Engineered foam is a type of foam that has been specifically designed and engineered to meet certain performance requirements. It is used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and consumer goods. Because of its lightweight, durable, and versatile properties, engineered foam is becoming increasingly popular. It is used to provide support, cushioning, insulation, and absorption in a variety of applications. It is used in automotive applications to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness while also providing structural support. It is used in the aerospace industry to reduce weight and provide insulation. It is used in construction to reduce thermal bridging and provide insulation. It is used in consumer products for comfort and cushioning.
The global engineered foam market is projected to reach USD 122.30 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2016 to 2026. The growing demand for engineered foam from end-use industries has led to significant developments in the engineered foam market. Engineered foam has been increasingly used over general foams with enhanced features such as high strength & stiffness, uniform distribution of load, improved performance in extreme conditions, stability in corrosive environments, and others. Engineered foam is largely used in aerospace & defense, transportation, manufacturing & construction, medical & healthcare, and other industries for insulations and cushioning applications. Polyurethane is the major material type used for making engineered foams, followed by polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and others. Engineered foams are available in three forms, namely, flexible form, rigid form, and spray form. With the increasing demand for customized materials for cushioning and insulation applications by various end-use industries, the engineered foam market is expected to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period.
Key players operating in the engineered foam market include BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Huntsman Corporation (U.S.), Bayer AG/Covestro (Germany), Seikisui Chemical Co., ltd (Japan), Trelleborg AB (Sweden), Inoac Corporation (Japan), Recticel NV/SA (Belgium), Vita (Lux III) S.A.R.L (U.K.), Armacell GmbH ( Luxembourg), Foamcraft, Inc. (U.S.), Foampartner group (Switzerland), Future Foam, Inc. (U.S.), FXI-Foam Innovations (U.S.), Rogers Corporation (U.S.), UFP Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), The Woodbridge Group (Canada), among others.
Substantial investments for expansions, agreements, and new product launches have been made in the past few years by key companies such as Bayer AG, The Dow Chemical Company, Armacell GmbH, BASF SE, and Huntsman Corporation. Among these, Bayer AG is one of the most active players in the market with regards to adoption of growth strategies. It has expanded its business in different regions to increase its global reach and also to cater to its customers with prominent product launches. Bayer AG has been focusing on new product launches and also is expanding its business in new geographies. This has helped the company expand its global footprint and tap the critically advantageous geographic regions that are witnessing rapid growth in the engineered foam market. BASF SE and The Dow Chemical Company have also outperformed other companies in the number of developments. The companies have actively been involved in new product launches through high R&D investments. In September 2013, BASF built the Polyurethane Systems House, in which polyurethane raw materials are blended to deliver customized products, including products for medical applications. Customized raw material would further help the company manufacture quality foam products.
