The third-time exhibitor presents advanced ice gel pack products for the food & beverage, medical, and transportation cold chain industries while introducing complete end-to-end manufacturing solutions
PHOENIX, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SOCO Group ("SOCO" or "the Company"), a technology-driven manufacturer specializing in water absorbing and retaining solutions for agricultural and industrial applications, introduces its expanded ICEBANK™ Series gel ice packs and a full-suite manufacturing solution tailored for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical cold therapy, and cold chain logistics applications at the ISTA Forum USA, from April 7 to 9 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The ICEBANK™ portfolio delivers consistent, high-performance cooling while meeting growing demands for sustainability. Three flagship products—ICEBANK-820 (biodegradable, 20-40 mesh particles), ICEBANK-883 (strong gel with superior anti-rewetting and swelling resistance), and ICEBANK-880 (ultra-fast absorption and high water-retention capacity)—form the core lineup. All absorb up to 430 times their weight in water in approximately 25 seconds, form a stable gel that holds for 48–72 hours, and maintain structural integrity for more than seven months without hydration or leakage. The products are non-toxic and fully biodegradable, directly addressing tightening environmental regulations and disposal pressures.
New arrivals debuted at the show further expand options. EcoDrain-280™ is a drain-safe, water-soluble cooling polymer with reversible viscosity that eliminates pipe blockages and simplifies wastewater handling. The Biodegradable Gel line offers 100% biodegradable, high-absorption formulations with zero harmful residues. For deep-freeze needs, the -10°C Custom Phase Change Ice Pack provides leak-proof, reusable performance ideal for vaccine transport and ultra-low-temperature logistics.
Beyond raw materials, SOCO unveiled a complete gel ice pack manufacturing solution that empowers clients to build or upgrade their own production lines. The package includes high-strength laminated films (PE, PA/PE, PET/PE, 80–150 microns), automated filling and sealing equipment (35–40 bags/min for 200 g packs; 26–30 bags/min for 400 g packs), professional polymer formulations, and full technical support. Clients receive on-site installation guidance, equipment optimization, and custom formulation adjustments based on their specific machinery and output requirements.
"Environmental regulations and disposal challenges are intensifying, yet many conventional gel packs still fall short on biodegradability, drain safety, and long-haul performance," said Ivy Hu, Business Development Manager with SOCO Group. "Our ICEBANK™ series directly solves these pain points with fully biodegradable and drain-safe options that comply with the strictest standards, while our advanced phase-change and high-retention formulas deliver reliable cooling even in extended transport or high-temperature conditions—critical for vaccines and premium perishables. Equally important, our local U.S. technical team and warehouse network ensure rapid delivery and on-site factory support, so customers get the right product matched to their equipment without delays or guesswork."
SOCO already supplies several of the top U.S. temperature-controlled packaging manufacturers and cold chain operators. Leading clients in Pennsylvania and Chicago purchase hundreds of tons annually for food preservation, seafood transport, and medical logistics, citing the products' superior anti-hydration performance and long-term gel stability.
With its one-stop supply chain, in-house R&D, and hands-on technical service, SOCO continues to help partners build scalable, compliant, and cost-efficient gel ice pack production lines that meet both today's regulatory demands and tomorrow's sustainability goals.
For more information about SOCO's integrated solution on gel ice packs, please visit
About SOCO Group
Founded in 2009, SOCO Group is a technology-driven manufacturer specializing in water-absorbing and retention solutions for agricultural and industrial applications. The company focuses on application-led research and development, developing customized solutions tailored to specific operating needs across industrial and infrastructure settings. Through continued product development and collaboration with global partners, SOCO supports customers with solutions designed to improve water management, resource efficiency and project performance.
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ANSHUN, China, May 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 21, at the Guizhou Anshun Tourism Development Conference, Mafengwo Travel Group officially launched three flagship "New Mountain Play" benchmark projects — Huangheying Water Cave, Lotus Ancient Cave, and Luoyang Glasswater Gorge — while jointly releasing the 2026 Anshun Mountain Outdoor New Play Playbook with the Anshun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, TV and Tourism. By redefining mountain outdoor travel experiences through "new play," the initiative injects fresh momentum into Anshun's positioning as an international mountain tourism destination.
"Personalized travel is rising rapidly. Tourism is transitioning from a 'sightseeing economy' to an 'experience economy.' More than just 'having been there,' travelers today seek emotional value from scenic spots and related projects," said Chen Gang, Founder and CEO of Mafengwo, in a speech titled *Co-creating the Super Play Era of Mountain Tourism*. He noted that leveraging benchmark new-play projects such as Huangheying Water Cave, Lotus Ancient Cave, and Luoyang Glasswater Gorge, Mafengwo will work with Anshun to integrate "new play, new formats, new marketing, and new consumption" into a holistic innovation ecosystem for destination-wide play. Together, they aim to revitalize natural resources, energize industrial momentum, link rural revitalization, and jointly build Anshun into a national hub for new mountain play.
At a time when travelers are increasingly weary of "man-made check-in spots" and homogenized internet-famous projects, the newly launched projects abandon the old path of large-scale construction. Instead, they return to the wild itself, adopting a "light development, heavy experience" approach to create mountain plays that are "wild on the outside, refined on the inside." Huangheying Water Cave focuses on "natural wonders + interactive adventure," using its original "water-cave" karst features to create a genuine sense of "underground exploration." Lotus Ancient Cave, based on a massive natural cave, integrates "light ultimate" activities such as via ferrata, rappelling, and cave drop towers, allowing ordinary visitors to feel adrenaline-pumping "heart-racing moments" in a natural setting. Luoyang Glasswater Gorge follows the original river course, using natural elevation differences to design trails for hiking, canyoning, and waterfall rappelling, with minimal artificial construction, emphasizing the pristine "glass water" and an eco-harmonious, back-to-nature mountain experience.
At the "2026 Anshun Mountain Tourism New Play" sharing session, Mafengwo Travel Group and the Anshun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, TV and Tourism jointly released the *2026 Anshun Mountain Outdoor New Play Playbook*. Ten selected plays in non-traditional mountain settings were featured, including "Night Tour of Dupo Tang — Immersive Journey into the World of Journey to the West," "Watch Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Spider-Man' Climb Cliffs for Bird's Nests," and "370-Meter Free Fall at Balinghe Bridge." These showcase how Anshun creatively uses its karst landscapes as a natural "amusement park" for mountain experiences.
He Weihong, Vice Mayor of Anshun, stated in his address: "In Anshun, the 'City of 21°C,' mountains are no longer just scenery to be viewed. They are living fields to be climbed, immersed in, jumped over, and breathed in. Anshun will take this conference as an opportunity to accelerate the internationalization of its mountain tourism and build a first-class mountain outdoor sports destination." During the event, Anshun Tourism Group also promoted its mountain outdoor travel routes.
By early 2026, the number of outdoor sports participants in China had exceeded 400 million, with participation in mountain hiking, trail running, rock climbing, and canyoning rising year by year. Driven by the dual trends of "nationwide fitness" and "pan-outdoor" activities, mountain play is moving from niche circles to the general public. Unlike the high barriers of traditional outdoor activities, Anshun's new plays target the blue ocean market of "light ultimate + strong experience + high shareability." Whether it's a "bridge bungee jump," checking out the natural wonder "Eye of the Great Sage," or experiencing a "Journey to the West fantasy" at night by Dupo Tang Waterfall — these activities are novel, beginner-friendly, and serve as natural content and social currency.
Anshun's mountain play innovation has also attracted international attention. Anouar, Chief Representative of the Tunisian National Tourism Office in China, noted in his speech that Anshun's innovation in integrating mountain tourism and sports is worth learning from for many international peers. He noted that Tunisia has diverse mountain resources across the country, with history embedded in the mountains and culture in the scenery — this is the unique charm of Tunisia's mountains. He looks forward to China-Tunisia cooperation to explore more mountain tourism opportunities and co-create new partnership models.
An international dialogue session brought together representatives from the Norwegian National Tourist Board, Visit Flanders (Belgium), and the Saudi Tourism Authority to discuss mountain outdoor tourism upgrade from a global perspective. The guests agreed that they were delighted to see that Anshun is not simply replicating a "Switzerland of the East" but is creating an entirely new "universal language of mountain tourism." The internationalization of mountain tourism is not about imitation but about excavating the unique narratives of local landscapes — with its green mountains and clear waters as the canvas and play innovation as the brush, Anshun is painting a vibrant new picture for the world.
A domestic dialogue session brought together frontier explorers, practitioners, and experts in mountain sports tourism to discuss the future development of mountain sports tourism from the perspectives of communities, products, and operations. Qin Chuan, Founder of Wanan Youth Travel, noted that with technological advancements and equipment iteration, more and more "outdoor novices" without professional training can enjoy the pleasures of the wild. Currently, Wanan Youth Travel is selecting and developing "super single products" and continuously improving service quality to deliver ultimate outdoor experiences to visitors.
After the conference, industry guests conducted on-site inspections of new play projects, including Lotus Ancient Cave, Dupo Tang Night Tour, Anshun Ancient Town, and Getu River. Wang Yu, Chief Representative of the Norwegian National Tourist Board in Greater China, remarked: "Anshun and Norway share many similarities. Anshun's new mountain plays emphasize 'light development, heavy experience.' Take Lotus Ancient Cave — it doesn't feel like a 'designed' scenic spot, but rather an extension of Anshun's natural mountain charm itself, an experiential field you can fully immerse yourself in. The scale of this 'light ultimate' experience is just right — thrilling enough, yet truly authentic."
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