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When XPeng unveiled its new humanoid robot this year, the spectacle was designed to inspire disbelief. The robot’s movements were so lifelike that company founder He Xiaopeng had to cut off its leg on stage to demonstrate that there was no human inside.
The moment went viral, but the main discovery goes deeper. In addition to software and electromechanical systems, the robot used flexible, skin-like structural components. These components ensured fluid movements and a humanoid appearance.
These components were developed by PollyPolymer , a Suzhou -based materials and manufacturing company that has quietly become a supplier to China’s rapidly growing humanoid robot industry. Founded in 2017 by materials scientist Wang Wenbin, the company initially focused on 3D printing shoes and later expanded its technology to robotics, healthcare, and industrial prototyping.
PollyPolymer’s move from footwear to robotics stems from similar technical requirements. Footwear components must be lightweight, flexible, resistant to repeated loads, and safe for prolonged contact with the body. These same characteristics increasingly define the external structures and joint systems of robots designed to work alongside humans.
According to the South China Morning Post , Wang notes that materials for robotic “bionic muscles” must combine elasticity, heat dissipation, wear resistance, and durability. PollyPolymer has adapted polymer formulas originally developed for footwear to create shock-absorbing systems and integrated foot components for several Chinese robotics developers, including UBTech Robotics and EngineAI.
The company’s expansion is based on its patented HALS high-speed photopolymerization process. According to the company, this technology allows for the printing of flexible parts at a significantly faster speed than traditional 3D printing methods, enabling rapid design iteration and small-scale, mold-free production. By 2025, the company had printed approximately two million pairs of shoes and plans to double its capacity by 2026. PollyPolymer collaborates with international brands, including Skechers, Cole Haan, and China’s Peak Sport Products.
The same production model has also proven popular outside the footwear industry. In 2024, The Walt Disney Company showcased 3D-printed accessories and footwear at Shanghai Fashion Week, with PollyPolymer providing materials research and technical support. Eliminating traditional casting has cut development times by more than half. The company has also provided 3D-printed prototypes to Samsung Electronics and Bosch, helping accelerate product development cycles.
PollyPolymer now generates a quarter of its revenue from international customers, with annual growth in export sales of over 40%. The company expects foreign markets to account for more than half of its total revenue within three years. To support this growth, it recently launched a consumer brand, PollyFab, focused on customized sneakers and small lifestyle products. Physical stores are planned in the United States, France, and Japan by 2026.
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