With the acquisition, Covestro expands its production footprint for HDI derivatives and reaffirms its commitment in two important regions, while strengthening its ability to serve customers in the coatings and adhesives industry with greater flexibility and reliability.

HDI derivatives are essential building blocks for high-performance polyurethane coatings, adhesives and sealants. They are used in a broad range of applications, including automotive coatings, protective coatings for infrastructure, marine coatings, wood furniture, electronics and other demanding industrial applications.

“By adding these sites in Thailand and the US, we are strengthening our regional production capabilities and improving our ability to supply customers from locations close to them,” said Thomas Roemer, Head of the Business Entity Coatings and Adhesives at Covestro. “Reliable supply, regional availability and technical expertise are critical for our customers, especially in a challenging market environment. This acquisition helps us deliver even better on those needs.”

The two sites complement Covestro’s existing production network for HDI derivatives in major regions including Europe, Asia and North America. The additional capacities will further enhance Covestro’s ability to respond to customer demand and support long-term growth in high-performance and more sustainable coatings and adhesives applications.

“Strong customer relationships are built on trust, reliability and the ability to deliver value over time,” said Monique Buch, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. “This acquisition strengthens our position in a business where customers count on us for consistent quality, regional supply and application expertise.”

The acquisition follows Covestro’s earlier acquisition of the Resins & Functional Materials business from DSM and continued investments in organic growth, underlining the company’s commitment to the coatings and adhesives industry.

ISCC PLUS-certified chlorine from Covestro is produced by using electricity from renewable sources, supporting a more sustainable production process and contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

As of January 2026, the entire CR production of ARLANXEO is based on ISCC PLUS-certified chlorine, marking an important milestone in the company’s sustainability journey and its commitment to a more sustainable value chain. 
This transition is resulting in an average reduction in global warming potential (GWP) of approximately 20% compared to 2025 levels¹, depending on the specific product grade.

“Integrating ISCC PLUS-certified materials into our production is a key step in reducing the environmental footprint of our CR rubber products,” said Niels van der Aar, Head of Sustainability at ARLANXEO. “It underlines our commitment to supporting customers with more sustainable material solutions while advancing transparency along the value chain by supplying corresponding product environmental footprint data for ARLANXEO’s entire CR product portfolio.” 
As a key chemical supplier to ARLANXEO, Covestro plays a crucial role in enabling this transition by supporting the availability of ISCC PLUS-certified chlorine.

“At Covestro, we support our customers in reducing emissions along the value chain by supplying more sustainable basic chemical raw materials from our multiple ISCC PLUS-certified production sites,” said Moritz Winterstein, Head of Trading Cluster Basic Chemicals EMEA at Covestro. “Our collaboration with ARLANXEO demonstrates how certified raw materials and renewable electricity can contribute to lowering the product environmental footprint of downstream applications and support customers in achieving their sustainability targets.”

The introduction of ISCC PLUS-certified feedstock, like ISCC PLUS Chlorine, strengthens the position of ARLANXEO as a leading supplier of more sustainable elastomer solutions, particularly for industries with ambitious climate targets, such as automotive, construction, industrial and adhesive applications.

In addition, ARLANXEO can also offer Baypren® Eco grades combining ISCC PLUS-certified chlorine and ISCC PLUS-certified butadiene, enabling further reductions¹ in environmental impact and supporting customers in achieving their sustainability targets without any compromise in performance.

_{¹ Relative changes in Global Warming Potential – GWP100 incl. biogenic [kg CO₂e] 
Example of the relative change of the Global Warming Potential (GWP100 incl. biogenic [kg CO₂e] for Baypren^® 116 M45 as from January 2026. In the graph also the Baypren^® Eco 116 M45 is added as Eco option. A full Product Environmental Footprint report is available upon request.}

Across modern football, materials play a role in helping enable speed, control, comfort, durability and reliable performance, from equipment and apparel to infrastructure and digital connectivity.

Covestro is highlighting this “material effect” behind football: the often unseen contribution of material science to the way the sport is played, experienced and connected around the world.

The athletes enabled by materials

Modern football has become faster, more precise and more connected. Players sprint more, press harder, change direction faster and perform under intense physical and mental pressure. Behind this evolution are better training methods and data analytics, but also materials that help make high performance more reliable.

The football itself is a good example. Modern balls use advanced materials, carefully engineered surfaces and precise construction methods to support consistent weight, shape, rebound and flight behavior, even under demanding weather conditions. Compared with traditional leather balls, today’s footballs are designed for greater reliability and more predictable performance.

Footwear has also changed fundamentally. Modern football boots combine lightweight uppers, flexible structures and high-performance sole plates to support grip, acceleration, agility and ball control. The contact between player, pitch and ball has become a highly engineered interface.

Sportswear plays its part as well. Lightweight, breathable and durable textiles can help manage moisture and comfort during high-intensity performance. Covestro’s INSQIN^® waterborne polyurethane technology enables high-performance textile coatings that can provide softness, water resistance and long-lasting performance while supporting more sustainable manufacturing approaches.

Materials beyond the pitch

The material effect extends beyond players and equipment. Stadiums, training facilities and broadcast infrastructure also depend on advanced materials.

Lightweight and durable polycarbonate solutions have been used in large-scale roofing applications. They can help create weather-resistant structures that protect spectators while reducing weight and maintenance requirements.

At the same time, football is becoming increasingly digital. From connected match technologies and live analytics to broadcast systems, streaming platforms and fan experiences, every match depends on the reliable flow of data. Advanced polymer materials help protect cables, connectors and electronic components and support the infrastructure that brings the game to fans around the world.

As sport becomes more connected, the infrastructure behind it becomes more demanding. Data centers, communication networks and electronic systems require materials that can support reliability, protection and performance at scale.

Innovation is a team sport

The evolution of football shows how performance is rarely the result of a single factor. It comes from the interaction of talent, preparation, technology and the right materials.

The same applies in business. As customer challenges become more complex and markets move faster, innovation increasingly depends on collaboration across disciplines, industries and value chains.

“Innovation today needs to be fast, focused and collaborative,” said Monique Buch, Chief Commercial Officer at Covestro. “Co-creation with customers works much like collaboration in a football team: different strengths come together around one shared goal, focusing their preparation to secure the win, and trust and speed making the difference.”

From the pitch to the stadium and from equipment to digital infrastructure, football shows how advanced materials can help shape performance where it matters most.

Latest info on Covestro’s K fair presence:

• Experience “The Material Effect” at K 2025 at Covestro | Covestro AG

Additional Press Releases:

• From Materials to Solutions: Covestro Brings "The Material Effect" to K 2025
• Digital Material Twins in Automotive Design: Imagio^® of Covestro Now Integrated into Autodesk VRED
• Covestro deepens collaboration with Ausell to advance end-of-life automotive plastics recycling
• More speed from design to series production
• From old tires to new car parts: Covestro, Neste and Borealis aim at closing loop for automotive industry 
• Covestro and Deloitte jointly develop Monetization Framework for Circular Economy
• Life Cycle Assessments digitalized: boosting transparency

Covestro at a Glance:

Are you looking for more information? Here you could find further facts about Covestro.

Monique Buch, Chief Commercial Officer at Covestro: "The chemical industry and many of its key customer industries face profound transformations – on the path to circular economy, through AI and digitalization, or due to geopolitics and the realignment of global markets. With our expertise in high-performance materials, process and application development, we remain part of the solution and support our customers in achieving their goals."

The solutions presented at "K" are organized across the booth in the areas of Automotive, Electronics, Healthcare, Sports and Leisure, as well as Sustainable Future. They showcase "The Material Effect" in application across various industries and underline the company's long-term vision of a complete alignment with the circular economy. This vision remains the North Star for Covestro and the industry – despite short-term challenges and overlapping crises that require resilience and adaptability.

Materials with Impact: "The Material Effect" in Practice

Jochen Hardt, Booth Manager and Vice President Global Marketing Mobility in the Engineering Plastics business entity at Covestro: "At our booth, visitors can experience first-hand how 'The Material Effect' becomes reality in concrete applications. We deliberately present not only materials and products but showcase well-designed system solutions that offer real added value to our customers. My team and I at Covestro look forward to engaging with visitors throughout the fair!"

Sustainable Future

In the "Sustainable Future" area, Covestro demonstrates its comprehensive commitment to the circular economy. This includes the "CQ" portfolio, which marks products containing at least 25% alternative raw materials. Another example is the technology developed by Covestro and partners for producing plant-based aniline. Also featured are several car-to-car recycling projects that advance circularity in the automotive industry. For example, the NALYSES project, where Covestro works together with partners like HELLA and BMW on the circularity of headlights. Or a pilot program with NIO, VW, and GIZ for recycling polycarbonate parts. For the latter, visitors will find materials labeled "RE", "RP", and "R" at the booth – these are partly made from alternative raw materials.

Automotive

Highlight in the automotive area: The SUE "People Mover" – a prototype vehicle for public transportation. The autonomous e-shuttle was designed and developed by UE | STUDIOS. It features large-scale, curved 3D polycarbonate glazing as well as seamless integration of driver assistance systems and sensors, also using polycarbonate. The lightweight, highly durable monomaterial Arfinio® is used in the interior, along with a recyclable TPU monomaterial seat. The IMAGIO® tool for digital, photorealistic material twins will also be on display. It is now implemented in Autodesk VRED and makes design processes faster and more efficient.

Electronics

In the electronics area, Covestro showcases innovative NIA-PFAS (not intentionally added PFAS) polycarbonates with flame retardancy for laptop covers and IoT device housings. Additionally, a recyclable antenna housing made of Makrolon® monomaterial will be on display, combining optimal signal transmission with weight reduction.

Healthcare

In the healthcare booth area, Covestro presents material solutions that combine sustainability with performance and reliability: From medication delivery with particularly thin-walled, more easily recyclable monomaterial injectors to resistant housings for diagnostic devices that withstand disinfectants. Such devices can furthermore be made with NIA-PFAS material types for flame retardancy, and support the seamless integration of functionality such as touch operation and signaling in an attractive design.

Sports and Leisure

In the sports and leisure area, visitors will find applications such as the e-surfboard by Awake. Covestro materials can be found, for example, in the easily and quickly replaceable battery, with thermally conductive and flame-retardant polycarbonate for improved battery performance. Durable TPU-based materials on the grip of the replaceable battery additionally provide pleasant haptics and comfort.

Press Tour for Media Representatives

Media representatives are cordially invited to experience Covestro's exhibition booth at K 2025 in person. A press tour will take place on the first day of the fair, October 8, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at booth A75 in Hall 6.

The tour offers a comprehensive overview of all focus areas as well as the opportunity for discussions with technical experts about "The Material Effect" and the implementation of the circular economy strategy in concrete applications. There will also be opportunities for individual interviews.

For more information about Covestro at K 2025, please visit Experience “The Material Effect” at K 2025 at Covestro | Covestro AG

The lab, part of Covestro’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Center, now spans over 3,000 square meters—an increase of about 20 percent—and features cutting-edge equipment such as a new synthesis unit for waterborne polyurethane dispersions—a class of polymers key in enabling low-VOC coatings and adhesives. The unit enhances efficiency in scale-up simulations, troubleshooting and customer sampling.

The facility now supports a broader portfolio of raw materials including polyurethanes, acrylics, polyesters and sustainable alternatives. It enables faster formulation, testing and adaption to customer requirements across multiple industries—from automotive and renewable energy to construction, printing and packaging, and beyond.

The lab has integrated AI-driven formulation tools, simulation and robotics to automate and digitize development processes. These enhancements boost speed, precision and consistency while reducing material waste and carbon footprint—further accelerating the development of new products and formulations for customers in the region.

“This expansion is a significant step forward in strengthening our formulation capabilities and supporting our customers’ innovation needs more closely and quickly. It reinforces our strategy of investing in high-growth markets and sustainable solutions,” said Anand Khot, Head of Coatings and Adhesives Asia Pacific, Covestro.

“The lab also enhances cross-functional collaboration within our regional innovation center, leveraging shared technical and digital infrastructure to drive innovation efficiency. It’s a key milestone in delivering local-for-local solutions with global impact,” said Dr. André Rittermeier, Head of Group Innovation and Sustainability Asia Pacific at Covestro, who also leads the Asia-Pacific Innovation Center.

The more than 20 innovation stories that Covestro presents at its booth are closely linked to this guiding idea and the company's long-term vision of becoming fully circular. This vision is gaining additional importance under the current circumstances – short-term challenges and overlapping crises that require resilience and adaptability.

Covestro’s CEO Markus Steilemann emphasized this at the traditional K pre-press conference: "The world seems to have gone off track, and the chemical industry is feeling the full force of the current multiple crises. At the same time, the future will be ever greener and smarter. At Covestro, we are paving the way for that for many sectors with our recyclable, climate-neutral high-performance plastics – whether in e-mobility and autonomous driving, efficient buildings, or digitalization. We are excited to showcase the diverse and beneficial effects of our materials for our customers and partners at this year's K trade fair."

Covestro's Guiding Idea: "The Material Effect"

At booth A75 in Hall 6, Covestro will place special emphasis on progress and innovations in the areas of Sustainable Future, Automotive, Electronics, Healthcare, and Sports & Leisure. Among the highlights at the booth will be a new concept vehicle for public transportation: The SUE "People Mover". The self-driving urban e-shuttle has been developed by UE | STUDIOS. It features full polycarbonate glazing, polycarbonate for lidar sensors, as well as the lightweight and highly durable mono-material Arfinio^® and TPU. Also among the exhibits is the digital sampling tool IMAGIO^®, which enables realistic digital visualization of product designs, thereby replacing physical samples with digital material twins in early development phases.

With these and many other stories and exhibits at the booth, Covestro demonstrates under this year's guiding idea "The Material Effect" what role high-performance materials play in a sustainable world. "The Material Effect" combines best in class materials with process and innovation expertise, enabling the leap from laboratory to industry. "It is precisely this unique combination of material science, process- and application development that makes the decisive difference," said Jochen Hardt, K 2025 project lead and Vice President Global Marketing Mobility in the Engineering Plastics business entity at Covestro, at the press conference. “'The Material Effect' enables our customers and partners to achieve more – in terms of sustainability, circularity, and performance of their products.”

Progress Towards Corporate Vision and Strategy

Covestro pursues a clear strategic vision: to become fully circular and make the circular economy a global guiding principle. This includes the use of alternative raw materials, switching to green energy, and developing advanced recycling technologies. The company has set a goal to become climate-neutral in its own operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2035 and to achieve complete climate neutrality along the entire value chain (Scope 1-3) by 2050. To this end, Covestro has already signed eleven power purchase agreements (PPAs) and now covers around 16 percent of its global electricity needs from renewable sources.

Furthermore, Covestro is consistently expanding the use of alternative raw materials – with the goal of largely avoiding the use of fossil primary raw materials in the long term. The company is to that end currently developing and testing novel recycling technologies for polyurethanes, polycarbonates, and elastomers.

The commitment to the circular economy is furthermore reflected in the product portfolio: Products with the brand suffix "CQ" – which stands for Circular Intelligence – contain at least 25 percent alternative raw materials. For polycarbonates, Covestro differentiates its offering with specific labels: "RE" stands for products based on renewable raw materials and produced with renewable electricity.^* "RP" identifies products with chemically recycled post-consumer waste.^* "R" designates products with mechanically recycled material content.

Such products aFor more information about the trade fair presence, visit:

For more information about the trade fair presence, visit:
Experience “The Material Effect” at K 2025 at Covestro | Covestro AG

_{* attributed via mass balancing}

Latest info on Covestro’s K fair presence:

• Experience “The Material Effect” at K 2025 at Covestro | Covestro AG

Additional Press Releases:

• Covestro deepens collaboration with Ausell to advance end-of
• More speed from design to series production
• From old tires to new car parts: Covestro, Neste and Boreali
• Covestro and Deloitte jointly develop Monetization Framework
• Life Cycle Assessments digitalized: boosting transparency

Covestro at a Glance:

Are you looking for more information? Here you could find further facts about Covestro.

Just last week, Team Sonnenwagen unveiled their new solar car, the Aethon, which they will take to this year’s race. However, for the team to secure victory, several factors must align. In addition to the car itself, the team requires suitable apparel. To meet this need, Huafeng, a Chinese textile technology company, will supply Team Sonnenwagen with high-performance sports shoes, shorts, and trousers that offer a reduced CO₂ footprint compared to conventional sportswear.**

Reflecting on the longstanding partnership between Huafeng, Cyclone, and Covestro, Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings at Covestro, said: “The new sports kit looks fantastic! By incorporating our partially bio-based Impranil^® CQ PU dispersion into its textile coatings and using recycled yarns from Cyclone, Huafeng has successfully achieved an excellent balance of high performance, aesthetic appeal, and low environmental impact. This collaboration demonstrates that manufacturers can meet the increasing demand for more sustainable sportswear without compromising durability, style, or performance.”

Huafeng created Team Sonnenwagen’s 2025 sports kit using yarns supplied by Cyclone, a yarn manufacturing partner. Cyclone produced these yarns from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) from plastic bottles collected in Fujian Province, China. Additionally, Cyclone employs a dope-dyeing technique for its yarns, which uses 57% less energy, 77% less water, and generates 51% lower CO₂ emissions than traditional dyeing techniques.* The dyed fabric is then finished with Huafeng’s HAPTIC^® ink, which contains a partially bio-based PU dispersion supplied by Covestro, Team Sonnenwagen’s core sponsor and supporter since 2017.

To help Team Sonnenwagen stand out on the racetrack, Huafeng embellished its shorts, sports shoes, and trousers with screen-printed designs created using its HAPTIC^® ink. Huafeng can create stunning three-dimensional design effects using this ink while reducing environmental impact. This is because Huafeng developed its HAPTIC^® textile coating system using the partly bio-based Impranil^® CQ DLS/1 resin from Covestro, which has a 38% lower carbon footprint than standard grade Impranil^®.** For Team Sonnenwagen, this won’t be the first time it has encountered Covestro products; partly bio-based PU dispersions from Covestro are also used in the textile material that covers the steering wheel in the team’s solar car.

Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Director of Innovation & Creation at Huafeng, commented on the recent collaboration: "By using partly bio-based Impranil^® CQ solutions from Covestro, we’re pioneering sustainable textiles with innovations such as HAPTIC^® Art ink. This ink formulation delivers a reduced CO₂ footprint**, offers extensive customizability, and can be used in high-performance textiles like sportswear.”

The collaboration between Huafeng, Cyclone, and Covestro demonstrates that combining innovative manufacturing with partly recycled fabrics and partly bio-based textile coatings helps manufacturers create more sustainable sportswear while ensuring performance, durability, comfort, and style. With the right equipment and support, Team Sonnenwagen is well prepared to take the pole position in the race this August. 

*SGS report from 2021 (Cyclone). 
**According to internal calculations.

"With our automated laboratory, we can work together with our customers on the future of coatings and adhesives. Because it operates almost completely autonomously and learns from our existing knowledge and data lake as well as newly generated data, it makes the process of optimizing and developing formulations many times more efficient and precise. This allows us to optimize existing formulations faster or even develop completely new formulations for and together with our customers. We can say: We are reaching a new level of modern research," says Thomas Büsgen, head of the laboratory.

Testing Formulations with Covestro Binders and Crosslinkers 

Specifically, the new laboratory will test formulations with Covestro binders and crosslinkers for coatings and adhesives. Their clever selection ensures properties such as hardness, adhesion, opacity, gloss, or durability. Such formulations typically consist of seven to 15 components, whose combination determines the properties of the final product. The resulting high number of possible combinations means that standard formulations are usually used. The new laboratory now enables more extensive test series, also thanks to the computer-aided design of test series and the use of automation.

"Our new automated laboratory gives us more possibilities for testing formulations. It relieves our specialized laboratories of their standard tasks and can analyze samples more systematically. This allows us to focus our expertise and experience even more on customer-specific topics or try approaches we couldn't have implemented otherwise," says Martin Merkens, Head of Sales & Market Development EMLA in Covestro's Coatings and Adhesives business entity. “This will particularly help us in the area of circular economy: Alternative raw materials, for example bio-based or recycled materials, can be tested faster and evaluated for their properties in the final product.”

Facility to Run Tens of Thousands of Tests Annually 

The new facility can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to run tens of thousands of tests annually. This sets a new standard in terms of number, variety, precision, and testing speed. Another advantage: The automated laboratory generates a large amount of structured data. The knowledge about formulation possibilities and influencing factors thus will grow rapidly. The collected data, combined with measurement data from existing studies, is evaluated using special machine learning algorithms to further improve formulations. Artificial intelligence is also used to predict new experiments based on property goals and simultaneously verify them in the automated laboratory – creating a self-learning system.

In addition to formulating water- and solvent-based 1K and 2K systems, the automated laboratory also performs numerous material tests on the raw materials themselves, their formulations, and applied films. Application can even take place in different climates in the lab to simulate product use under application conditions. The progressing laboratory digitalization across Covestro also enables easy forwarding of generated samples to more specialized testing laboratories. This makes it possible to supplement the datasets with market-specific test results and identify relevant dependencies more quickly.

Covestro at European Coatings Show 2025 in Nuremberg 

At the European Coatings Show from March 25-27 in Nuremberg, experts from application development and segments such as automotive, printing & packaging, or construction & architecture will be present to discuss new, joint approaches made possible by the laboratory with customers. Visit the company's booth in Hall 4A, Stand 438. There you can learn more about the laboratory and other innovative material solutions and technical developments for the coatings and adhesives industry.

Follow further updates on this topic here. 

Special focus is placed on technologies that increase productivity while promoting circular economy. These include an automated laboratory for formulation development, material screening, and polymer analytics; an innovative Direct Coating process for the automotive industry, and a TÜV-certified, cloud-based solution for product-specific lifecycle analyses (LCA).

"Our customers' and partners' challenges are becoming increasingly complex. Be it accelerated development cycles, ever-higher product requirements, or circularity and recyclability. We offer innovative solutions that not only convince technologically but also make an important contribution to greater sustainability," explains Martin Merkens, Head of Sales & Market Development EMLA in Covestro's Coatings and Adhesives business entity. "At ECS 2025, we demonstrate how we make customers and partners successful and can accompany them every step of the way. We look forward to personal meetings and discussions!"

Automated Laboratory Revolutionizes Application Development

At ECS, the company will announce an automated laboratory for optimizing formulations with Covestro's binders and crosslinkers for coatings and adhesives. With this, Covestro sets new standards in the productivity of its application development. The new facility can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to conduct tens of thousands of tests annually. This sets a new benchmark in terms of quantity, variety, precision, and testing speed. Another advantage: The automated laboratory generates a large amount of structured data. The knowledge about formulation possibilities and influencing factors thus will grow rapidly. The collected data, combined with measurement data from existing trials, is evaluated using special machine learning algorithms to further improve formulations. Application development experts and specialists from segments such as automotive, printing & packaging, or construction & architecture will be present at ECS to discuss new collaborative approaches now made possible by the laboratory.

Digitalized Lifecycle Analyses for Greater Transparency

As a pioneer in the digital transformation of the chemical industry, Covestro announced in January the use of a new cloud-based solution for product-specific lifecycle analyses (LCA). The TÜV Rheinland-certified software solution not only enables significantly faster and more precise calculation of a products' environmental footprint but also identifies concrete approaches to reducing the CO₂ footprint, thus supporting Covestro's customers in their sustainable transformation.

Direct Coating: Solutions for the Automotive Industry

With the innovative Direct Coating technology, Covestro presents a pioneering solution for the automotive industry that fundamentally simplifies the coating process while making it more sustainable. This technology enables direct coating of plastic components in the injection molding machine without pretreatment or separate painting and drying. At ECS, Covestro will display products that were manufactured using this process.

Focus on Sustainability

Covestro aims to fully align itself with the circular economy. This includes using alternative raw materials, transitioning to green energy, and developing recycling technologies and recyclable products. To make sustainable products more easily identifiable, the company has introduced the "CQ" label, which stands for "Circular Intelligence." Products labeled this way contain at least 25% alternative raw materials. Several examples used in coatings and adhesives will be exhibited at ECS. For example, food packaging coated with fully recyclable, partially bio-based resins, or water-based polyurethane dispersions for textile printing.

Additional information on Covestro’s presence at the ECS can be found at: https://solutions.covestro.com/en/digital-event-space/ecs or on the LinkedIn-channel of the business entity Coatings and Adhesives.

For the highly competitive construction sector, the product sold by Selena offers clear advantages: It can be used with various types of blocks (ceramic, silicate, ACC) with high accuracy and allows for a higher yield compared to traditional cement mortars. The product also improves construction efficiency by curing twice as fast as traditional cement mortars. Additionally, it can be used in a wide range of operating temperatures from -5 degrees Celsius to +30 degrees Celsius, which helps reduce temperature-induced work stoppages.

“Materials play a decisive role for an ever more climate neutral and circular economy”, said Bernd Hennig, Head of Trading Cluster MDI EMEA at Covestro. “If materials providers early in the value chain join forces for climate neutrality, the impact on end products will be significant. In this spirit, we are therefore very happy to deepen our collaboration with our like-minded partner Selena to help the construction sector bring down emissions and meet its climate neutrality targets in Europe and worldwide.”

Buildings are responsible for over one third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU alone. As about 75% of the buildings in Europe do not meet energy efficiency requirements, the building sector faces a wave of renovations over the coming years. In fact, the EU has just recently updated the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). It states that by 2050, all buildings in the EU should be net-zero emission buildings².

More sustainable adhesive instead of cement

“With existing and upcoming climate neutrality regulations for the construction sector, we expect a steeply rising demand for sustainable building materials”, said Miroslaw Truchan, Senior Category Development Manager, Selena Group. “With a great partner like Covestro, we jointly drive innovation in the construction materials industry. We both believe that innovative products can play a vital role in achieving climate neutrality targets and put us ahead of the curve.”

The Tytan Professional^® Adhesive for Bricklaying uses Desmodur^® CQ MB of Covestro, a bio-based MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate), of which the plant-based feedstock is mathematically attributed to the final product via the mass balance approach certified by the ISCC Plus standard.

Tytan Professional^® Adhesive for Bricklaying is the third product launched from the collaboration between Selena and Covestro. The partnership was deepened in 2023, aimed at collaborating to craft a more sustainable range of polyurethane (PU) foams for enhancing thermal insulation of buildings. Bio-attributed methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) of the Desmodur^® CQ MB-series of Covestro is already being used in an enhanced version of Selena’s Ultra Fast 70 one-component foam, primarily applied in the installation of windows and doors. Also, this product is ISSC Plus certified to include plant-based feedstocks through mass balancing and allows for an up to 45% reduced carbon footprint compared to fossil-based products.

_{¹Comparison of 1 can of Tytan Adhesive for Bricklaying (750ml) with the data for generic cement mortar for 1,5 x 25 kg bags.
²https://www.consilium.europa.eu/de/infographics/fit-for-55-making-buildings-in-the-eu-greener/#:~:text=Mit%20der%20%C3%9Cberarbeitung%20der%20Richtlinie,in%20der%20EU%20Nullemissionsgeb%C3%A4ude%20sein}

In line with trends toward lightweight and customized designs in the athletic shoe market, Covestro has launched the Dispercoll^® U high-performance waterborne polyurethane adhesive solution. It is specifically engineered for bonding-challenging special shoe materials and can enhance manufacturing efficiency while supporting energy savings and carbon reduction. With exceptional initial tack performance, the solution can bond lightweight, temperature-sensitive substrates and accommodate innovative shoe designs, resulting in smoother handling and increased productivity. Additionally, its activation temperature can be reduced from 55°C to 35°C, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions during the thermal activation process.

Furthermore, Covestro has developed the Dispercoll^® U PLUS waterborne footwear adhesive solution in response to the footwear industry’s growing interest in one-component solutions that simplify the bonding process. This solution streamlines shoe manufacturing, conserves equipment and labor, reduces material waste, and is also suitable for automated bonding processes. With proven hydrolysis resistance and bonding strength, this solution effectively reduces the risk of debonding in high-performance athletic shoes, thereby extending their lifespan.

Addressing the design trends in the automotive interior segment, Covestro has launched the Dispercoll^® U bonding solution for automotive interior lamination, featuring enhanced heat resistance. By balancing good initial bonding strength with exceptional initial heat resistance, the solution effectively meets the stringent requirements for bonding complex, three-dimensional trim parts under high tensile strength, making the lamination process more efficient. This makes it particularly suitable for applications in 3D-shaped interior trim parts, such as armrests with novel designs and large curved seat back covers. Compared with the majority of marketed solutions, Dispercoll^® U demonstrates superior performance in both green and final heat resistance, better meeting production and application needs by reducing risks such as rebound and bulging.

Covestro has also introduced an upgraded version of Dispercoll^® U PLUS waterborne polyurethane adhesive solution for automotive interiors. It significantly improves heat and climate resistance, addressing the challenges of aging in automotive interiors due to extreme heat and ensuring long-term stability in adhesive bonding performance. It also offers improved storage stability.

Enhancing localization to serve the coatings and adhesives industry

These innovative adhesive solutions were developed at Covestro’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Center in Shanghai. Furthermore, to better serve regional customers, the company now locally produces about 75 percent of its products sold in the coatings and adhesives industry across Asia Pacific.

“Over time, Covestro has expanded our localized R&D and production capacity in Asia Pacific, building an efficient regional innovation and supply network with consistent high quality. This has effectively supported our coatings and adhesives customers in operating and expanding in their respective markets,” said Li Jinqi, Vice President of Coatings and Adhesives Greater China at Covestro. “We’re also pushing forward with our digitalization strategy throughout product development to significantly improve the efficiency of product innovation.”

For example, at the Asia-Pacific Innovation Center, Covestro has developed new digital testing equipment and solutions for assessing initial bonding strength in footwear, replacing traditional subjective manual methods. This digital tool ensures objective, scientific and accurate test results through micromechanical analysis of the adhesion process, helping to shorten the product development cycle and meet customers’ needs for rapid development and launch of high-quality products.

"Collaborations along the value chain with like-minded partners are key to enable a circular and climate neutral world. Materials play an important role for example in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. With Henkel’s new wood adhesive based on Covestro’s ever more sustainable raw materials, we jointly contribute to the circular transformation of the construction industry", says Dr. Thomas Roemer, Head of the Coatings and Adhesives Business Entity at Covestro. 

Materials are key for sustainability of various sectors 

By enabling timber construction, load-bearing adhesives already contribute to sustainability of building structures. Since timber is a natural material, its properties inherently underly bigger variations than most synthetically produced materials. It is for example prone to deformation, inhibiting aesthetics as well as functionality, usually limiting its use in load-bearing or other demanding applications. The solution: Utilizing technologies and processes to bond different layers of wood, like cross-lamination or glue-lamination with polyurethane adhesives. Thereby it is possible to create wood panels that maintain strength, form and functionality over time. By increasing the use of alternative raw materials, the carbon footprint of such material can further be improved. 

"This is another step towards an ever more sustainable and circular future. Thanks to our work with Covestro, we are able to supply two of our best-selling polyurethane adhesives now being manufactured using alternative raw materials. In addition and by using the mass balance approach, there is no change in product performance and all load bearing certificates of the adhesives remain. With this, we provide our direct customers as well as architects and construction companies with a solution that contributes to their aim of reducing the impact of materials on the overall carbon footprint of buildings", says Dr. Claudia Meckel, Head of Product Development Engineered Wood at Henkel. 

Henkel and Covestro both treat sustainability and fostering a circular economy with high priority. For Covestro, broadening its raw material base with bio-based or recycled solutions is key part of that endeavor. Since such alternatives are blended with conventional raw materials in the manufacturing process, segregation and allocation are challenging. To attribute the used alternative feedstock to a final product, the mass balance approach is therefore used. That is a chain of custody method allowing to mix traditional and alternative raw materials during production, but separating and allocating them to products in bookkeeping. The soundness and compliance of this approach is certified externally by the internationally recognized ISCC PLUS scheme. For the wood adhesive, all involved sites and partners of Henkel and Covestro are certified according to this scheme. 

^{1 share of the organic mass excluding inorganic materials}

Covestro will leverage its innovation capabilities and local market insights through this partnership to address the challenges facing the industry in its transition to sustainability, such as high energy consumption resulting from complex multi-step baking processes and the low efficiency associated with manual coating application.

“In alignment with the objectives of China’s 14^th Five-Year Plan, which emphasize green advanced manufacturing and the high-quality development of railroad vehicles, CRRC Tangshan has been proactively engaging with innovative materials manufacturer Covestro and paint maker Paint-Key to explore energy-saving and emission-reduction solutions,” said Ma Xiaofeng, Director of Manufacture Technology Center at CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd. “We have already made tangible progress, and with this partnership, we are excited about our role in guiding the railway transportation industry into a new era of sustainability.”

“Paint-Key is committed to fostering scientific and technological innovation. Our primary focus is to transform scientific and technological breakthroughs into specialized coating solutions that effectively address industry-specific challenges,” said Ye Fuqiang, President of Suzhou Paint-Key Material Science Co., Ltd. “The cooperation agreement with Covestro and CRRC Tangshan aims to advance various aspects of railway transportation painting, including production efficiency, energy conservation, carbon reduction, and the promotion of water-borne solutions.”

Covestro’s low-carbon emission coating solutions for the railway transportation industry play a pivotal role in CRRC Tangshan’s transition towards a greener, low-carbon future, serving as the central focus of the latest cooperation agreement.

High-speed railroad car components, such as wheel bogies, traditionally require multi-layer coating and multi-step baking production processes. Covestro’s low-carbon coating solution is designed for two-component, non-baking systems, enabling rapid curing and direct to metal (DTM) application for enhanced efficiency. This innovation empowers CRRC Tangshan to streamline its coating processes and significantly reduce workshop energy consumption related to coating baking. Consequently, this solution is expected to save approximately 20 million kilowatt-hours annually in the final production workshop. This estimation is based on an annual production of 1,000 carriages, equating to roughly 25 percent of the current energy consumption. Additionally, the adoption of a non-baking system is expected to contribute to an annual reduction of approximately 24,000 tons in CO₂ emissions.

Traditional putty used in railway vehicle bodywork relies on unsaturated polyester systems and manual application. Covestro’s low-carbon solution revolutionizes this process by enabling automated spraying and sanding of putty, along with rapid ambient curing. This breakthrough has the potential to significantly enhance vehicle production efficiency, with an estimated reduction of 40 percent in the production cycle time.

“We’re committed to a ‘customer-centric’ approach, leveraging our robust research and development capabilities to comprehensively support urban rail and high-speed rail in elevating their green manufacturing standards,” said Li Jinqi, Vice President of Covestro’s Coatings and Adhesives segment in Greater China. “Beyond our energy-saving and carbon-reduction solutions, we also provide cutting-edge waterborne coating solutions for the railway transportation sector, providing practical greener solutions from the raw material end. By doing so, we aim to transform the vision of a circular economy into reality.”

Covestro’s waterborne topcoat solution for high-speed trains has successfully completed 300,000 kilometers of off-road testing, fulfilling commercial standards. This solution exhibits outstanding weather resistance and chemical durability, capable of withstanding adverse factors like wind, sand, stones, and changing weather conditions, satisfying the stringent requirements for high-speed train topcoats. It also delivers a high-gloss finish that meets the aesthetic design requirements of premium trains.

For a closer look at Covestro’s solutions for a fully circular future at the CIIE, visit us at booth 3B6-05, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from November 5 to 10, 2023.

A key highlight in this portfolio is Dispercoll^® U2682, designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of the consumer electronics industry in temperature-sensitive lamination applications. This innovative PUD enables adhesive activation at lower temperatures (50-55°C). It not only enhances adaptability to various materials and environments but also lowers energy consumption. It enables single-sided gluing, resulting in minimal adhesive usage and waste while maintaining strong adhesion.

In response to the footwear industry’s pursuit of streamlined processes, Covestro has introduced the cutting-edge Dispercoll^® U 68 PLUS 1K waterborne adhesive solution for shoemaking. This solution boasts outstanding hydrolysis resistance, washing durability, initial bonding strength, and heat resistance, addressing the industry’s specific adhesive demands. Furthermore, it optimizes both equipment and labor costs associated with on-site mixing processes.

Covestro’s newly enhanced waterborne polyurethane adhesive solutions, Dispercoll^® U PLUS and Desmodur^®, are tailored for the automotive interior market, delivering heightened quality and environmental sustainability. In comparison to conventional solutions, these enhancements prioritize low VOC and solvent emissions while guaranteeing the stability of bonding performance even in demanding climate conditions.

Covestro has launched Dispercoll^® U84, a versatile adhesive raw material applicable in soft furniture and car seats, notable for its good yellowing resistance, absence of halogens, and low VOC content. As a polyurethane-based material, it serves as an ideal choice for bonding polyurethane foam in mattress applications. This innovation offers a monomaterial solution that streamlines the recycling process, paving the way for future possibilities in the chemical recycling of foam mattresses.

Also showcased is Decovery^® CQ 6400, a label adhesive resin that is partially biobased (35 percent) and suitable for application on glass and PET bottle labels. This innovation leads to a reduction of 300 grams of CO₂ emissions per kilogram when compared to traditional products.¹ Its alkali solubility simplifies label removal during recycling, promoting environmental conservation from production to disposal and fostering a circular economy.

Dr. Sherry Yang, Head of Application and Development Asia Pacific, Business Entity Coatings and Adhesives at Covestro, said, “Covestro has consistently embraced a customer-centric approach throughout our research and development endeavors, crafting adaptive solutions that align with the specific needs of industry sectors. Covestro aims to strengthen its presence in China, seamlessly integrating production and research capabilities. This will expedite the transition from conventional solvent-based products to water-based systems, therefore promoting the advancement of the circular economy within the broader industry.”

Covestro has recently completed a new PUD facility at its integrated site in Shanghai. Once coming on stream in the first quarter of next year, this increased capacity is poised to address the rising demand for environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives in China and Asia Pacific. It will also offer PUD grades with more circular contents in 2024.

¹ According to internal calculations

"Thanks to this new milestone, Covestro will soon be able to serve even more customers around the world with an easily accessible, more sustainable product portfolio," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. "Customers in North America can now reduce their carbon footprint and Scope 3 emissions with drop-in, mass-balanced materials derived from recycled and bio-attributed products."

Learn more about Covestro’s ISCC PLUS certification in the US: https://www.covestro.com/en/company/covestro-worldwide/united-states/covestro-in-the-united-states/sustainability-and-innovation/iscc-plus-certification

Covestro is the first manufacturer of polyurethane and polycarbonate raw materials to receive this certification in the United States. The certification is an important milestone for both Covestro and the industries it serves, including the automotive, construction, comfort, electronics and appliance industries, which will now have access to ISCC PLUS-certified products made from more sustainable raw materials in North America.

To underscore how the products support both the company’s vision to become fully circular and its customers' journey to greater sustainability, Covestro has introduced a specially branded product line with the suffix "CQ". CQ, which stands for ʺCircular Intelligenceʺ, is a portfolio of products with attribution of at least 25 percent alternative raw materials derived from biomass or recycled plastics. 

Covestro is also introducing the name Evocycle^® CQ for all evolutionary recycling processes. The first project of this kind is called Evocycle^® CQ Mattress and denotes an innovative chemical recycling technology for polyurethane mattress foam. Covestro currently has more than hundreds of CQ products and is continuously expanding this portfolio.

The ISCC PLUS certified products produced at Covestro’s Baytown facilities will include: 
• Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) – used primarily in the production of rigid polyurethane foam for efficient insulation of refrigeration equipment and buildings
• Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) – used in the production of flexible foam for the automotive and furniture industries
• Makrolon^® RE – polycarbonate, a high-grade plastic used in the automotive, electronics and medical industries, among others
• Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), Desmodur^® W and Desmodur^® Z – used in various coatings and adhesive applications

Covestro expects to begin supplying select ISCC PLUS-certified products from its Baytown facility in the second half of 2023.

The products will be produced using a mass-balance approach. Sustainable raw materials will be accounted for throughout both the value chain and production process, allowing for an accurate attribution in the end products. The existing production infrastructure will be utilized while reducing the carbon footprint of the final products.

ISCC is an internationally recognized sustainability certification for biomass and bioenergy. The standard applies to all stages of the value chain and is recognized worldwide.

"In our studio, we offer solutions for current challenges, but also want to inspire our customers with visions for ambitious future goals. True to our motto 'Status Next,' we are our customers' partner in driving the circular economy in the coatings and adhesives industry to make our lives more sustainable," says Dickon Purvis, Head of Marketing in the Coatings and Adhesives segment at Covestro. "Only in close exchange with external stakeholders can we identify trends early on and offer products and technologies tailored to future requirements."

In focus: circular economy, productivity and regulations

For the coatings and adhesives sector, as well as downstream industries, the transformation to a circular economy is key to combating climate change and conserving resources. As a leading raw material manufacturer, Covestro is aware of the great responsibility it bears for optimizing these products so that they make an important contribution to the transformation as fundamental building blocks for coatings and adhesives formulations.

At the same time, it is important to maintain or even increase productivity at a high level to ensure growth and profitability in these industries. And last but not least, Covestro wants to support customers in complying with stricter regulations and standards, with the aim of improving occupational safety and industrial hygiene. For all these goals, the company has set up the Status Next Studio platform to ensure lasting and strong customer relationships in an increasingly digitalized world.

The spectrum of applications and industries for Covestro solutions is wide, ranging from future mobility, smart living and infrastructure development to sports and leisure, health and beauty, architecture and construction, printing and packaging. The Status Next Content Warehouse offers highlight topics and best practice examples on the aforementioned focus areas and industries.

Webinars on key trends

Covestro invites customers, partners and anyone interested to dive into the key trends impacting the world of coatings and adhesives. To this end, the company is offering three webinars in English on the following key topics:

Circular Economy 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 14:00 CET. 
Register at https://solutions.covestro.com/en/webinars/2023-03-21-circular-economy/?utm_medium=offline&utm_source=press_release&utm_campaign=ca_2023_status_next&utm_asset=26225&utm_content=status_next_q1_corp_press_release_ce_webinar_registration_page

Regulations 
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 14:00 CET 
Register at https://solutions.covestro.com/en/webinars/2023-03-22-regulations/?utm_medium=offline&utm_source=press_release&utm_campaign=ca_2023_status_next&utm_asset=26225&utm_content=status_next_q1_corp_press_release_regulations_webinar_registration_page

Productivity 
Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 14:00 CET 
Register at https://solutions.covestro.com/en/webinars/2023-03-23-productivity/?utm_medium=offline&utm_source=press_release&utm_campaign=ca_2023_status_next&utm_asset=26225&utm_content=status_next_q1_corp_press_release_productivity_webinar_registration_page

In its Status Next Collaboration Suite, Covestro invites participants to further webinars on overarching and strategic coatings and adhesives topics for various industries, where participants can directly exchange ideas with experts from the company.

According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at Covestro’s booth at the China International Import Expo, the company will work with customers like Sherwin-Williams and Changzhou Changtu Chemical Co. Ltd, logistics solution and infrastructure partners such as Sinotrans Chemical International Logistics and Harbour New Energy Technology Shenzhen, as well as industry organizations such as Smart Freight Center China to devise new green logistics solutions to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the industry ecosystem.

Truck transport in focus

In the Asia-Pacific region, around 70 percent of Covestro's goods are transported by truck, while in Europe and North America only around one-third is transported by road in each case, with inland waterways and railroads otherwise being used more frequently.

As such, the new partnership will focus on designing more sustainable means of road transportation by truck, and evaluate the viability of certain solutions under specific scenarios.

This includes the experiment of using electric trucks, which are prohibited for the road transport of dangerous goods under Chinese and European laws, for the short-distance shuttling of non-dangerous chemicals – free of limitations regarding the range. The team is also trying biodiesel, whose prices are subsidized in Shanghai, in long-haul transport of dangerous goods. Other solutions the program is looking at include hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks. Some of the experiments will be adopted in real cases with cost and benefit estimation in the first half of 2023 under the partnership.

"The idea is to pilot, adopt and scale up low-emission fuels, vehicles and more sustainable logistics solutions with optimal costs and even financial benefits through an open platform," says Samir Hifri, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Logistics Asia Pacific, Covestro. "We believe the supply chain could be an essential part for the chemical industry to achieve climate neutrality, and it’s crucial for us to find a balance between economics and emission reductions through such collaboration."

Under the partnership, efforts will also be made to standardize calculations and reporting of GHG emissions. Through these efforts, Covestro and its partners hope to create a transparent and reliable certification mechanism that promotes green logistics as a widely applicable business model in the industry.

Jason You, Senior Supply Chain Director of Sherwin-Williams Asia, said: "Sherwin-Williams is committed to satisfying customer needs through quality products, excellent service and a highly trained and professional workforce and is constantly seeking ways to become more sustainable. We are excited to work with Covestro and other leading partners on this challenge. We look forward to continuing to innovate and introduce more sustainably advantaged product solutions to our customers in China and across the globe."

Key to scope 3 emissions target

Earlier this year, Covestro announced that it is aiming to become operationally climate neutral – this includes reducing both direct emissions from its own operations (scope 1) as well as indirect emissions from purchased energy (scope 2) to net zero – by 2035. The company will be reporting its scope 3 emissions target next year.

"The MoU marks an essential step in Covestro’s planned announcement of the scope 3 emission target in 2023," says Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of the Coatings and Adhesives segment of Covestro in Asia Pacific. "We expect to provide an integrated offering that combines more sustainable products and logistics services, thus supporting our customers to meet their sustainability and climate-neutrality targets and moving towards a circular economy."

Covestro has identified the problem - and has developed a process for recycling companies and packaging manufacturers to address this problem: In the case of multi-layer film packages laminated with polyurethane (PU) adhesive, the respective materials can be separated from one another again thanks to the new technology. The team will now present the development at the K 2022 trade fair from 19 to 26 October in Düsseldorf.

In the process, a special separation agent specifically weakens the bond strength of the PU adhesive. Since the separation agent consists of natural ingredients and water, it is also very sustainable. For packaging manufacturers and recyclers, the process offers a major advantage: "Our know-how helps them to make better use of the residual value of their packaging and thus makes more materials available to the recycling industry," says Thomas Fait. The New Business Development Manager for Adhesives at Covestro has led the development of the technology on a laboratory scale. "With projects like this, we contribute to achieve our corporate vision: to make the circular economy a reality. For this purpose, we work with partners from a wide variety of fields and industries and are always looking for ways how our products and technologies can help other companies become circular."

At the K 2022 trade fair, the team will be presenting the technology to the plastics industry for the first time and looking for potential partners from the packaging and recycling industry to further develop the process together with them.

Thanks to China’s “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goal and related environmental protection policies, waterborne adhesives—as substitute for solvent-borne adhesives—have enjoyed rapid growth, effectively driving demand for waterborne polyurethane dispersion (PUD) applications. Hence, PUD-based coatings and adhesives are expected to be the preferred technologies for downstream fields of application such as automotive, construction, furniture, footwear and packaging.

To meet the ever-expanding market needs, Covestro invested in a new PUD plant and a production line of polyester resin—the raw material for PUD—at its integrated site in Shanghai in July, serving the need for high quality and sustainable development in both China and the overseas markets.

Waterborne adhesive solutions for the consumer electronics sector

Covestro’s waterborne polyurethane adhesive solution for consumer electronics can be applied in areas such as consumer electronic carrying cases, smart speaker covers, and tablet personal computer protective cases. In line with the national standard GB 33372-2020, Covestro’s waterborne solution effectively reduces VOC contents compared with traditional solvent-based adhesives. This solution satisfies environmental performance without compromising high adaptability, smooth application and good bonding strength. Covestro’s waterborne solution provides industry customers with a wider range of choices of materials and enables individualized 3D shape. In addition, high resistance to humidity and heat will ensure product reliability and address multiple scenarios of consumer electronics.

Waterborne one-component footwear adhesives solution empowers efficient production

The newly developed waterborne one-component footwear adhesives solution taps into unmet industry needs for efficient production process, while ensuring bonding strength, heat resistance and anti-hydrolysis resistance performance.

The athletic footwear industry is transforming from one featuring labor-intensive to smart manufacturing. Consequently, streamlined industrial processes and automated technologies are under spotlight. As Covestro's one-component waterborne polyurethane dispersion technology for shoe assembling, Dispercoll® U not only circumvents onsite adhesives-mixing but also reduces the risk of dead glues due to its unique properties, thus significantly improving process efficiency and reducing waste.

Shaping the future of circular product portfolios

In addition to new product launches, Covestro also showcased circular solutions for a variety of sectors, demonstrating its strategic approach of integrating business development with corporate social responsibilities and shaping the future of the industry.

• Desmodur® eco, the footwear adhesive hardener with approximately 70 percent bio-based content, enables the footwear industry to achieve lower carbon footprint and helps reduce carbon emissions. It allows for application of the material to the existing formulation without further adjustment.
• In response to sustainability calls, Covestro launched Dispercoll® U, the compostable laminating adhesive solution for flexible packaging. As per DIN EN 13432 (Europe) and ASTM D 6400-04 (USA) standards, it achieves a high (~90 percent) degradation rate under controlled aerobic conditions and is beneficial to the efficient degradation of packaging materials.
• Decovery®, the raw material of partially bio-based bottle label adhesives, is a waterborne alkali-soluble acrylic copolymer dispersion with a bio-based content of approximately 35 percent. Covestro estimates that every 1 kg of Decovery® can contribute to an overall carbon reduction of 0.3 kg. Meanwhile, the easy-to-remove label simplifies the recycling process and helps the packaging industry achieve comprehensive sustainable development.
• Desmocap®, a partially bio-based epoxy toughening agent developed from the extract of cashew nut shell oil, is mainly applied in the automotive, wind power, and rail transportation industries. This solution can effectively improve the flexibility and bonding strength of the epoxy system.

To bring new perspectives and technological breakthroughs to the industry, Covestro is committed to fostering innovation in all areas of daily life and relentlessly investing in the R&D of sustainability solutions.

At MD&M West Conference and Exposition, April 12-14, 2022 in Anaheim, California, Covestro will showcase its materials for healthcare applications in booth #2221, including Makrolon^® RE for Healthcare. Makrolon^® RE polycarbonate grades have a low carbon footprint thanks to the use of renewable electricity for their manufacture, as well as raw materials produced from mass-balanced bio-waste and residues.

This new offering further expands the company’s portfolio of proven materials for diverse healthcare uses:

• Polycarbonate resins and blends: Covestro’s broad portfolio including Makrolon^® and Makroblend^® deliver strength and durability for drug delivery devices, dental applications, advanced injection devices, medical device housings, and more – to withstand everyday use and chemical interaction.
• Polyurethane raw materials and adhesives: Baymedix^® polyurethane adhesive and foam components provide excellent breathability and low trauma removal to wound care products, in addition to excellent absorption. In wearables applications, skin-friendly adhesive systems and thermoformable foams for electronic embedding are also available.
• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) films and resins: Platilon^® TPU films offer breathable applications for wound dressing and prevention, as well as wearable patches. Texin® Rx TPU resins provide flexibility and strength for applications such as medical tubing and dental applications, all while remaining resistant to cleaning agents and bacteria.

Several applications of these materials will be on display, including:

• Makrolon® RE for Healthcare: Covestro showcases the expansion of its product portfolio into the medical and healthcare space with Makrolon^® RE – a drop-in, low carbon footprint, medical-grade polycarbonate solution.
• Drug Delivery demonstrator: Materials from Covestro’s line of medical-grade polycarbonates come together to form an innovative and sustainable drug delivery device.
• PharmaJet: Covestro and PharmaJet team up to advance needle-free injection. Makrolon^® from Covestro stands up to gamma and ethylene oxide sterilization in a device that eliminates needle-stick injuries, and can be used for COVID-19 vaccinations.
• SmartGuard^®: Covestro and SmartGuard work together to provide restful sleep for those who involuntarily grind their teeth. Makrolon^® 2858 from Covestro provides the strength, softness and biocompatibility needed for this application.
• Medical Device Housings and Hardware: Durable Makrolon^® and Makroblend^® materials feature improved disinfectant resistance and next-generation flame retardancy with skin contact biocompatibility. 

Attendees can visit the Covestro booth (#2221) to learn more about the company’s impressive combination of material solutions and technical expertise for the healthcare market.
 

"I am very pleased that we can now offer our customers even more certified mass-balanced products and thus help them even better to achieve their sustainability goals and drive the transition to a circular economy," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. "In doing so, we are also supporting the use of alternative raw materials and reducing CO₂ emissions along the value chains."

Dr. Klaus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro, adds, "The raw materials we use for these products meet the high sustainability requirements of the ISCC Plus standard all the way back through the supply chain. That's why we want to make greater use of alternative raw materials such as these renewably attributed precursors in our production. In addition to the three German sites, also our plants in Antwerp and Shanghai are already ISCC Plus certified, with more sites to follow."

In the mass balance approach, bio-based or recycled raw materials – in this case reprocessed residual materials – are fed in at an early stage of raw material extraction and mathematically attributed to the finished products. This saves fossil raw materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while the quality of the mass-balanced products remains the same compared to purely fossil-based ones. Manufacturers can continue to use their proven formulations, equipment and processes.

ISCC ("International Sustainability and Carbon Certification") is an internationally recognized system for sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy, among others. The standard covers all stages of the value chain and is widely used worldwide. ISCC Plus includes further certification options for technical-chemical applications, among others, including plastics from biomass.

"For designers, samples are key to understanding a material's potential, but they are products that rarely get the attention they deserve from material suppliers," says Chris Lefteri. "Polycarbonate has some outstanding aesthetic properties that are showcased in the aesthetic toolkit we designed for Covestro. The shape, form and outline draw attention to its inherent transparency, color and surface effects that highlight its glass-like qualities. Through the interplay of the two parts, which can be overlaid in color, it is intended to inspire new applications and facilitate dialogue between designers and Covestro."

The Aesthetics Toolkit shows CMF trends on different polycarbonate substrates – depending on the industry, application, color, texture and functionality. 24 trending colors and textures help designers understand the properties of polycarbonates while capturing the visual effects of different combinations in novel 3D form factors.

"We are very honored and excited to receive this prestigious award. It is a confirmation of Covestro's expertise and activities in CMF. We are a leading materials supplier, and our ambition goes well beyond just providing materials," says Dr. Christopher Stillings, Vice President, Global Head of Color & Design (CMF) in Covestro's Engineering Plastics segment. "By working with Chris Lefteri, we look forward to inspiring more designers and CMF experts to create and realize aesthetic, efficient design and inspiring products with polycarbonate."

He adds, "We see designers and CMF experts as key partners for innovation and want to work more closely with them by offering our capabilities from front-end trend research to back-end design applications. Covestro offers sustainable material solutions that deliver both high aesthetic value and high performance."

The German Design Awards, which are among the most prestigious design prizes in the world, enjoy an excellent reputation far beyond specialist circles and are presented annually by the German Design Council.

More comfortable and sustainable wearables

Wearable patch sensors (smart patches) are enjoying increasing popularity, as they offer a wide range of options for medical diagnosis. Current trends include enhanced convenience, even more functions, and ongoing miniaturization. What's more, the public is demanding more sustainable solutions and a move away from disposable products. Together with its partner accensors, Covestro has developed a smart patch consisting of two elements: The disposable patch, which contains the sensors, and the ReUse patch, which contains the electronics. This makes it possible to reuse the valuable electronic parts.

Efficient production of wound dressings

The production of wound dressings and plasters, as well as medical wearables, involves a multi-stage process. The combination of a polypropylene (PP) backing with blown films from the Platilon® range made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), in particular, is now proving to be well suited to satisfying today's high demands for process efficiency and ease of use in wound care. In comparison to the production of paper backings, the generation of dust in the production process is significantly reduced.

Breathable wound dressings to prevent bedsores

In the case of prolonged disease progression, it is important to prevent bedsores (pressure ulcers). Covestro has developed a concept for a prevention dressing that addresses the three most important factors for bedsores: Pressure, friction and shear. A highly breathable prototype is made exclusively from Covestro polyurethane materials.

The key features of this prototype wound care dressing made from Baymedix® and Platilon® materials are:

• Optimized friction, shear and pressure management
• Excellent moisture management to support a healthy microclimate
• Application- and skin-friendly polyurethane adhesive
• Efficient and sustainable manufacturing technology

Extra matte films for increased wear comfort

The PP backings can also be combined with multilayer Platilon® TPU films, for example, to achieve individual properties such as a specific surface finish. TPU blown films offer a wide range of surface qualities from silky to extra matte. In particular, Platilon® XM films offer an extra matte, skin-like surface and a soft feel that offers increased comfort for patients. Medical products made with the low-friction Platilon® XM films adhere to the skin longer because friction against textiles is minimized. This, in turn, prevents premature changes of dressings and plasters. Owing to its soft surface feel, the film feels like a second skin. It is used in wound dressings, plasters and other medical products that require high breathability.

High-quality breast implants require high packaging standards

Breast implants must be treated with the utmost care, from manufacture and transport to visual inspection before surgery. The packaging must be particularly shock-resistant, transparent, and highly sterile. Makrofol® MA507 and MA336 polycarbonate films are able to achieve the necessary impact resistance and transparency. They also withstand superheated steam sterilization at 120 and more degrees Celsius without damage. Covestro also offers films for packaging orthopedic implants.

Covestro will present the project during Digital Expo 2021 from September 14 to 16. Further explanations will be provided in a webinar with Covestro experts Marc Schreiber and Holger Mundstock on September 14, starting at 1 p.m. CEST.

The system was developed a few years back by Marc Schreiber, a Covestro employee, who took part in his company's first Start-up Challenge – and he won: the project turned out to be so promising that it became a separate venture called "go clear". As founders, he and his team were temporarily released from their regular jobs and given the necessary financial means to push the development to series maturity. The aim of Covestro's Start-up Challenge is to promote creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Dosing paint in a capsule

A daily routine in car repair shops and paint shops: Raw materials for 2-component clear coating are measured out, weighed and mixed. For professionals, these are quick tasks that they carry out day after day. All in all, however, they cost precious time that could be spent on the actual painting process. If mistakes are made on top of that in the process, this can have an unfavorable effect on the painting result and, in the worst case, even mean financial losses. A new system from Covestro simplifies preparation considerably: it combines the entire mixing process in just one capsule.

The Dockit® system contains clear coating and hardener in separate chambers in a capsule. Both components are already in the optimum mixing ratio. A touch of a button and they flow into each other and can be mixed within a very short time by simply shaking them – "the finished coating is available exactly when it is needed," explains Marc Schreiber, Covestro coatings expert and "inventor" of the system. "The painters no longer need to interrupt their work and can fully focus on achieving a good painting result."

No additional equipment needed

The capsule is screwed onto the spray gun with the help of an adapter and the clear coating is immediately ready for use, it can be applied as usual. Painters do not need any additional equipment when using the Dockit® system. The capsule is suitable for most conventional 2-component clear coatings. As no container has to be opened, the components and hence the coatings are protected from dust and dirt.

Polyurethane dispersions have proven their worth in adhesives for manual shoe production. But attempts to automate manual application with robot-assisted processes have not been successful to date.

Digital printing, on the other hand, enables shoe manufacturers to automate adhesive application to the highest level of precision. This is significantly more effective and faster, as processing steps can be saved and the precise digital application creates less waste that would need to be disposed of. The adhesive joints exhibit the same high quality as with the previous manual production.

Digital adhesive application on smartphone displays

Manufacturers of smartphones and other electronic devices must produce as leanly, cost-efficiently and automatically as possible to remain competitive. In addition, consumer purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by whether products can be recycled at the end of their useful life. Covestro enables electronics manufacturers to efficiently apply hot-melt adhesives based on its Desmomelt® U polyurethane adhesive raw material in a digital process. In the case of thermoplastic adhesives, end-of-life recycling can also be facilitated.

Covestro will present both developments during Digital Expo 2021, September 14-16. For more explanations, join the webinar with experts Dr. Dirk Achten and Dr. Ann-Christin Bijlard-Jung on September 14, starting at 5 p.m. CEST.

The application of adhesives to smartphone displays is often a time-consuming part of the manufacturing process. For example, adhesive foils are applied that must be precisely cut beforehand. An analogous process is based on latently reactive 2-component hot-melt films, which are still crosslinked after the joining process to create a particularly strong adhesive bond between the components. Due to the strong bond, however, disassembly at the end of the service life is often difficult.

Efficient assembly

Hot-melt adhesives based on Desmomelt® U can be applied exactly where they are needed using digital printing. Automation of adhesive application reduces the number of processing steps required. Nevertheless, complex, CAD-based adhesive bonding paths are possible. After usage of the smartphone, it is possible to disassemble components in a temperature-controlled manner if only thermoplastic raw materials have been used. If particularly strong adhesive bonds are required, then the digital application of latent 2C reactive hot-melt adhesives based on Desmomelt® U and Desmodur® crosslinkers is also possible.

The new adhesive raw materials based on Desmomelt® U are aliphatic and thus protected against yellowing. They combine the advantages of water-based adhesives, for example high molecular weight, environmental compatibility and performance, with the easy processability of hot-melt adhesives. The open time can be adapted to customers' wishes, which makes processing even more flexible.

The project is part of a comprehensive program with which Covestro is systematically driving forward digitalization. One of the three pillars of the "Digital@Covestro" program is the development of new business models and digital technical services. One focus area is a more efficient production at customers and the digitization of entire value chains. The two other pillars of the program are focused on digital operating processes in the company's own production and the development and use of digital chemical trading platforms.

The more sustainable raw material can already be used in many products and industries and enables similar or better properties than with fossil-based raw materials. New applications are consistently being developed. Covestro´s CO₂ technology has thus developed into a platform technology that contributes to resource conservation and circular economy and to reducing the ecological footprint.

Comfortable padding

The foams are characterized by durability and a high compression hardness – an important quality for athletic activities. Compared with products made of pure fossil raw materials, they have more favorable physical properties and, above all, better elasticity and a finer cell structure.

Plama-pur offers these products under the name ECO Foams. Its customers laminate the cut foam pieces onto self-adhesive materials and punch them out into various shapes according to the specifications.

Other sports applications

The CO₂-based precursor is also found in concept sneakers designed by Chinese shoe designer Axis Liu. More specifically, in a thin, translucent film made of the thermoplastic polyurethane Desmopan® 37385A, which matches the color and structure of the upper material. It is applied to the upper shoe by hot stamping and features good scratch and abrasion resistance. Covestro presented the sneakers at the K 2019 plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf.

At the end of 2018, cardyon® experienced another premiere in the sports sector: The material was used in the subfloor of the field hockey facility of a renowned sports club in Krefeld, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In this application, too, CO₂ is used in a recycling process to save fossil raw materials.

Both shoes feature Covestro products derived from alternative raw materials such as CO₂, biomass and plastic waste. These are a valuable resource as they provide carbon that can be put to use beneficially in a circular economy, instead of being released into the atmosphere as waste gas. Covestro is pioneering the use of such raw materials to reduce its dependence on fossil materials and increase the sustainability of the value chain.

Walking with CO₂ technology

One example is the upper and inner lining of the two shoes. The base is a soft foam that ensures a good fit and comfortable footfall. Here, a precursor product was used that contains up to 20 percent carbon dioxide and is marketed by Covestro under the name cardyon®. The CO₂ replaces some of the fossil raw materials previously used, but does not compromise the favorable properties of conventionally produced foam.

Two different types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are found in the outer soles of both women's shoes. One of them is also based on cardyon®; while in the other, 60 percent of the carbon content is derived from biomass. As a result, both products have a lower CO₂ footprint than fossil-based TPU and help close the carbon cycle.

High heels made from recycled plastic

Covestro is also focusing on the recovery of plastic waste as part of its strategic program to support the circular economy, and is working with partners to develop new value-adding cycles to achieve this. For example, used polycarbonate products are shredded, cleaned, possibly mixed with new plastic and reused as recycled Makrolon®. In women's shoes, this lends lasting strength to the insole and heel.

No solvents

Footwear manufacturers such as Beira Rio want to offer more sustainable products for the benefit of their customers, but also want to improve hygienic conditions in production. That's why they are increasingly relying on water-based raw materials, which emit significantly fewer volatile organic components (VOCs) than the solvent-based substances used in the past.

INSQIN® technology is used in the lining, upper and heel of the women's pump, as well as in the synthetic upper material of the casual shoe. This technology is based on water-based polyurethane raw materials and was developed specifically for a more sustainable textile coating. Aqueous adhesives with the polyurethane dispersion Dispercoll® U provide the necessary strength in the upper and outer sole of both shoes.

Smart patches should be as small, flexible, and unnoticeable as possible in order to offer patients a high level of comfort. The newly developed solution consists of two elements: a non-reusable element (the Disposable Patch) including sensors that is applied to the skin with an adhesive and used only once, and a reusable element, the ReUse Patch, which houses all the electronics, for example the measurement technology, power supply, data processing, radio transmission and if desired an optical camera.

High comfort, ease of use, efficient manufacturing

Thanks to Covestro materials and to integrated film sensors, the wearable patches are very lightweight, thin and flexible, and fit well to the surface of your body – you can hardly feel them. Polyurethane adhesives made from Baymedix® raw materials are skin-friendly and offer low trauma when removed from the skin. Various sensors are integrated in the patch to determine vital signs, for example pulse, pressure or temperature. Here, sensor integration is achieved by using special Platilon® films in combination with a thermoformable foam based on Baymedix®. All these materials are breathable and can be efficiently processed with roll-to-roll technology.

Removing and inserting the ReUse Patch into the Disposable Patch couldn’t be easier – thanks to an ideal combination of materials and function. accensors particularly developed a film sensor that forms the interface between the smart patch and the patient and can be equipped with varied sensors.

Smart patches are already widely used for medical diagnosis, for example, to measure a patient’s blood sugar levels, body temperature, or heart rate. The observation of disease patterns such as skin cancer or chronic wounds is also possible. Many other applications are emerging in sports and recreation. Covestro is contributing to the further dissemination of these innovative products through customer-oriented developments.

The logo consists of the two letters N and L of the country code, each one meter high. The main frame of the figures is made of polycarbonate, which contains recycled materials from waste sources such as used water bottles. It has been 3D printed using innovative large format technology. This finished part is strong and durable and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. Covestro is already working with Chinese partners in the value chain to transform used polycarbonate water bottles into high-performance recycled plastics for the electronics, household appliances and automotive industries.

The facade of the logo is made from recycled Maezio^® composite sheets, which are made from processing waste. This material is not only light, strong and durable, but also corrosion resistant to meet the demanding requirements of outdoor installations. Its thermoplastic matrix makes it possible to completely recycle the material from both industrial waste and end-of-life products.

With open innovation to recycling management

"Circular economy must become the new guiding principle and that’s why we are working with the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Guangzhou and partners in the value chain to design and produce this creative logo," said Holly Lei, President of Covestro China. "Through open innovation, we are striving to integrate the industrial chain and involve the end users to achieve a fully circular economy."

Michiel Bierkens, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Guangzhou, said: "We are happy to be working with Covestro to enhance our new logo, as such cooperation will underscore our joint efforts to create a circular and sustainable world. We expect to promote this concept locally and globally by using it in our events so that more people can see this initiative and contribute their own efforts."

Covestro is on the way to fully aligning its entire production and product range, and in the long term all areas, to a new circular concept. The initiative to anchor circularity in a holistic approach focuses on four priorities: an increased use of alternative raw materials, innovative recycling processes, renewable energies and joint solutions.

"The partnership with NANOxARCH and the Dutch Consulate for the new logo is just another concrete example of how our open-innovation collaborations in China can drive solid progress towards the future, especially in a circular economy," said Dr. Michael Schmidt, Covestro's Head of Innovation for Asia Pacific. "For us, this is just the beginning, as we and our partners are working on numerous concrete measures and projects along the value chain for improved recycling and reusing plastics."

The Covestro products used in the logo include an aqueous polyurethane dispersion for adhesives that bond the main frame and facade securely, easily and efficiently, and raw materials for aqueous polyurethane coatings that offer good adhesion to the recycled polycarbonates, flexible surface design, anti-stain and durability. Both waterborne systems are also characterized by very low VOC emissions.

"The car of the future is fully networked and is seamlessly integrated into everyday life, where it provides the user with new experiences and the greatest possible autonomy," said Jochen Hardt from Global Marketing Mobility at Covestro. At the unveiling of the prototype, the project manager added: "Modern materials and technologies have paved the way for this. Covestro is a leading player here. In cooperation with partners, we keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible."

The concept focuses equally on functionality, comfort and design, but also on efficiency and light weight. The focus is on multi-sensor infotainment systems, innovative seating concepts, smart surfaces and personalized lighting. High-tech materials from Covestro open up a kaleidoscope of new possibilities for many different components. A selection of the developments is presented below.

The highlight: a large multifunctional display

Special emphasis is placed on a seamlessly integrated, three-dimensional multifunctional display – a large-format visual experience for the user, made possible by the high optical quality of Makrolon^® Ai polycarbonate and Makrofol^® polycarbonate film. A sophisticated combination of In Mold Decoration (IMD) and Film Insert Molding (FIM) provides for the surface design and durability. The latest Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) support passenger communication with the car and the outside world. Such polycarbonate films may also serve as a moldable carrier for printed electronics, enabling the integration of additional functions.

In the car exhibit at K 2019, Covestro will also present functional surfaces with premium look and feel. In addition to the use of polycarbonates and the INSQIN^® technology for textile coating, the particular appeal lies in the combination of unusual materials such as wood, stone and aluminum.

New seating concepts for future mobility

As the classic function of the driver's seat is no longer required, the car interior can be given a new look and design. Not only should the seats be comfortable, they should also offer enough flexibility to expand the interior space. An integrated and individually configurable lighting system ensures comfort and safety and enables car manufacturers to differentiate their brands.

Here, too, Covestro materials are trailblazers for the properties and advantages mentioned, for example polycarbonate composites of the Maezio™ brand. In the seats, they provide a new aesthetic appeal and robust structure, while Makrofol^® films combine design and functionality. The vegan and waterbased INSQIN^® technology for textile coating offers the same attractive appearance as leather, but at lower cost and with reduced solvent emissions. Here, the possibility of allowing light to shine through the coated surface and creating a completely new type of ambient lighting is attractive.

Flexible table construction

Together with partners, Covestro has developed a lightweight table that is tailored to new usage habits in autonomous vehicles and offers a lot of flexibility. The prototype shown at K 2019 is made of Maezio™ composite material and convinces due to its thin-walled construction, aesthetics and stability. The table can be designed to be foldable so that it can be stowed between the rear seats to save space.

The new movable Privacy Dome is designed to protect users' privacy. A sound-absorbing acoustic foam based on the Baynat^® polyurethane system provides each passenger with individual peace and quiet, independent of other passengers and the outside world. In addition, passengers can enjoy relaxing sounds such as the soothing sound of waves on the beach.

In addition to digitalization, the UN goals for sustainable development will especially influence the economy and society in the coming years. Covestro is determined to realize these sustainability goals at many levels. Meeting them is not only a prerequisite for a better, cleaner and healthier world, but also has great long-term economic potential

Change to circular economy indispensable

“Megatrends such as climate protection and population growth require a fundamental rethink in lifestyle and consumer behavior, not to mention in global production,” CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann said to journalists. “We need a complete transition from a throwaway to a circular economy in order to handle limited resources more responsibly and protect the climate.”

Covestro is committed to establishing new material cycles throughout the entire process chain with a view to making a tangible contribution to achieving this major goal. “We have set up a comprehensive and long-term program which will also open up new opportunities for value creation,” Steilemann explained. “High-quality plastics are and will remain drivers for sustainability and for overcoming global challenges. However, it is crucial to decouple the economic growth achieved from the consumption of fossil resources such as crude oil.”

Turning away from crude oil

A key aspect for developing a circular economy in the plastics and chemical industry is the closure of the carbon cycle through the recycling of raw materials. “In the long term, we want to do as much as possible without fossil resources and use alternative sources such as waste, plants and CO₂ instead,” said Steilemann. “In particular, used plastics are a valuable resource. That's why we want to work with partners to intensively develop innovative recycling methods,” said the Covestro CEO. Under no circumstances should plastic waste be allowed to enter the environment uncontrolled for longer. The industry is working intensively worldwide for better waste management – for example in the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, of which Covestro is a member.

Given its importance, the company is dedicating a special Theme Day to Circular Economy at its booth on Wednesday, October 23. External and in-house experts present practical examples and discuss with visitors. At the Covestro booth, these will also find many examples of products and technologies that can help close material cycles in various industries.

Covestro is one of the pioneers in the use of the exhaust gas CO₂ as a new raw material. A team from Covestro and RWTH Aachen University is now in the final round of the German President´s Award for the development of a corresponding process. Exhibits based on this technology will be specially featured at the booth. With modern materials and technologies, the company also supports the supply of energy from renewable sources.

Digitalization as a growth driver

Another driving force for the development of the economy and society in the coming years is the ongoing digitalization. Covestro wants to take advantage of the resulting opportunities and has started a comprehensive strategic program, which focuses on the customer. To this end, the company is anchoring digital technologies and processes along the value chain – from the supply chain through production, research and all interfaces to customers to the development of new business models. Various developments and exhibits at K 2019 as well as a separate Theme Day on Tuesday, October 22, underscore the great importance of digitalization for Covestro and its customers.

A stage for visitors

“We cordially invite all visitors to K 2019 to our booth in hall 6,” says Booth Manager Dr. Ulrich Liman. “We will be providing them a stage for discussions on their themes and wishes. They will also find products and technologies for important key industries.”

“A special experience awaits visitors in our ‘Sample Parcours’,” explains Liman. “There they can get to know materials and patterns through their senses, through seeing, feeling and hearing, but also in a playful manner. For example, join our Life Cycle Wheel and learn more about the circular economy! Or test your knowledge of plastics on our Quiz Machine.”

Theme Days from Automotive to Science

On each of the eight days of the fair, visitors can experience how Covestro is pushing boundaries on a different main theme. Lectures and discussions with experts from industry and academia will serve to deepen the topic and promote personal exchange.

All journalists are cordially invited to visit Covestro's press center at the A 75 exhibition booth gallery in Hall 6. You will have the opportunity to talk about the innovations and topics on display and receive the Covestro press kit for K 2019. On request, we would also be happy to give tours of the booth or arrange interviews.

Automotive (October 16)

The highlight of Covestro's trade fair appearance is a comprehensive interior concept for future mobility: trends such as autonomous driving, electric drive and car sharing make the automobile a multifunctional, mobile living and working space. It's all about functionality, comfort and design, not least also about efficiency. Covestro has developed the concept together with important partners along the automotive value chain. The main features are newly designed surfaces, the integration of ambient lighting, the latest infotainment systems and forward-looking seating concepts. On Wednesday, 16 October, the company will dedicate a special Theme Day to the automotive industry.

Science Celebration (October 17)

The second day of K 2019 is dedicated to current and outstanding research findings in polymer science. The highlight will be the presentation of the Covestro Science Award to a professor in the presence of invited guests from the world of science. The prize consists of a three-year doctoral fellowship to promote young scientists in materials research at universities. In addition, a researcher from Covestro will be awarded the Covestro Science Medal for outstanding scientific developments.

Start-up Challenge (October 20)

With the Start-up Challenge, Covestro aims to promote the creativity and entrepreneurial thinking of its employees and find the best business idea of 2019. The winners of the first competition will be chosen at the trade fair: they will be able to work as founders, implement their ideas and test their marketability. In return, they will receive start-up financing of up to one million euros, be released from their jobs for up to one year and can work within the company as start-ups. The ideas of the six finalist teams are focused on the development of the circular economy.

Local talent search

At K 2019, Covestro also will be presenting itself as an attractive employer to students, junior employees and experienced professionals. Curious jobseekers will find the right person to answer all their questions at the Career Bar.

The shoes satisfy the wishes of athletically active people for a healthy lifestyle, improved performance and individuality. Various material solutions from Covestro are worked in a seamless design, exemplifying the individual benefits of each material: INSQIN^® water-based polyurethane (PU) textile coatings and adhesives, PU foams, textile fibers and films made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and Maezio™ continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTP).

“For me new materials are one of the most powerful driving forces for creative shoe design and for exploring new possibilities,” says Axis Liu. “Therefore, I appreciate the know-how of the experts at Covestro and I will continue to benefit from this in the future.” The cooperation between Liu and the Covestro team resulted in athletic shoe concepts that set standards in many respects: they are highly sustainable and light, yet extremely durable. They provide increased foot stability and help to compensate for the forces acting on the feet, in order to achieve improved athletic performance.

Running shoe with 3D-printed midsole

For the design of the running shoe, Axis Liu was inspired by a traditional figure from Chinese arts and craft: the “Multilayer Carved Ball” which has a dynamic structure handmade up of several layers. On the running shoe, the dynamic, extraordinary structure of the midsole was produced by a 3D printer.

Because running shoes are often worn outdoors for several hours at a time, it is particularly important for the upper material to be water resistant and breathable. This functionality is achieved on the concept running shoes by using a special INSQIN^® coating.

Conventional adhesives based on Dispercoll^® U dispersions join together the individual athletic shoe components securely, easily and efficiently. This water-based adhesive technology helps conserve energy and resources. It also contributes to making athletic shoe production more sustainable.

Basketball shoe with good shock absorption

During development of the basketball shoe, however, the designer drew inspiration from the world of toys and the modular construction often found there. Of course, his designs also took into consideration that the feet and bodies of basketball players are strained in different ways than those of runners.

In accordance with the different requirements of both sports, there are also differences in the individual components of the materials used. For example, the midsole of the basketball shoe was made using in-mold foaming and contains expanding TPU (ETPU), which provides good shock absorption and at the same time features particularly high restoring forces. This enhances performance for the jumping and quick acceleration that are common in basketball.

Both shoes use the newly developed Maezio™ carbon fiber-reinforced TPU (CFRTP), which is very light, but also extremely stiff and torsion resistant. This unique material combination offers a high degree of design freedom and a strong aesthetic appeal with unique, unidirectional carbon fiber optics; in addition, it is recyclable.

Other materials and their function

Apart from that there are many similarities between the two concept athletic shoes:

• The uppers of both shoes contain TPU fibers. These are highly resistant to abrasion and tearing, yet they feel extremely comfortable.
• The running shoe upper is applied with screen printing. This is the printing solution using INSQIN^® technology which is now used by world-leading manufacturers and brand owners. It provides a visual-haptic effect and improves the performance of design and manufacture.
• The Shoe tongue label with Chinese Character “聚”(jù) is applied using a TPU hot-melt film with good printability. 聚” means gather together, it demonstrates how well films of brand names Dureflex^® and Platilon^® adhere to textile materials with soft surface feel.
• Insoles made of viscoelastic PU foam effectively absorb mechanical loads.

About Covestro:

With 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,800 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2018.

Find more information at www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/covestro

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

At Booth D46 in Hall 13, material solutions for flexible medical electronic patches based on Platilon^® and Baymedix^® polyurethane materials will be presented, as well as new solutions for on-body drug delivery devices made of Makrolon^® polycarbonate and Bayblend^® blends.

A growth market: electronic patches

Electronic patches are already being used in many areas such as patient monitoring, and with the increasing digitization of healthcare, market demand for such products is growing rapidly.

In the field of flexible materials, applications such as electroencephalograms (EEG), maternity belts, blood pressure measuring tapes and individual electrocardiograms (ECG) are at the heart of the markets that Covestro is targeting. Covestro will therefore show prototypes made of its flexible integrated materials:

• Soft, breathable and stretchable Platilon^® films for outstanding patient comfort
• Printable substrates for printed electronics
• Skin- and application-friendly adhesive systems based on Baymedix^® materials
• Weldable foams based on Baymedix^® for safe use of electronics

Plastics for on-body equipment

In addition to flexible materials, Covestro also offers the ideal materials for wearables with hard covers that are required for mobile drug delivery devices or sensitive diagnostic devices, for example. Makrolon^® polycarbonate medical grades meet the requirements for excellent dimensional stability and outstanding mechanical properties and enable the development of safe, patient-friendly devices. Thanks to its high degree of transparency and good surface texture, Makrolon^® also provides a wide range of design options such as the integration of LED light guides. Polycarbonate blends such as Bayblend^® (PC+ABS blends) and Makroblend^® (PC+PBT blends) meet additional customer requirements.

Covestro expert Dr. Ulrike Lützow will give a lecture on "Wearable Housings: Material solutions between medicine and electronics" on November 19, 2019.

Innovative concept for wound prevention

Covestro will be presenting innovations in the field of wound management at Booth H30 in Hall 8b. The company has developed a design study for wound prevention that deals with the three most important factors for bedsore (decubitus): Pressure, friction and shear. A highly breathable prototype is being manufactured exclusively from polyurethane materials from Covestro.

The main features of this prototype wound prevention dressing made of Baymedix^® and Platilon^® materials are:

• Optimized friction, shear and pressure management
• Excellent moisture management to support a healthy microclimate
• Application- and skin-friendly polyurethane adhesive
• Efficient and sustainable manufacturing technology

Components based on these products help increase both cost and manufacturing efficiency by allowing roll-to-roll processing and inline production of all layers. During processing, thermoplastic welding of the edges is possible. Moreover, the process is energy-saving and environmentally compatible because production steps are reduced.

In the course of the Compamed Suppliers Forum Covestro expert Dr. Marc-Stephan Weiser will present the design study for focused wound prevention on November 20, 2019, at 3.30 pm in Hall 8b.

About Covestro:

With 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,800 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2018.

For more information please see www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/covestro

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Ultra-light cars with good aerodynamics and energy efficiency have the best chances for a good result in the solar race. The Sonnenwagen Team from Aachen spent two years fine-tuning the construction of their new speedster, paying particular attention to streamlined structures, smooth surfaces and feather-light materials.

Covestro is using the project to test different materials under the harsh climatic conditions of the track. In the Australian desert, temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius and intense UV radiation prevail in October. A high concentration of dust in the air is also typical for this time of year.

In the field test: car paint with bio-based hardener

The climatic conditions have above all an influence on the outer clear coat. The Covestro Sonnenwagen is furnished with a two-layer polyurethane car refinish paint system from PPG, one of the world's leading paint manufacturers with special expertise in automotive coatings. It imparts a smooth, high-gloss surface to the car body and resists the harsh climatic conditions. It is also well protected against scratches. The highlight here is the coating formulation with the bio-based hardener Desmodur^® eco N 7300 from Covestro. 70 percent of its carbon content comes from biomass, which reduces the ecological footprint by around 30 percent.

“Covestro and PPG have been working together in the field of coatings development for many years," says Markus Mechtel, Marketing Manager for Automotive Applications in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at Covestro. "With this joint development, both partners want to demonstrate how a coating can also make a contribution to sustainable mobility.” Ignasi Roig, Product Platform Manager Refinish in the EMEA region at PPG, adds: "The biobased hardener meets the sustainability standards of our customers as well as our own. It is a near-drop-in solution where the user does not have to compromise on the quality of the coating.”

Adhesive endurance test

A wide range of materials were used to make the new car lightweight, aerodynamic and robust – high-quality plastics as well as composites and metals. The best way to permanently bond such different substrates is by gluing them together. On the trip through the Australian outback, the most important thing is the permanently high quality of the adhesive bond to withstand the high temperatures, the dryness and last but not least the vibrations during the run.

For the Covestro Sonnenwagen, the Aachen team relies on two-component polyurethane adhesives from Sika Automotive, which are based on raw materials from Covestro's Desmodur^® and Desmophen^® ranges. The products from the SikaForce^® product range feature outstanding mechanical strength along with elasticity and stretchability. Further information can be obtained here.

About Covestro:

With 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,800 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2018.

Find more information at www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/covestro

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Visitors to the world’s premier fair for the plastics and rubber industry will find many examples of this presented by Covestro at Booth A75 in Hall 6. From October 16–23, 2019, products and technologies for the automotive, construction and electronics industries will be on display, but also innovative and functional applications in the health, furniture, sports and leisure sectors.

“In addition to the advancing digitalization, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be a driving force in society and the economy for the coming years,” said CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann to journalists. “Their fulfillment is not only imperative for a better, cleaner and healthier world, but also holds great economic potential in the long term,” explained the CEO. “Covestro is determined to realize the UN sustainability goals at many levels.”

Industry pioneer

Steilemann named the development of a functioning circular economy and improved management of limited fossil resources, primarily crude oil, as central points for increased sustainability. “These are goals that will impact society as a whole and Covestro wants to contribute to this. Within our company, we want to establish material cycles along the entire value chain, from suppliers, to production and logistics, to the use of our products and their reuse,” explained Steilemann.

When recycling used plastics, it will be important to be able to exhaust all technical possibilities. “The relatively new method of chemical recycling is also an option, which requires additional support,” said the CEO.

A key aspect for developing a circular economy in the plastics and chemical industry is closing the carbon cycle with recycled resources. Here, plant waste and increasingly CO₂ are worth considering as alternatives to fossil resources. Covestro has already achieved numerous successes in these areas. “We want to become a pioneer on the path toward a future without fossil-based resources and emphasize our claim to leadership in the industry,” stressed Steilemann.

Digitalization creates added value

Another driving force is the advancing digitalization. Covestro wants to take advantage of the resulting opportunities and has started a comprehensive program, which focuses on the customer. To accomplish this, the company is incorporating digital technologies and processes into production, the supply chain, research and development, at all customer contact points and in new business model development. Various topics and exhibits at K 2019 underline how important digitalization is for the company, which hopes to set standards in this field in the plastics and chemical industry.

The examples below give an impression of the wide range of developments that Covestro will present at K 2019.

Completely networked society

One important requirement for future mobility and the digitalization of all areas of life and business is the new transmission technology 5G. To build the infrastructure for it, Covestro is working together with Deutsche Telekom and the Umeå Institute of Design to develop innovative material solutions for base stations, antennas and other system components. Covestro is also working on a multi-layered film solution in conjunction with a new manufacturing process for the backs of smartphone bodies. Unlike conventional metal elements, these polycarbonate films are permeable to high-frequency radiation.

Auto interior of the future

The highlight of the trade show exhibit is a comprehensive interior concept for future mobility. In line with the latest trend, it intends to turn car interiors into multi-functional, mobile living and working spaces. “We developed the concept together with key industrial and academic partners,” explained Jochen Hardt, marketing expert at Covestro and head of the project. “It involves functionality, comfort and design in equal measure, as well as efficiency.” The car of the future is fully networked and is seamlessly integrated into everyday life. Key design features are surfaces with a decorative look and feel, integrated ambient lighting, the latest infotainment systems and cutting-edge seating concepts.

Textiles with CO₂

Together with partners such as RWTH Aachen University and various textile manufacturers, Covestro succeeded in producing elastic textile fibers from thermoplastic polyurethane with CO₂, and as a result partially replaced crude oil as the raw material. The starting point is an intermediate product called cardyon®, which is already used for the soft foam found in mattresses and the base layers of sports fields. The partners are currently working on developing production to industrial scale and want to introduce a material cycle that is based on sustainable resources to the textile and garment industry.

Renewable energies on the rise

In addition to promoting an efficient circular economy, Covestro is also committed to further expanding renewable energies, such as wind power. Cooperation with partners has led to the development of a polyurethane resin as well as a process technology, which makes it possible to manufacture wind turbine rotor blades efficiently and cost-effectively. The company just recently processed its first commercial order for this from China.

About Covestro:

With 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,800 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2018.

For more information please see www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/covestro

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports. These reports are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to make them conform to future events or developments.

Covestro shares the students’ enthusiasm and supports the project with different materials and technical service, and as the team’s main sponsor. The partners hope to demonstrate that concepts for the future of mobility are already possible today – taking into account aspects such as lightweight construction, electromobility and photovoltaics. At the European Coatings Show 2019 from March 19–21, Covestro will present the Sonnenwagen from the first race at its “City of Sustainnovation”, booth number 528 in hall 4A of NürnbergMesse.

Adhesive bonding is the best solution

The team that wants to be the first to cross the finish line in Adelaide will need a vehicle that is fast, and therefore lightweight. Different materials are used to build such a vehicle, including high-quality plastics as well as composite materials and metals. The best method for permanently fastening different substrates together is adhesive bonding; it is also a key technology in the automotive industry.

Joining the parts of a solar car by hand, however, has its own challenges. This includes preparing the surfaces as well as improving the adhesive strength of different substrate surfaces. The primary concern, however, is the lasting quality of the bond when the adhesive is dry. The Sonnenwagen will be subjected to extreme conditions on its journey through the Australian Outback: high temperatures, extreme aridity, but also constant and at times heavy vibrations will put the adhesive to the test.

The adhesive is tough

For its new solar car, the Sonnenwagen Team relies on two-component polyurethane adhesives from Sika Automotive, which are based on the polyurethane raw materials of the Desmodur^® and Desmophen^® product lines from Covestro. The products from the SikaForce^® product line feature excellent mechanical stability and flexibility. They are ideal for bonding complex parts, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, and are tailor-made for such ultra-lightweight, high-strength designs.

“Thanks to this adhesive, we were able to build this year’s Sonnenwagen in the shape we wanted,” says Severin Kobus, Co-Chairman of the Sonnenwagen Aachen team. “We used different adhesives – from flexible to highly elastic – in order to meet the requirements in terms of the design, components and substrates.”

Pascal Obringer, Global Head of Product Management at Sika Automotive, adds: “Polyurethane adhesives are a perfect fit for the innovative concepts of future mobility. The Sonnenwagen project is an ideal example of the role our adhesives can play in the future.”

The race is tough

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is considered the toughest solar race in the world and takes place in Australia every two years. Teams from around the world compete with self-constructed vehicles to be the fastest to overcome the more than 3,000-kilometer route from Darwin to Adelaide – powered only by solar energy.

About Covestro:

With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.

For more information please see www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/covestro

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

“In the exciting field of innovation and sustainability, the modern living environment of a city is also the conceptual framework for our presentation at the European Coatings Show 2019,” explains Michael Friede, global head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at Covestro. At booth number 528 in hall 4A, the company invites visitors to its “City of Sustainnovation” and presents current developments with raw materials for coatings and adhesives, some of them in close-to-production applications. “They are examples for specific applications, but they are also proof of the widespread interest by important industrial sectors,” adds Michael Friede.

In summary: “City of Sustainnovation” – Covestro’s booth motto at the European Coatings Show 2019 – promotes innovations for sustainable developments that are pushing boundaries. “In addition to water-based and other low-VOC coatings, we are focusing on bio-based raw materials and, for the first time, biodegradable products,” says Michael Hellemann Soerensen, head of Commercial Operations in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment in the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America region (EMEA/LATAM). Product safety and industrial hygiene play an important role, as does increasing the productivity of manufacturing processes.”

Ultra-low content of diisocyanate monomers

Covestro demonstrates applications of Desmodur^® ultra, using a coated fender as an example. This polyurethane hardener contains less than 0.1 percent by weight of free diisocyanate monomer, and thus complies with the guidelines of the current REACH restriction dossier for limiting the use of diisocyanate hardeners. With its ultra series, Covestro provides polyurethane hardeners whose content of rest monomers is below the new limit. Thus they improve work hygiene over earlier products.
Lecture on this topic: Joachim Petzoldt, ECS Conference, March 19, from 9:30 a.m.

New hardener for fast-drying water-based 2K furniture coatings

Solvent-based polyurethane systems account for around 40 percent of the global market for industrial wood and furniture coatings. On the contrary, water-based polyurethane coatings are the technology of choice when it comes to low-emission systems with high performance capability. Their longer drying times, however, are an obstacle to wider distribution.

Covestro is now launching the new Bayhydur^® quix 306-70 hydrophilic polyisocyanate hybrid hardener – the first of its kind, which will enable dual-component, water-based wood and furniture coatings with similar quick drying properties that are found in solvent-based systems. The pot life meets the requirements of the coatings industry.
Lecture on this topic: Eva Tejada, ECS Conference, March 19, from 2:00 p.m.

Pasquick^® technology with improved gloss retention

For several years, polyaspartate coatings with Pasquick^® technology have proven highly effective in providing steel structures and industrial plants with long-lasting corrosion protection. Thanks to the elimination of a coating step compared with the previous multi-layer composition, contractors can now save time and money and be more flexible. In addition, the coatings contain only a few volatile organic components (VOCs), and facilities can be put back into operation again quicker.

The new product Desmophen^® NH 1423, an amino-functional reaction partner for polyisocyanates, will be presented at the European Coatings Show. In coating formulas, it ensures improved gloss retention properties – for example, in large-surface applications such as sports arenas, wind farm towers and agricultural and construction machinery.
Lecture on this topic: Thomas Schüttler, podium speech, March 19, from 1:30 p.m., Hall 9.

Sonnenwagen: coating test under extreme conditions

A particular eye-catcher in the “City of Sustainnovation” is the Sonnenwagen from students at RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen. They designed the solar-powered electric race car themselves and in October 2017 they entered it in the world’s toughest solar car race: the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.

On the over 3,000-kilometer course, PPG’s polyurethane clear coat for car repairs was also tested, and Covestro’s bio-based hardener, Desmodur^® eco N 7300, was employed here. The coating held up well in the harsh climate of Australia. For this year’s race, the students want to build a new car and rank among the world’s elite. Covestro supports the project with various materials and technical service, and is also their main sponsor.

About Covestro:

With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.

For more information please see www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/covestro

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

The most technically challenging step in this process is bonding the outsole to the shoe upper. Covestro developed an efficient solution for this within a very short time. It is based on polyurethane raw materials for adhesives, which are applied to the outsole or upper by means of digital printing.

Digital printing of adhesives

For the application, ATOM Lab used a variation of the melt layer method (Fused Filament Fabrication, FFF, or Fused Deposition Modeling, FDM). This method uses strands of melt-processable adhesives – so-called filaments – which are melted. The molten adhesive is applied according to a digital print layout. The sole and upper are then joined under pressure. This creates a solid, permanent adhesive bond.

This application using adhesive filaments is quick and efficient. Furthermore, it is very precise and reproducible, and it is also well suited for absorbent substrates. Due to the use of solid filaments, for example, the subsequent drying process may be dispensed. The adhesive features a high initial strength. Since application takes place from the melt, the adhesive is already activated. If the open time is sufficiently long, the fabricator can dispense with prior heat activation. Thus, two process steps can be saved in total.

Broad experience in additive manufacturing

Covestro benefited from its experience in additive manufacturing with the technology and material solution developed on short notice. The company is involved in conventional printing methods and is currently developing a wide range of materials. Among these are filaments and raw materials for the FFF method, which so far has been used primarily in rapid prototyping.

Polyurethane adhesives have proven to be successful in shoe manufacturing. They are easy to process and result in flexible yet strong and durable adhesive joints with high impact resistance. Covestro offers a comprehensive range of raw materials for one- and two-component adhesives that are often developed in close collaboration with formulators.

About Covestro:

With 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 15,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2016.

For more information please see www.covestro.com.

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CovestroGroup

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

The new capacity is primarily needed to satisfy rising demand from the coatings and adhesives industry: manufacturers remain determined to replace solvent-based products with more sustainable waterborne systems that have equally good properties. Also driving the trend are regulations that require lower emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Leading in capacity and service

“With these investments, we are preparing for the continued growing demand for polyurethane dispersions as well as expanding our globally leading position,” says Michael Friede, global head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at Covestro. “At the same time, thanks to our diversified production, we have the flexibility to meet many different requirements.”

This diversity is also the key to the comprehensive line of polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) that Covestro offers. “Our custom-tailored products allow for many applications in very different industries,” Michael Friede explains. “In this way, we create opportunities for growth and strengthen our customers’ competitiveness.”

As the leading global supplier of PUDs, Covestro also holds a top position in research and development and in process technologies. The company provides technical service and support to customers worldwide.

Many different applications

Polyurethane dispersions can be used in a wide variety of applications. For example, products in the Bayhydrol^® UH, U and UV series and Bayhytherm^® are a component of base coats for automotive OEM and refinishing coatings, as well as a component of wood and furniture coatings and long-wearing floor coatings. Adhesives formulated with Dispercoll^® U are used in the production of furniture and shoes as well as in the automotive industry.

Under the name Impranil^®, the low-solvent raw materials also play an important role in the production of coated textiles and polyurethane synthetics. PUDs in the Baybond^® product line are used in the form of glass fiber sizings to produce robust plastic composites (glass-fiber-reinforced plastics). The film formers adhere very well to the fibers, but, in composites with thermoplastics, they are still elastic enough to ensure the necessary stability.

About Covestro:

With 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 15,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2016.

Find more information at www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CovestroGroup

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.