The application of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation boards began in the United States in the 1970s. In China, a joint venture factory was established in 1996, and production and sales began in 1999. At that time, due to its high price, XPS boards were only used in a limited number of projects.
In late 2000, a Shanghai company, referencing similar equipment from abroad, developed China's first XPS extruded board production line. The cost of the boards produced was 50% lower than that of the joint venture. The reduced price of XPS boards led to widespread acceptance by the real estate industry. National authorities promptly issued technical specifications and design standards for "Extruded Polystyrene Foam for Thermal Insulation (XPS)," thus launching the XPS board market throughout China.
In recent years, technology has shifted towards low-carbon and intelligent manufacturing. For example, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is being used instead of Freon as a blowing agent to achieve zero ozone layer depletion (ODP=0), and intelligent production systems such as fully automated feeding systems and modular production line designs are being introduced. Some companies have already built such CO₂-XPS production lines.
