PUMA is moving to secure the next phase of its performance running story, teaming up with Chinese materials specialist Shincell to evolve its NITRO™ foam platform for future footwear lines.
New lab, next chapter
Under the new agreement, PUMA and Shincell will build a dedicated laboratory in Suzhou, China focused on testing and developing new foam materials for NITRO™. PUMA expects the first products from this collaboration to arrive in upcoming seasons, signaling an ongoing, iterative update cycle rather than a one off tech refresh.
Shincell’s foam expertise
Shincell is known for lightweight, high-performance foams created through a purely physical foaming process that uses gases commonly found in the atmosphere to expand plastics. By trapping micro and nano bubbles inside the material, this method lowers density and boosts resilience, which are key attributes for responsive running midsoles.
NITRO™’s performance track record
PUMA first launched NITRO™ in early 2021 as part of a broader repositioning of its performance running category, then steadily updated the compound. The foam is positioned as extremely lightweight and responsive, aimed at helping runners use less energy and stay comfortable over distance. PUMA has already used NITRO™ across major marathons in Boston, London and New York, where more than 250 athletes raced in models like Fast-R NITRO™ Elite and Deviate NITRO™ Elite; nearly 100 runners set personal bests, with 48 improving their times by three minutes or more.
Beyond running categories
Beyond marathon racing and daily trainers, PUMA has extended NITRO™ into other performance segments, including training, football, basketball, and golf, using the same foam logic, low weight, and high responsiveness, to support different movement patterns. That cross-category use raises the stakes for any material upgrade, since changes developed with Shincell could influence cushioning and feel across a wide range of PUMA performance products.
Leadership voices
Romain Girard, Vice President Innovation at PUMA, said “With NITRO™ we have the best running technology in the industry and the agreement with Shincell allows us to maintain that edge and make the best even better in future product generations” Dr. Xiulei Jiang, CEO of Shincell, said “This collaboration is a great example showing the value of the technology-focused innovation in the global high-performance sportswear segments. We are looking forward to more business success down the road.”
This move suggests PUMA is investing in incremental gains, lighter, more efficient foam, rather than a wholesale reset of NITRO™, which matters whether you’re targeting race day PRs or just looking for a more efficient daily trainer built on familiar cushioning.
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