The Global Foam Nickel Market was valued at USD 485 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 750 Million by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.5% during the forecast period (2025–2032). This robust growth is being driven by the surging demand for advanced batteries in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, alongside the rapid expansion of fuel cell technology and various industrial filtration and catalysis applications.

As the global energy transition accelerates, foam nickel has emerged as a critical enabling material due to its unique combination of high porosity, excellent electrical conductivity, and structural stability. In this analysis, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Foam Nickel Industry—a blend of established material science giants, specialized foam producers, and key industry suppliers shaping the supply chain for this essential component.

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🔟 1. Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Continuous Band-shaped Nickel Foam, High-Porosity Variants for Batteries

A global leader in advanced materials, Sumitomo Electric is a dominant force in the foam nickel market. The company leverages its deep expertise in metallurgy and electrochemistry to produce high-quality, uniform nickel foam primarily for nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) and nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery electrodes. Its products are critical suppliers to major battery manufacturers worldwide.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Focus on ultra-high porosity foams for maximum electrode surface area.
• Strong R&D pipeline for next-generation battery applications, including solid-state architectures.
• Global supply chain and partnerships with automotive OEMs for electric vehicle batteries.

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Foam Nickel Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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9️⃣ 2. Corun (LyRun) Technology Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Changsha, China
Key Offering: Nickel Foam for Energy Storage, High-Intensity Binding Force Foam

Corun, often referenced as LyRun in industry reports, is a leading Chinese manufacturer specializing in foam nickel for the energy sector. The company is a key supplier for the domestic and international Ni-MH battery market, with a significant focus on products for hybrid electric vehicles and consumer electronics. Its production scale gives it a strong competitive position in Asia-Pacific.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Vertically integrated production to control costs and quality.
• Continuous expansion of production capacity to meet booming EV battery demand.
• Development of specialized foams for supercapacitors and fuel cells.

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8️⃣ 3. Vale S.A. (via its nickel division, formerly Inco)

Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Key Offering: High-Purity Nickel Feedstock, Nickel Foam Precursors

While not exclusively a foam manufacturer, Vale’s role is foundational as one of the world’s largest nickel miners and refiners. Its production of high-purity Class 1 nickel is essential for the foam nickel supply chain. The company’s market influence comes from its control over a significant portion of the high-quality raw material needed for electroplating processes used in foam production.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Investment in low-carbon nickel production to meet ESG demands from downstream customers.
• Strategic partnerships with foam manufacturers to secure supply chains for battery gigafactories.
• Focus on expanding nickel output to alleviate market tightness driven by EV growth.

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7️⃣ 4. HGP (Anyang Hengji Pure Nickel Products Co., Ltd.)

Headquarters: Anyang, Henan, China
Key Offering: Pure Nickel Foam, Expanded Nickel Mesh

HGP is a prominent specialist manufacturer of pure nickel foam products in China. The company caters to a diverse range of applications beyond batteries, including high-temperature filtration, catalysis, and electromagnetic shielding. Its expertise lies in producing foams with specific pore densities and mechanical strengths tailored to industrial client requirements.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Customization of foam parameters (PPI – Pores Per Inch) for niche industrial applications.
• Competitive pricing and manufacturing agility in the high-growth Asian market.
• Exploration of composite materials combining nickel foam with other functional layers.

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Foam Nickel Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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6️⃣ 5. Anpingxian Huirui Metal Products Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Anping, Hebei, China
Key Offering: Nickel Foam, Foam Nickel for Catalysis and Filtration

Anpingxian Huirui is a significant player in the production of metallic foams, with nickel foam being a core product line. The company serves various sectors such as chemical processing (as catalyst substrates), environmental engineering (for molten metal and gas filtration), and the energy industry. Its strength lies in serving industrial B2B markets with robust and reliable products.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Focus on the durability and high-temperature performance of foams for harsh industrial environments.
• Development of three-dimensional porous structures optimized for catalytic surface reactions.
• Expansion of sales networks to reach global industrial equipment manufacturers.

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5️⃣ 6. Heze Tianyu New Material Technology Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Heze, Shandong, China
Key Offering: Battery-grade Nickel Foam, Fuel Cell Components

Heze Tianyu is an emerging yet influential manufacturer focused on advanced materials for new energy applications. The company produces nickel foam that meets the stringent requirements of modern battery production lines, emphasizing consistency and electrochemical performance. It is actively targeting the fuel cell market with gas diffusion layer substrates.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Investment in automated production lines to ensure product uniformity for high-volume battery makers.
• R&D into coating and surface treatment technologies to enhance foam performance in specific cells.
• Positioning as a nimble, technology-oriented supplier in the fast-evolving Chinese EV ecosystem.

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4️⃣ 7. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: High-Purity Nickel Foam for Research & Laboratory Use

While not a bulk industrial supplier, Thermo Fisher Scientific is a critical enabler for the foam nickel market through its lab supply division. The company provides high-purity, research-grade nickel foam to universities, national laboratories, and corporate R&D departments globally. This supports fundamental research into next-generation batteries, catalysts, and material science, driving future commercial applications.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Supply of characterized, high-quality materials for reproducible academic and industrial research.
• Support for the innovation pipeline that creates demand for future specialized industrial foams.
• Global logistics network ensuring availability of research materials to scientists worldwide.

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3️⃣ 8. Merck KGaA (Performance Materials division)

Headquarters: Darmstadt, Germany
Key Offering: Advanced Material Solutions, Conductive Substrates

Merck KGaA, through its Performance Materials segment, engages in advanced material science, including areas adjacent to conductive porous metals. The company’s expertise in interface science and material functionalization positions it as a potential innovator and supplier of high-value, treated, or composite nickel foams for cutting-edge applications in electronics and energy storage, particularly in the European market.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Development of surface-modified foams for enhanced catalytic activity or specific adhesion properties.
• Focus on high-margin, specialty applications in life sciences and electronics beyond bulk energy storage.
• Strong IP portfolio and collaboration with research institutions on novel material systems.

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2️⃣ 9. Novamet Specialty Products Corp. (part of Heubach Group)

Headquarters: Wyckoff, New Jersey, USA
Key Offering: Nickel Powders and Flakes for Foam Production

Novamet is a premier global producer of specialty nickel powders, a key raw material used in certain powder-metallurgy-based production processes for nickel foam. The consistency and morphology of its nickel powders directly influence the final foam’s structure and properties, making it a vital supplier to the upstream segment of the foam manufacturing chain, especially in North America and Europe.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Production of tailored nickel powders designed specifically for porous metal fabrication.
• Technical support to foam manufacturers in optimizing slurry and sintering processes.
• Commitment to sustainable and traceable nickel sourcing.

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1️⃣ 10. American Elements Corporation

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA
Key Offering: Custom Nickel Foam, Research Quantities, Doped Nickel Foams

American Elements operates as a advanced materials manufacturer and global supplier, offering nickel foam in various forms, including custom specifications. The company caters to both R&D and pilot-scale production needs, providing alloys, doped nickel foams (with other metals), and bespoke geometries that larger producers may not offer, serving as a crucial partner for prototyping and specialized applications.

Innovation & Market Strategy:

• Ability to produce small-batch, custom-composition nickel-based foams for experimental purposes.
• Online platform and global distribution for easy access to a wide range of material scientists and engineers.
• Focus on advanced material forms, such as nanofoams and layered composite structures.

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Foam Nickel Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🔬 Outlook: The Future of Foam Nickel is High-Performance and Application-Specific

The foam nickel market is transitioning from a standardized bulk material to a highly engineered component. While traditional battery applications continue to drive volume, the frontier of growth lies in advanced, high-value applications that demand precise material properties.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Transition towards ultra-high surface area foams for next-generation, high-energy-density batteries.
• Increasing adoption in hydrogen economy applications, especially as gas diffusion layers in PEM fuel cells.
• Growth in demand for customized and composite foams for specialized catalysis and filtration in chemical and environmental sectors.
• Supply chain integration and strategic partnerships between raw material suppliers (like Vale), foam producers, and end-users (battery gigafactories).

Get Full Report Here:
Foam Nickel Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are not just supplying a material; they are providing the foundational porous architecture that enables cleaner energy storage, efficient industrial processes, and groundbreaking research—powering innovation across multiple industries.