Nouryon and Ningbo Actmix Expand Partnership to Boost Lightweight Material Supply for Asia

Global specialty chemicals leader Nouryon and Ningbo Actmix New Materials Co., Ltd. (Actmix) announced an expanded strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of lightweight solutions in Asia's automotive industry and beyond. The collaboration will also enhance the regional supply capacity of Nouryon’s Expancel® thermoplastic expandable microspheres, fueling the rapid growth of the lightweight materials market.

“We are witnessing an explosive demand for high-performance lightweight materials in Asia,” said Sylvia Winkel Pettersson, Vice President of Specialty Polymers at Nouryon. “By deepening our collaboration with Actmix, a partner with extensive expertise in rubber additives, we can merge the advantages of Expancel® microsphere technology with localized production. This will deliver more agile supply chains and sustainable solutions for customers in industries like automotive.”

Small Particles, Big Impact
At the heart of this partnership is the integration of Nouryon’s patented Expancel® microsphere technology with Actmix’s localized compounding capabilities. Expancel® microspheres are tiny plastic spheres with a polymer shell encapsulating gas. When heated, they expand up to 60 times their original volume, functioning as both a foaming agent and lightweight filler. A small amount of these microspheres can reduce material density, enhance surface quality, and improve elasticity and shrink resistance, making them ideal for applications in automotive, footwear, construction, and more.

With Asia’s booming electric vehicle market and the rising demand for lightweight materials in consumer electronics and sports equipment, Expancel® microspheres offer a winning combination of performance and sustainability.

A Game-Changing Collaboration
Actmix, a national high-tech enterprise, is renowned for its expertise in rubber additives and pre-dispersed masterbatch production. Lian Qianrong, Chairman of Actmix, expressed high expectations for the partnership:
“Nouryon’s Expancel® microsphere technology sets the industry standard for lightweight materials. By combining this innovation with our expertise in rubber chemical compounding, we will create high-performance solutions tailored to the Asian market. This partnership not only reshapes the regional landscape but also drives the entire value chain toward greater efficiency and sustainability.”

In pursuit of carbon neutrality, lightweight materials play a pivotal role in reducing energy consumption and emissions. Nouryon produces Expancel® microspheres at its Ningbo facility in China, complementing its production sites in the United States, Sweden, and Brazil, ensuring reliable supplies of high-quality products for Chinese customers.