14. Aug 2026
CPI names three finalists for 2026 Polyurethane Innovation Award
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) has selected innovations from All Weather Insulated Panels, Carpenter and Elastochem Specialty Chemicals as finalists for its 2026 Polyurethane Innovation Award.
The award recognizes polyurethane products brought to market between June 2024 and June 2026. The finalists span insulated metal panels, mattress foam and spray polyurethane foam insulation.
All Weather Insulated Panels was nominated for its InnovaCELL technology, an insulated metal panel foam core designed to improve fire performance, reduce smoke and increase thermal efficiency. The technology incorporates recycled PET to reduce the embodied carbon associated with building construction.
Carpenter’s Casper Core+ is a 100% polyurethane foam mattress core designed to replicate the support and feel of traditional metal coils. It combines side-edge rails and support structures within a single foam component.
According to CPI, mattresses made with Casper Core+ are lighter than conventional hybrid spring mattresses, making them easier to transport and handle. The single-material construction is also intended to simplify recycling at the end of the mattress’s life.
Elastochem Specialty Chemicals was shortlisted for Insulthane OCX Plus with X-PASS technology. The open-cell spray polyurethane foam is designed for use in attics and crawlspaces without a separate ignition-barrier coating.
The sucrose-free formulation has achieved a Class 1 rating under the ASTM E84 fire test without using halogenated flame retardants. Its light gray color is intended to make the product easier to identify and inspect.
“The Polyurethane Innovation Award showcases the ingenuity, technical excellence, and leadership that moves our industry forward,” said Jason Sloan, director of CPI. “This year’s finalists demonstrate how innovation is solving real-world challenges and creating new opportunities across a wide range of applications. We congratulate each finalist on their well-earned recognition and look forward to celebrating their achievements at the 2026 Polyurethanes Technical Conference.”
The finalists will present their products during the opening session of the 2026 Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando, Florida, on October 5. Attendees will vote following an assessment by an expert technical panel, with the winner announced on October 7.
Photo: the Polyurethane Innovation Award (2023 award pictured) Credit: American Chemistry Council