroughs in core technologies—the event seeks to help China’s polyurethane industry ascend to the high end of the global value chain.
This conference was hailed as the annual pinnacle of dialogue in China’s rigid polyurethane foam sector, bringing together the industry’s most authoritative standard‑setting bodies, leading research institutions, and top industry pioneers. Li Jian, a member of the Expert Committee of the China Polyurethane Industry Association and General Manager of Yinuowei, delivered a report titled “Development Directions for China’s Rigid Polyurethane Foam Industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan,” systematically outlining the sector’s technological roadmap and development landscape for the next five years. Experts from national research institutes—including Nanjing Forestry University, the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials under AVIC, the CETC Intelligent Research Institute, and the China Academy of Railway Sciences—as well as from industry leaders such as Wanhua Chemical, Yinuowei, Shanghai Maihao, Hengshui Xinfafa, Toa China, Shandong Aofan, and Hainengfa, took to the stage to present their insights. Their presentations spanned the entire value chain, from policy analysis and fundamental research to industrial applications, focusing on cutting‑edge topics like the substitution of environmentally friendly blowing agents, the expansion of high‑end applications, and intelligent formulation design. The exchange of innovative ideas sparked sustained applause.

The conference report closely aligns with the industry’s core needs, articulating a four‑pillar agenda: In the realm of policy and strategic foresight, the China Polyurethane Industry Association provides an authoritative analysis of the “15th Five-Year Plan” for industry development and the implementation details of the ban on 141b, clearly outlining the timeline and roadmap for green transformation. On the front of green and low‑carbon technologies, the event showcases groundbreaking advances—including environmentally friendly blowing agent replacements, low‑thermal‑conductivity, high‑flame‑retardant materials, and low‑carbon polyether technologies—while sharing industrialization experience with green foaming systems such as 1233zd(E) and 245fa. Regarding breakthroughs in high‑end application scenarios, the conference delves into the potential of rigid polyurethane foam in key national strategic sectors, including new‑energy vehicle batteries, aerospace, cryogenic LNG storage and transportation, energy‑storage power stations, and rail transit. Finally, in the area of intelligent manufacturing and digital upgrading, the event highlights AI‑driven formulation design technologies and Yinuowei’s independently developed smart management system for rigid‑foam plants, offering replicable models to support the industry’s move toward intelligent transformation and digitalization.

                                                                Top-tier think tanks converge, creating a premier hub for technology exchange across the entire industry chain.
During the three-day conference, delegates engaged in in-depth discussions and resource‑matching through a variety of formats, yielding a series of landmark outcomes. As the host organization, Yinuowei unveiled two major core technological breakthroughs—the “Polyether Low‑Carbon Transformation Technology” and the “Differentiated Aromatic Polyester Polyol”—which attracted widespread attention across the industry. Nearly 200 participants visited Yinuowei’s New Materials Central Control Room, the Phase III project site, and its Innovation Center, gaining firsthand insight into the company’s world‑class smart manufacturing capabilities and cutting‑edge R&D strength, and commending its achievements in green production and intelligent factory development. The conference’s high caliber, substantial scale, and the quality of its results were unanimously praised by the attending experts. Lin Xia, Director of the Foam Plastics Professional Committee of the China Polyurethane Industry Association, noted that the event established a robust platform for deep integration among industry, academia, research, and application, breaking down barriers to information, technology, and supply‑demand alignment, and enabling face‑to‑face exchanges across all links of the value chain—thus steering the sector toward healthier, more sustainable growth.

Abundant achievements have been realized, fostering a consensus across the industry for collaborative development.

The conference received comprehensive coverage from numerous media outlets, including China Securities Journal, Dazhong Daily, Zibo Media Center, and the Publicity and News Center of Zibo High-tech Zone. At the press conference, Li Jian, General Manager of Yinuowei, led the company’s senior management team in a joint interview, providing detailed responses to pressing issues such as industry development trends, the company’s global strategic positioning, green transformation initiatives, and the construction of a million‑ton‑scale production cluster. He stated that Yinuowei will continue to serve as a model enterprise in the industry, steadily increasing investment in scientific and technological innovation and deepening collaborative efforts across the value chain. Lin Xia, Director of the Foam Plastics Professional Committee of the China Polyurethane Industry Association, noted: “The conference has established an efficient platform for deep integration among industry, academia, research, and application, breaking down longstanding technological barriers and information silos. The more than 20 industrialization‑ready technological achievements unveiled at the event not only offer diversified options for replacing 141b but also fill critical material gaps in China’s high‑end sectors, such as aerospace and LNG storage and transportation, thereby significantly enhancing the global competitiveness of China’s polyurethane industry.” In addition, Dr. Cheng Zhuhong, Technical Manager at Yinuowei, granted focused interviews on specific research projects, offering in‑depth insights into the R&D processes behind these innovations and their practical industrial value.

Mainstream media spotlight, delivering a powerful message on industry development from multiple angles.

The successful convening of this conference has laid a solid foundation for the high-quality development of China’s rigid polyurethane foam industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Standing at a new historical juncture, the industry is poised to seize unprecedented opportunities for growth. Taking this conference as an opportunity, China’s rigid polyurethane foam sector will deepen collaborative innovation among industry, academia, research institutions, and end-users; accelerate the R&D and industrial application of green, low‑carbon technologies; work together to overcome key technological bottlenecks; expand into high‑end application markets; and propel China’s transformation from a major polyurethane producer into a global leader in the field—thereby injecting sustained polyurethane‑driven momentum toward the realization of the nation’s “dual carbon” goals and the high‑quality development of its manufacturing sector.