Puma has announced a partnership with Chinese materials company Shincell to develop the next generation of its NITRO running foam. As part of the agreement, the two companies will set up a specialised research laboratory in Suzhou. The facility will focus on testing and developing new lightweight foam materials for running shoes as well as other performance footwear categories.

Shincell is known for its expertise in physical foaming technologies. This process works by expanding polymers with tiny gas bubbles trapped inside the material. According to the partners, this method produces lightweight structures that provide cushioning while reducing the overall weight of the footwear.

Puma first introduced its NITRO foam technology in 2021 as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position in the performance running segment. Since then, the company has extended the technology to other footwear categories, including training, basketball and golf.

Romain Girard, Vice President of Innovation at Puma, stated that the company believes NITRO already represents one of the leading running technologies in the industry. He explained that the collaboration with Shincell will help Puma maintain its competitive advantage and further improve the technology for future product generations.

The two companies also indicated that products using the next generation of foam materials may appear in upcoming seasonal product launches as the research and development work progresses.