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.

To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

The goal was to enable the free distribution of multiple LEDs and sensors across a textile surface by creating a uniform conductive “potential field” within the material. This technology enables greater flexibility compared to conventional conductor tracks.

Creating a flexible conductive PU film using Impranil^®

To achieve the required combination of conductivity, elongation, and flexibility, FILK and OUT e.V. used water-based Impranil^® polyurethane dispersions from Covestro, creating a flexible conductive PU film into which carbon nanotubes were incorporated as electrically conductive additives.

Laser structuring of the conductive polymer surface allowed precise tuning of the electrical properties of the potential field, enabling LEDs and sensors to be distributed freely across the textile surface without traditional wiring. The active control of embedded LEDs through the integrated sensors supports real-time monitoring and bidirectional communication via modulated voltage or Bluetooth, depending on the application.

Dr. Martin Heise, Deputy Head of Department Functional Layer Systems at FILK Freiberg Institute, said: “Our goal was to rethink how electronics are integrated into textiles. By creating a conductive surface instead of fixed wiring using Impranil^® polyurethane dispersions from Covestro, we can distribute sensors and light sources far more freely, enabling new smart textile designs and applications.”

Dr. Iris Vela-Wallenschus, Project Manager at OUT e.V. noted: “Distributed electronics, real-time sensing, and bidirectional communication within a flexible textile substrate represent a meaningful step forward for wearable technology. Working with FILK and Covestro, we've shown that this kind of adaptive functionality is achievable at a level of sophistication that is difficult to achieve with conventional wiring approaches.”

Enabling a new generation of smart textiles

The result is a technology platform that combines conductive polymer materials, sensor integration, and intelligent control. This platform unlocks possibilities for new applications such as sensor-controlled newborn bodysuits for jaundice phototherapy. Current standard treatments for neonatal jaundice rely on blue light at approximately 455 nm in hospital incubators. A flexible bodysuit integrating blue LEDs and sensors directly into the garment could continuously monitor therapy progress and adjust light intensity and distribution in real time. This approach may contribute to the development of more flexible treatment options with the support of midwives.

Beyond this application, Impranil^® PUD-based formulations can be used in applications including heated textiles, pressure sensors, and flexible conductor tracks for wearable electronics. This system can also be adapted for scalable manufacturing processes such as digital printing, supporting broader adoption in industries including sportswear, automotive interiors, protective equipment, and connected IoT devices.

Dr. Torsten Pohl, Global Head of Textile Coatings at Covestro added: “This project highlights how material innovation can unlock new functionality in textiles. Our Impranil^® water-based polyurethane dispersions provided the flexibility, durability, and processability needed to turn a complex concept into a scalable smart textile platform. We're proud to have supported FILK and OUT e.V. in developing a system with real-world impact, from neonatal care through to the broader wearables market.”

To see what this flexible, conductive smart textile system looks like, visit Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt between April 21 and 24. A demonstrator of the sensor-controlled newborn bodysuit for jaundice phototherapy will be on display at the Covestro booth (C79) in hall 11.0.

Marquardt, a leading supplier of smart mechatronic systems for automotive applications, set out to address this challenge with its concept car, “The Centum”. A key objective in The Centum project was to develop a door interior panel that maintained the visual and haptic properties of polyurethane (PU)-coated textile synthetics commonly used in automotive interiors, while enabling a dynamic color-changing responsive display to be invisibly embedded within the surface. This functionality supports emerging trends such as backlit surfaces and integrated control elements.

To realize this vision, Marquardt partnered with E Ink, a leader in advanced display technology known for durability, low energy consumption, and suitability for demanding environments. The challenge was to integrate the functional display into the interior design in a way that preserved the premium appearance and performance of coated synthetic surfaces, while allowing the display’s colors to remain clearly visible.

After evaluating multiple approaches, Marquardt approached Covestro to develop a suitable material solution. Covestro textile coating experts worked closely with both partners to develop a fully transparent film based on INSQIN^® waterborne PU technology, with Impranil^® DLC-F as the foundation. Impranil^® DLC-F is a waterborne polyurethane dispersion widely used in topcoats for automotive interior textile coatings. The result is a transparent coated synthetic that retains the premium texture of automotive textiles while allowing the display’s dynamic colors to be fully visible, fulfilling the demanding performance requirements of automotive interiors.

Felix Hake, Head of Innovation at Marquardt said: “With The Centum, we wanted to demonstrate how intelligent functions can be integrated into interior surfaces without compromising design or quality. Working with E Ink and Covestro allowed us to create a material solution that combines a premium tactile experience with responsive visual effects.”

Dr. Torsten Pohl, Global Head of Textile Coatings at Covestro added: “This project highlights the versatility of INSQIN^® PU technology and Impranil^® DLC-F. By developing a transparent, automotive-grade PU coated synthetic compatible with E Ink displays, we were able to support Marquardt in integrating dynamic functionality into familiar surface materials.”

Pete Valianatos, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & FPL Platform Management at E Ink, noted: “Our e-paper display technology is designed to deliver dynamic visual experiences with low power consumption, while maintaining the robustness required for demanding applications. Collaborating with Marquardt and Covestro has enabled us to demonstrate how E Ink displays can be integrated behind coated interior surfaces, allowing automotive designers to introduce adaptive color features without changing the established look and feel of premium materials.”

To see what this responsive functional surface looks like, visit Techtextil 2026, held in Frankfurt between April 21 and 24. A door panel demonstrator will be on display at the Covestro booth C79 in hall 11.0.

The so-called People Mover, which will be tested on public roads this year at speeds of up to 50 km/h, is the result of a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union.

"The People Mover is more than just a vehicle – it's a showcase for the future of mobility," explains Jochen Hardt, Head of Global Marketing Mobility at Covestro. “It also vividly demonstrates the 'Material Effect,' for example in the 381cm large windshield made of polycarbonate. Additionally, we considered recycling during the design process and worked with three fully recyclable monomaterials Arfinio^®, TPU and Polycarbonate that can be found either in interior or exterior.”

Material Effects for the Major Trends in Mobility

The materials used in the People Mover demonstrate Covestro's Material Effects and include, for example, Makrolon^® AG for the 381cm panoramic glazing. Covestro can offer this innovative polycarbonate solution based on mass-balanced raw materials from post-consumer waste.

For the autonomous driving systems, opaque but sensor-transparent Makrolon^® AX ST is used for multi-sensor system covers. This innovative solution enables seamless and invisible integration of sensor technology while providing resistance to vandalism and stone impacts.

In the interior, the lightweight, high-quality, and fully recyclable monomaterial Arfinio^® is used in a vehicle for the first time. The material combines a stone-like appearance and feel with high resistance to mechanical stress, UV radiation, and wear.

A consistent monomaterial approach with recycling in mind was also pursued for the seat upholstery. Printed TPU-based solutions made of Desmopan^® AIR provide high seating comfort combined with high abrasion resistance and easy cleaning – a crucial factor for vehicles in continuous public transit operation.

Monomaterials Facilitate Recycling

The use of monomaterials also facilitates recycling at the end of the lifecycle and supports SUE's claim to consider sustainability not only in the propulsion system but throughout the entire vehicle architecture.

"With SUE, we pursued a user- and design-centered approach from the beginning," says Alexander Uedelhoven, founder and project manager of SUE and authorized signatory at UE | STUDIOS. "We wanted to develop not just a technologically advanced vehicle, but one optimally aligned with passenger needs in terms of service, information, ergonomics, and aesthetics. The materials and extensive technical expertise from Covestro gave us the freedom to implement this vision without compromises."

The project was realized in collaboration with renowned partners, including the Institute for Automotive Engineering of the Lower Saxony Research Centre for Automotive Technology (NFF), TÜV Nord, the Fraunhofer Institute EMFT, and Deutsche Bahn (DB Regio).

As initiator, project manager and vehicle manufacturer, UE | STUDIOS are responsible for the overall concept, complete development, design and production of the SUE People Mover.

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

At the same time, according to the review process of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), conventional antimicrobial silver technologies face the challenge of meeting the requirements of the BPR due to concerns over potential harm to human, animal, and ecological health. Many are now set to be phased out in the years ahead.

To address the demand for more sustainable antimicrobial surface coatings, Heraeus Precious Metals created AGXX: a system that eliminates a wide range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses without releasing harmful silver-ion components. AGXX works due to a catalytic reaction of two precious metals that converts oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) using moisture derived from air humidity. These ROS eliminate microbes by disrupting their outer cell membranes, organelles, and DNA.

Martin Danz, Global Head of Antimicrobial Technologies at Heraeus Precious Metals said: “AGXX is skin-friendly,* BPR-compliant, and suitable for a wide range of applications. Results from our joint tests with Covestro now show that AGXX can be combined with Impranil^® PU dispersions to add long-lasting antimicrobial properties to textile coatings for synthetic materials.”

Tests also revealed that incorporating AGXX with INSQIN^® textile coatings technology from Covestro does not impact manufacturing processes. “We found that AGXX could be mixed with our Impranil^® products without dulling the performance or properties of either solution or requiring any changes to manufacturing processes for coated textiles,” said Dr. Torsten Pohl, Global Head of Textile Coatings at Covestro. “When combined with AGXX, our INSQIN^® technology maintains its cleanability, flexibility, and ability to withstand usage over long periods. For textile coating manufacturers, this tried-and-tested guide formulation offers a fast and effective way to infuse their coatings with safer and more sustainable antimicrobial properties and still gain the sustainability improvements of our low-VOC waterborne PU dispersions.”

With demand for hygienic, reliable, BPR-regulation-compliant, and safer textile coatings expected to increase, the combination of AGXX and INSQIN^® technology will enable textile manufacturers to quickly adapt to the rapidly evolving needs of the sharing economy.

To see how the combined guide formulation works in real-world applications, visit Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt from April 21 to 24, 2026. Items coated with AGXX and Impranil^® will be on display at the Covestro booth.

*Tested by bio compatibility test according to ISO 10993-5

About Heraeus Precious Metals
Heraeus Precious Metals is globally leading in the precious metals industry. The company is part of the Heraeus Group and covers the value chain from trading to precious metals products to refining and recycling. It has extensive expertise in all platinum group metals as well as gold and silver.

With more than 3,000 employees at 16 sites worldwide, Heraeus Precious Metals offers a broad portfolio of products that are essential for many industries such as the automotive, chemicals, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, hydrogen and jewelry industry. Find more information on the Heraeus Precious Metals website. www.heraeus-precious-metals.com

The integration of the Imagio^® material database into Autodesk's VRED, one of the world's leading design platforms for cars and other transportation vehicles such as aircraft or rail vehicles, provides designers worldwide with immediate access to photorealistic representations of color, gloss, transparency, translucency, or surface texture of the versatile polycarbonate materials of Covestro.

"The integration of our digital sample library into Autodesk VRED is a milestone for both partners," says Dr. Tobias Rausch, Business Development Manager for Digital Sampling in the Engineering Plastics Business Entity at Covestro. "We are effectively lowering the entry barrier to our material world for designers of vehicles and auto parts. They can now easily find our polycarbonate materials and their many facets and try them out realistically for their application with just a few clicks. This saves a series of iterations and thus time, money, and emissions associated with transport and sample production."

Higher Efficiency and Precision in Design

The time saved is a crucial advantage in an industry like automotive, where development cycles are becoming shorter and efficiency in the design process is increasingly important. The ability to easily experiment with photorealistic effects and surface structures that can be applied to the respective application via drag-and-drop is a major advantage. Unlike physical samples, this approach also leaves less room for interpretation and thus errors, which has always existed when transferring properties from a sample to the final application.

"The integration of Imagio^® significantly expands the potential of our design portfolio and helps our users enormously," explains Marek Trawny, Director of Product Management - Automotive & Conceptual Design at Autodesk VRED. "In a time when speed and precision in the design process are crucial, photorealistic digital material twins offer our users a decisive advantage. Designers can now immediately and accurately see how polycarbonate materials will look in their designs. This aids decision-making and fuels creativity."

Up next: Mechanical Properties or Weathering Simulations

Autodesk is one of the main providers of design software for the automotive industry and is used by leading manufacturers. The exclusive presence of Covestro in this digital design tool, where design and material decisions are made, is a strategic milestone for both companies. Future functionalities are planned, such as connections to simulation tools for mechanical properties, rheology, or weathering simulations. This will allow designers to simulate how materials behave after years of exposure to sun and rain and visualize the resulting changes in appearance.

The Imagio^® integration is available with Autodesk VRED Professional 2026.1. Users need an Imagio^® account, which is available for business customers and public organizations. For users of other visualization platforms, Imagio^® remains accessible through its web interface, offering the same comprehensive material library with downloadable AxF files compatible with most leading rendering software programs.

Covestro at K 2025

This project also underlines "The Material Effect" – the guiding concept of the presence of Covestro at this year's K trade fair in Düsseldorf. At stand A75 in hall 6, Covestro will place special emphasis on progress and innovations in the areas of sustainable future, automotive, electronics, healthcare, sports and leisure.

https://www.autodesk.com/products/vred/overview
Imagio Color Finder
https://solutions.covestro.com/en/highlights/articles/cases/2025/digital-material-twins-for-automotive-design

The competition, which will be contested by university undergraduates from the UK and Ireland, is asking students to design a product, made primarily from plastics, which will promote or monitor either physical or mental health.

Chairman of DIP, Martin Sixsmith, said that with increased focus on the self-care agenda, the 2025 theme offers an exciting opportunity for creating a product which can seamlessly integrate into daily life and which can help all age groups.

“This is a subject which resonates with many people and it therefore offers a huge amount of scope for students to showcase their creative talents for the benefit of others,“ he said. “We are very much looking forward to seeing their end product!“

Students will need to submit their entries by March 14, when DIP’s panel of industry judges will whittle the submissions down to a final six. Final judging will take place in London on May 9, with the award ceremony on June 20.

Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running plastics competition of its kind in Europe, having been established in 1985. It is supported by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, the Worshipful Company of Horners and sponsored by leading design and plastics organisations, including Covestro.

Notes to editors 

1. Established in 1985, Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running student plastics design award in Europe. For more information visit www.designinnovationplastics.org.

2. The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a major UK engineering institution and is the professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia, the public and the professions. For more information visit www.iom3.org.

3. The Worshipful Company of Horners is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London, formed to regulate the horn-working trade. In 1943 it adopted its modern equivalent, the plastics industry. For more information visit www.horners.org.uk.

4. Headline industry sponsor – Covestro

The first prize went to Isabel Payne, a Product Design Engineering student from the Glasgow School of Art. She created ‘SafiCase’ – a device for cleaning and steam sterilising re-usable menstrual cups using minimal water. The case is entirely self-powered, using a solar battery for the sterilising circuit. It is targeted at women who want something to use when they are nowhere near an electricity source or any running water. It is collapsible, so can be carried easily.

Chairman of judges, Richard Brown, said: “This is a great solution to safely clean a menstrual cup without power and to maintain hygiene. This product uniquely addresses the off-grid challenge and meets a very clear social need, not just for the traveller, but also, for example, displaced people. It was very well researched and is a worthy winner with a product idea that could be commercialised.”

Isabel said: “It means such a lot to have a platform for dealing with the issue of period poverty, which is rarely spoken about, despite affecting so many people worldwide and around 40 per cent of women in the UK. I hope this design helps bring awareness for reusable options and helps other people decide to invest time in designing more solutions, as there is very little innovation in this area.”

The judges awarded second place to Jake Lee (Product Design Engineering), also of Glasgow School of Art, for his product ‘SkinTemp’, a cold-water temperature sensor that alerts users to dangerous drops in body temperature. In third place was Glasgow School of Art’s Jem Mitchell, also a Product Design Engineering student, who produced ‘Sentree’, a solar powered sonic deterrent that protects trees from being overgrazed by animals such as deer.

Notes to editors
Established in 1985, Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running student plastics design award in Europe. For more information visit www.designinnovationplastics.org.

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a major UK engineering institution and is the professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia, the public and the professions. For more information visit www.iom3.org.

The Worshipful Company of Horners is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London, formed to regulate the horn-working trade. In 1943 it adopted its modern equivalent, the plastics industry. For more information visit www.horners.org.uk.

Although less associated with the chemical industry or the circular economy, design plays a key role in enabling circularity through various means. It offers a huge opportunity for providers of sustainable and high-performance materials like Covestro to bring in their expertise.

“The design phase determines a large part of a product’s environmental impact: From the choice of materials to repairability, from a long and useful product life to recyclability. We therefore can’t understate the topic of design when we want to become fully circular,” explains Dr. Christopher Stillings, Head of Color & Design at the Business Entity Engineering Plastics within Covestro. “As materials experts early in the value chain, we at Covestro sit in the sweet spot to consult our customers and partners on how to use circular design principles when conceiving a product. We want to systematically collaborate with designers to make use of that.“

Gaining momentum

And while product design is not new, a shift is indeed happening - also due to regulators placing increasing emphasis on the topic. For example, the EU is tightening its requirements for environmentally friendly product designs, and approved new rules to make products sold in the EU more reusable, repairable, upgradeable and recyclable. There is also a proposal for a DIN “Method to achieve circular design of products” on its way. In the USA, the Department of Energy is pursuing its “Strategy for Plastics Innovation”, which also includes the factor of “Recyclability by design”. Other regulatory bodies are discussing similar initiatives.

To use that momentum, Covestro offers solutions in several main areas:

• Dematerialization, e.g. by digitalizing sampling processes. Covestro recently announced its new IMAGIO^® CQ digital sampling tool for that purpose.
• Design for longevity. This is bread and butter for a high-performance materials manufacturer that provides materials e.g. for products for cars, buildings or the cold chain that have a lifetime of several decades.
• Modular design makes it easier to disassemble products and recycle the parts.
• The use of circular raw materials with a low emission footprint make products made of such material more circular to begin with.

The push for circular design is getting stronger and Covestro is addressing the topic on various fronts. In fact, it has been addressing the topic for decades already and can build on that expertise. The K67, a car entirely made of plastics made for the K-fair back in 1967, is just one example.

The award is presented by the "German Design Council." Candidates submit projects that have been launched on the market no longer than five years ago, but they can also be nominated by the council. The evaluation is carried out by an independent, interdisciplinary expert jury. The award ceremony took place on May 14 in front of around 300 invited guests at the Futurium in Berlin.

"We are very pleased that the German Design Council has honored us with this award," said Joan Miquel García Martínez, Senior Project Manager Arfinio^® at Covestro. "Arfinio^® is a real breakthrough for design, surfaces, and sustainability. This award shows the relevance of combining design, manufacturing technology, and materials for the development of new products and confirms that we are on the right track."

The Arfinio^® technology, which Covestro has developed together with its partner Arcesso, a manufacturer of custom polyurethane parts, combines liquid high-performance polymers and unique minerals with the RIM process (reaction injection molding). This combination enables seamless shapes and surfaces – and was long considered impossible. The resulting products are durable, repairable, and lightweight, can be produced quickly, and allow for free designs. The material also contributes to sustainability as it can be produced with partially bio-based raw materials, can be mechanically recycled at the end of its life cycle, and reused for the production of new products.

Dr. Christopher Stillings, Vice President and Global Head of Color & Design in the Engineering Plastics segment, offers support to designers: "Covestro is not only a pioneer in the research and development of material technologies, but also has strong color and design teams worldwide. Our collaboration with RAL highlights the precision that our polycarbonate materials offer for color matching and the leading expertise of our color and CMF experts. Together, we are setting standards." The project is another example of the company's commitment to developing solutions and services in the CMF (Color, Material, Finish) design field.

"RAL offers professional color charts for the industrial design sector, which requires the highest level of color accuracy," says Markus Frentrop, Global Head of RAL Colours. "With the color matrix and RAL Trendbox, we offer designers a comprehensive color and material approach as part of our continued collaboration." The 15 trend colors in the RAL Trendbox are each available as D6 single sheets, plastic color samples, powder-coated metal sheets and designed textile surfaces. They can also be combined with each other. "The color effects between the different material types are precisely coordinated by RAL and the cooperation partners," says Markus Frentrop.

To ensure accurate and fast color matching, Covestro's Color and Design Centers in Italy, Thailand, India and China worked together with RAL on solutions and were able to complete the precise matching of the 15 trend colors in a short time. Covestro also uses the RAL color codes in its CMF trend reports for the automotive, electronics and appliance industries.

Live presentation on September 28, 2023

On September 28, 2023, at 11 a.m. RAL plans to inform the public about the RAL COLOUR FEELING 2025+ Trend Report and the RAL Trendbox. The presentation will be broadcast live from the Covestro Campus building in Leverkusen via its channels at the following link: https://go.covestro.net/ralstreamenglish

"With our multi-layered campaign, we are pursuing the goal of establishing contacts with many partners to advance the industry on its path to climate neutrality and the circular economy," explains Dr. Christian Haessler, one of the two project managers for K 2022 at Covestro. "This communicative 360° approach was also expressed in the motto of our appearance at K 2022, 'Crafting Connections With You'." The Red Dot label has established itself internationally as one of the most coveted seals of quality for good design.

Rüdiger Maeßen, CEO Europe at Uniplan, is equally positive: "The good co-creative collaboration and the innovative concept were fundamental to the success of this holistic campaign. Together with Covestro, we have driven the circular economy agenda in the industry by creating an authentic exchange on multiple channels. Therefore, we are even more pleased that the sustainable campaign approach not only convinced the global target audience, but also the jury of the Red Dot Award."

Creating connections with digital platform

In order to connect with target groups around the world at an early stage and offer them a holistic, long-term experience as a "home base," Covestro and Uniplan designed a digital event platform called "SPACE." It went live several months before the start of the trade show and provided information about planned activities at the booth and the company's major highlight topics:

• Crafting Circular Economy
• Crafting Electrification
• Crafting Sustainable Living
• Crafting Smart Designs

A stage for current trends

These Topic Clusters also formed the basis for the second pillar – the integrated STAGE booth concept. As the other Covestro project manager Dr. Christopher Stillings explains, "Not only the exhibits and topic clusters, but also the wide-ranging lecture program in the central Talks Arena were tailored to these topics. Inspiring guests from well-known companies and universities – all actors in their respective fields – captivated the audience with keynotes on current trends and technologies and during panel discussions. Not only booth visitors participated, but also viewers around the world who followed the live broadcasts via social media."

Another highlight is the Color Material Finish (CMF) Sample Library, a collection of plastic samples that makes materials visible and tangible. Part of Uniplan´s and Covestro's STAGE concept is that the booth – or parts of it – can be used repeatedly for further exhibitions. Sustainability aspects and the reduction of CO₂ emissions were also at the forefront in the selection of materials for the trade show appearance itself. The success proves both partners right: Thus, the quality of contacts was significantly improved compared to K 2019, and a positive response developed both externally and internally over a longer period of time.

Innovators in the spotlight

While innovative developments are showcased and (hopefully) get the attention they deserve, the researchers behind them are often not visible. In the video series "Meet The Innovators" Covestro gives a voice to some of them and their inventions – see the blog post. They were introduced to a larger audience at K 2022, but prominent guests continue to discuss important innovations and technologies in the "Meet The Innovators" livestream series.

Many inspiring encounters at K 2022 have already led to a large number of new partnerships, technologies and material solutions. They form a valuable basis for developments that Covestro plans to showcase at the next major trade show appearance at K 2025. The company's motto may be different then – but the message remains that partnerships are the key to achieving a climate-neutral and circular economy: "Crafting Connections With You".

A Red Dot Award rarely comes alone

Back in May 2023, Covestro and its partner Accesso Dynamics were honored with an award offered by Red Dot and Koelnmesse. At the furniture supplier trade show interzum 2023, they received the "Best of the Best" interzum Award for their Arfinio^® technology. This technology, first presented at K 2022, enables products with complex but seamless shapes. The development also contributes to sustainability, as the products are partly made from bio-based raw materials, are repairable and can be mechanically recycled at the end of their useful life.

Covestro and Uniplan were also nominated for the Heavent Award in the "Forum, Summit, Congress, Fair Award" category for their communication concept for K 2022. A total of 132 projects from event, experimental and live marketing agencies as well as companies and trade fair and congress organizers were submitted for this year's event competition.

The façade of the Texoversum is just one example of a brand new technology that could completely revolutionize the construction industry. The sophisticated structure was designed on the computer and is based on carbon fibers wound by robots. Similar to networks in nature, for example in spider webs, beetle wings or palm leaves, the fiber structures are also very lightweight, but at the same time highly resilient, and require very little material. This not only saves resources, but also facilitates transport and assembly of the components.

The co-inventor of the innovative technology is architect Prof. Moritz Dörstelmann, whose company FibR also realized the façade of the Texoversum: "In contrast to conventional steel and concrete structures, we are able to get by with a minimum of material, because the robots only process as many fibers as are needed for the strength of the respective structure. As a result, we also save large amounts of CO₂ emissions." Dörstelmann also sees advantageous applications for the technology in roof structures, supports and, not least, interior fittings.

The necessary strength and durability of the composite is provided by Covestro's aliphatic polyurethane resin system Desmocomp^®, in which the fibers are embedded as if in a matrix. "The resin is highly resistant to weathering and the sun's high-energy UV radiation, making it very suitable for outdoor applications," explains Pejman Norastehfar, architect and specialist for construction applications in Covestro's Coatings and Adhesives segment. “Other plus points in the construction sector are its excellent chemical and flame resistance.”

In the Texoversum, the spun façade performs several important functions at once: it gives the building a unique look and stabilizes the surrounding balconies. It also serves as a railing and provides the necessary shade for the glass front behind it.

The building provides approximately 3,000 square meters of space for workshops, laboratories, a textile collection, think tank space and classrooms. The costs for the construction of the Texoversum amounting to 18.5 million euros were borne by the employers' association Südwesttextil, whose members include FibR GmbH in Kernen, east of Stuttgart.

DIP, also supported by The Worshipful Company of Horners, and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), is the longest running plastics design competition of its kind for university undergraduates in the UK and Ireland. This year’s contestants were asked to design a product for the kitchen or bathroom. 

A third year product design undergraduate, Chris takes away the first prize of £1,000, plus a placement or course with a DIP sponsor, a year’s membership of IOM3 and an invitation to the Lord Mayor’s Banquet as a guest of the Worshipful Company of Horners. 

Chris’ winning product is ‘Flossie’, a teeth cleaning device which allows people with hand deterity conditions to floss their teeth more easily. It utilises flossing sticks and a specially designed gripping handle. He used a combination of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), polyurethane and polypropylene for the different components of his product. 

Chairman of the judging panel, Richard Brown, said: "This is a great product which is inspired by a real life challenge. We were impressed not just by the clever design, but by the user testing carried out by Chris, to show how it can help people with lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination. He also gave us a detailed analysis of manufacturing ideas and costs, as well as considering its marketing." 

Chris said the inspiration for his product came from wanting to help his brother, who has cerebral palsy in his right hand and said he was very proud that other people also liked his idea. "It is a real honour to be recognised in this competition," he said. "I definitely want to work with materials and mechanisms in the future, as designing for usability really excites me." 

The judges awarded second place to Kyle Farquhar, Edinburgh Napier University, with his product ‘PlateMate’, a foldable plate which shows children how to create a variety of Mexican and other international dishes in a more fun way. In third place came Scott Rutherford, also from Edinburgh Napier, with his ‘Rotary Bottle Opener’, which helps people with hand weaknesses to open twist top bottles more easily. 

Highly Commended Awards go to:

• Freddy Blake, Bournemouth University, with ‘Bubble Buddy‘, a bathroom soap dispenser and hand wash device in one package, which makes hand washing more fun for children. 
• Teresa Zheng, Loughborough University, with ‘Sianel‘, a portable shelf which enables people to change their colostomy bags more easily.

A sixth student, James Forrest-Smith, has received the inaugural Robin Jones Award. Robin was a key member of the DIP committee who sadly died last year. A tutor at London South Bank University, he always passionately shared his presentation expertise to the finalists to help them showcase their products in the best possible way. This award therefore recognises both the skill in achieving this as well as the quality of the design. 

James, from Northumbria University, created ‘STEPA‘ a fully adjustable stool for children to use in the kitchen, encouraging them to get involved in kitchen activities. 

All this year’s award candidates receive cash prizes along with placements or industrial courses and a year’s membership of IOM3. 

DIP is also supported by work placement sponsors, Brightworks, Innovate Product Design, PDD and Sumitomo Demag, along with media partners, British Plastics & Rubber, Mould Technology and Materials World. 

Arfinio^® combines high-performance liquid polymers and unique minerals with reaction-based injection molding (RIM), a combination previously considered impossible. The technology produces truly seamless shapes without requiring sheets, and combines the key benefits of aliphatic chemistry, injection molding, and solid surfaces: mechanical resistance, light-stability, and repairability alongside low product weight, quick production, and improved design freedom. It therefore enables manufacturers to integrate complex shapes and functional performance in new and dynamic ways. The material also contributes to improved sustainability. It can be made with partially bio-based raw materials and, at the end of its lifetime, it can be milled and reintroduced into new products.

Joan Miquel García Martínez, Senior Project Manager Arfinio^® at Covestro: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this distinction by Koelnmesse and Red Dot. Our work with Arcesso to bring this technology to the market has seen us deliver a breakthrough solution that redefines design freedom in solid-surface materials. This award is yet more motivation for us to keep innovating new, game-changing solutions to help shape a materials future that supports people and planet alike.”

Mr Brown said the students had worked hard to tackle the brief to design an item for the bathroom or kitchen which might meet the needs of the young or the elderly or those with disabilities – an area where there are already many products on the market.

ʺThis made it a challenging brief and the finalists have done well to raise the awareness of the judges in some of the areas they have addressed,ʺ he commented. ʺOur finalists have all been provided with feedback and guidance to help them refine their products before they present them at the final judging stage.ʺ

As well as five finalists, another student has been chosen to receive a new award. This year it was decided to introduce an additional category for an entry which did not quite make the final cut, but which still recognises the talent which has gone into creating an innovative product or design. The category has been named ‘The Robin Jones Award’ in memory of a former DIP committee member who sadly passed away last year.

All the finalists, along with the recipient of the Robin Jones Award, have been invited to attend a training course provided by a new DIP industry sponsor Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, which will give them the opportunity to take on board new ideas as they finesse their products.

The six students are:
• Frederick Blake (Bournemouth University): ‘Bubble Buddy’
• Kyle Farquhar (Edinburgh Napier University): ‘Plate Mate’
• James Forrest-Smith (Northumbria University): ‘Kitchen Helper’
• Christopher Kenny (TU Dublin): ‘Flossie’
• Scott Rutherford (Edinburgh Napier University): ‘Rotary Bottle Opener’
• Teresa Zheng (Loughborough University): ‘Pocket Operation Panel’

Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running plastics competition of its kind in Europe, having been established in 1985. It is supported by the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, the Worshipful Company of Horners and sponsored by leading design and plastics organisations, including Covestro, which is the headline industry sponsor.

The finalists will be presenting their products to the judges at an all-day session in London on May 26. The final result will be announced at a ceremony in London on July 7.

The exhibition will be hosted at Superstudio Più by Materially, a consultancy firm that helps companies develop and spread innovation and sustainability based on materials. Wonder Matter(s) aims to explore wonder through a sensory, exploratory and narrative journey, while deepening the qualities of materials with competence, rationality and concreteness.

The Impossible

In the playground designed by Materially, the centerpiece of Wonder Matter(s), Covestro will present "The Impossible" installation dedicated to Arfinio^®. This revolutionary material is the result of a new technology that combines high-performance liquid polymers and unique minerals with reaction-based injection molding. It is a lightweight and durable solid surface material that allows complex projects to be completed easily and quickly in a single operation, and can be easily repaired and recycled.

Arfinio^® combines the advantages of aliphatic polyurethane chemistry with those of reaction injection molding and solid surfaces: a combination that was considered unfeasible for decades, but is now a reality thanks to Covestro and its partner Arcesso Dynamics, resulting in Wonder Matter(s). The exhibition shows in practical terms what it means today to invent and give shape to something that did not exist before: The Impossible.

Unexpected Green Forest

Unexpected Green Forest is the name of Covestro’s exhibition dedicated to the unique polycarbonates manufactured with renewable raw materials. This material surprisingly creates a real forest within Wonder Matter(S) in which the plastic proves to be circular, recyclable and durable. It is Makrolon^® RE, a renewable polycarbonate made with raw materials derived from organic waste rather than fossil fuels. Thanks to this origin and its inherent properties, the plastic supports sustainability goals and offers enormous creative possibilities in terms of color, shape and decoration, allowing the creation of monomaterial or modular, reusable and long-lasting objects and projects.

A Selfie Garden

Selfie Garden, the playful installation by Covestro and its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), offers a memorable backdrop for a souvenir photo. TPU from Covestro has a broad performance spectrum, which includes a high level of flexibility over а wide array of temperatures. It also covers an extensive structural range, from hard and rigid, to soft and elastic, making it an excellent material for single-material design. Its high degree of adaptability and multiple application opportunities are the inspiration for this imaginary garden – ideal for framing a lasting memory at Milan Design Week.

With this installation, MM Design, in cooperation with Covestro, offers an informative and experiential space to all visitors who want to interact with innovative materials, surfaces and colors. MM Design will present the new digital library mathub, which aims to consider product design not only as a formal approach, but also as a way to imagine innovative scenarios starting from carefully selected materials. Mathub provides the opportunity to offer the most suitable, safe and sustainable materials, as well as an extensive network of suppliers who can carry out customized processes for new combinations of materials. Visitors can also take part in guided tours at certain times.

Living, lifestyle, mobility

With Design Sprouts Material, Covestro unfolds the range of its high-tech polymers and tells the story of their relationship with finished products, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the different areas where these products can be found: Home, Lifestyle and Mobility. For each product, the journey from idea to material to finished object is vividly explained in a story to capture the essence of the design process.

In the Lifestyle section is the CMF (Color, Material, Finish) section, which describes how the combined consideration of colors, materials and finishes determines the experience everyone has with the design objects they choose and use every day. This new design approach, which focuses on the sensory perception of material and object, is a reference point for the activities of the Color & Design Center, an international research center for color located in the heart of Covestro's Italian plant in Filago.

To explain what the CMF approach means for design, Covestro will present its Aesthetic Configurator, a digital tool that allows experimentation with infinite combinations of colors, materials and surfaces, as part of Design Sprouts Material. Featured objects include the Fairphone 4 smartphone, shoes and fashion accessories, truck tarps that can be recycled into other objects, and an innovative model of a wearable smartwatch, all based on Covestro's Desmopan^® thermoplastic polyurethane.

The Mobility area is dedicated to materials and projects for vehicle interiors, an area that is developing extraordinarily in view of the transition to autonomous driving: In the future, the passenger compartment will become a living room on wheels, where comfort and the appearance of details and colors will become increasingly important. The polycarbonates of the Makrolon^® range and the polycarbonate films of the Makrofol^® range from Covestro are playing a leading role in this context, thanks to their exceptional versatility and ability to transmit radiation, both in terms of illumination and the flow of information from the outside to the inside of the vehicle. Covestro's thermoplastics are also protagonists in applications related to the electric car of the present and future, especially wallboxes, charging stations and examples of improved surfaces for data exchange in the residential and automotive sectors.

The Interior Furnishings area, on the other hand, will showcase examples of products made with innovative solutions from Covestro, such as the recyclable monomaterial carpet made from Niaga^®. It will be complemented in the Interior Garden area by a design chair and sink made from Arfinio^®. This is a revolutionary material and innovative technology that for the first time allows the use of aliphatic polyurethanes in injection molding (RIM). It allows the production of objects of any shape in a single production step, with clear advantages in terms of lightness, resistance and maintenance compared to other solid surfaces.

The research project, called NALYSES, started in October 2022, is designed to last three years and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)¹. Miele is also involved in the project as an associated partner in order to evaluate the transferability of the results to the production of household appliances.

Modern materials such as the plastic polycarbonate fulfill important requirements in the development and design of today's headlights, including the transparent cover of such lighting systems. However, they also play an important role when it comes to their reuse, remanufacturing or end-of-life material recycling. Current developments are also aimed at a more sustainable raw material base.

"The focus of our involvement in this pioneering project is the design of a materials and recycling strategy. We have extensive expertise in this area," explains Jan Helmig, Global Technical Marketing Manager Lighting and Project Manager for NALYSES at Covestro. "As part of the new project, we want to work with partners to develop a near-series solution that incorporates the entire product cycle."

Simplified recycling by focusing on one plastic

A few years ago, Covestro already presented a visionary headlamp concept for the vehicle lighting of the future. The modular approach is based on different types of polycarbonate and reduces assembly steps, space requirements, costs – and CO₂ emissions, as the weight of the prototype can be reduced by up to 1.5 kilograms compared to conventional solutions. The key, however, is focusing on one plastic, as this can reduce the labor required to separate, sort and store it in recycling streams without sacrificing performance.

Covestro also offers more sustainable polycarbonate grades. These Makrolon^® RE products are climate neutral² from cradle to Covestro´s factory gate, thanks to the use of renewable electricity for its own production processes and the introduction of raw materials derived from mass-balanced biowaste and residues.

In the future, lighting systems are to be designed in such a way that they can be recycled at the highest possible value-added level. This also includes the reuse of entire assemblies. As part of the NALYSES project, Covestro is supporting these developments, including the evaluation of technologies for materials recycling. The company is also responsible for characterizing and optimizing material properties and is working to extend the service life of headlights with the help of suitable materials.

Digital twin

The new project looks at the entire value chain from raw materials to design and overall system requirements, as defined by car manufacturers such as BMW. The development and analysis of a digital twin ensures the assessment of recyclability and carbon footprint at any stage of the development process. In this way, less sustainable developments can be avoided even before design and production.

_{¹ Funding measure on "Towards sustainable mobility through circular value creation (MobilKreis)", funding code: 02J21E105. The abbreviation NALYSES stands for the German translation of "Sustainability-Optimized Life Cycle Assessment of Technologically Highly Complex Products Using the Example of Automotive Lighting".}

_{² The "climate neutral" rating is the result of an assessment of a subsection of the entire product life cycle. The section from resource extraction (cradle) to Covestro's factory gate, including biogenic carbon uptake, was considered. The assessment is based on ISO standard 14040 and was critically reviewed for plausibility by TÜV Rheinland.}

Students must submit their projects by March 26, when a panel of industry judges will scrutinise the entries and choose six finalists.

Chairman of DIP, Martin Sixsmith, said: "There is a great deal of scope to come up with something which could help anyone from children to the elderly or disabled, as well as dealing with issues such as accessibility or the lack of space in either the kitchen or the bathroom. The judges will also be looking very closely at how the designs maximise lifespan and sustainability. We’re very much looking forward to seeing what materialises from this brief."

"Plastics are a must to drive the shared global vision of the circular economy and achieve climate neutrality. At K 2022, we want to highlight the huge potential of these advanced materials to solve global challenges and showcase promising developments," says CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann. "The show will also play an important role in bringing together partners in the value chains and from other sectors. The task now is to move forward together with rapid, major steps toward implementation."

Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer, adds: "We have set ourselves ambitious targets and want to become carbon neutral by 2035 for CO₂ emissions from our operations and renewable energy supply, so that our customers can achieve their climate and sustainability goals. To achieve this, we are relying on close cooperations with them and many other partners," says Govil. "At the show, we will be showcasing innovative products and solutions from the fields of alternative raw materials, innovative recycling and renewable energies that pave the way to full circularity at Covestro."

Covestro will use K 2022 from October 19-26 for a multimedia appearance to network: At the booth, an exciting program of talks will be streamed live throughout in the "Talk Arena" with prominent guests. The Backstage area is a multifunctional space for hybrid events and interactive formats. An extensive digital platform – called "Space" – provides a lot of background information about the developments shown. Innovators and their developments for the circular economy are presented as part of the video series "Meet The Innovators".

Crafting Circular Economy

In this important area, Covestro shows how it is driving the transformation to a circular economy and aims to achieve climate neutrality in its own production and in its supply of renewable energy. With the introduction of the "CQ" label for products based on alternative raw materials, Covestro aims to create greater transparency and make it easier for customers to distinguish them from conventional, fossil-based products.

Another focus is on innovative recycling technologies. The "Recycling Technology Wheel" provides information on current developments. Chemolysis in particular holds great potential for the quantitative recovery of raw materials. Covestro is now introducing the name "Evocycle^® CQ" for all evolutionary recycling processes as an extension.

Crafting Electrification

The shift from fossil to renewable energy sources is also linked to electrification of the important sectors of transport and buildings: The mobile and stationary future is electric. Plastics from Covestro will play an important role in all of these in the future – from power generation and storage to use in vehicles and at home.

Renewable energy also plays a role in a special exhibit: The "Photon," a prototype solar race car, is on display in the outdoor area of Hall 7A. This "Sonnenwagen" was designed and built by a dedicated team of students from Aachen, Germany, who have set themselves the task of developing and racing high-tech vehicles for a particularly sustainable form of mobility. Covestro is the main sponsor of the project.

Crafting Smart Designs

This exhibition area is dedicated to the possibilities of digitalization and open innovation approaches to work in a more connected and sustainable way along the entire value chain.

At K 2022, Covestro will present, among other things, new charging stations and wall charging stations (wallboxes) for future mobility, including the first wallbox produced by partner EVBox using more sustainable polycarbonates. These plastics from the Makrolon^® RE range are produced proportionately from biowaste and residual materials, in part using renewable electricity, and therefore have a very low carbon footprint.

Crafting Sustainable Living

How can urban spaces be made more sustainable without compromising on consumer preferences? Covestro provides answers to this question in this exhibition area. The aims of the developments presented are greater comfort and design freedom, enhanced functionality, more sustainable and circular solutions, and energy-efficient living.

Covestro and Arcesso Dynamics, a custom polyurethane parts manufacturer, will introduce Arfinio^® at K 2022, a breakthrough manufacturing solution for furniture, bathroom fixtures, electronic parts, housings and other applications based on reaction injection molding (RIM) of aliphatic polyurethanes.

All journalists are cordially invited to visit Covestro's booth A 75 in Hall 6. There you will have the opportunity to talk about the innovations and topics on display, and you can obtain the Covestro press kit for K 2022. If you wish, we will also be happy to give you a tour of the booth or arrange interviews.

Arfinio^® material is made by injection-molding of a combination of high-performance liquid polymers and unique minerals. This produces truly seamless shapes without requiring sheets. In this way, the technology combines the key benefits of aliphatic chemistry, injection molding, and solid surfaces: mechanical resistance, light-stability, and repairability, as well as low product weight, quick production, and improved design freedom.

These properties are now opening new possibilities in applications including an Estoli shower plate, and a luxury design chair. In bathroom furniture, Arfinio^® provides a solution at least 50 percent lighter than traditional solid surfaces with improved wet slip resistance and increasing safety during installation and use. Its formulation can also be supplemented with antibacterial additives, enhancing hygiene on high-touch surfaces. In furniture, injection molding enables a quick production of complex, truly seamless structures. Finally, the thermal coefficient of Arfinio^® makes it warm to the touch, and its texture and color can be customized. This also allows for backlighting in electronic applications.

Arfinio^® also contributes toward a more circular, sustainable world. Its excellent impact, abrasion, and chemical resistance properties give it a long service lifetime. Additionally, as a monomaterial, it can be easily repaired by sanding or milled and recycled into new products.

Joan Miquel García Martinez, Senior Project Manager at Covestro: "We’re proud to have joined forces with Arcesso to bring the benefits of RIM-produced aliphatics to the market! Arfinio^® will open new opportunities for a wide range of designers and OEMs, and we’re looking forward to exploring how it can be used in even more applications."

Ernest Montón, CEO Arcesso Dynamics: "It’s been great working with Covestro to bring our innovation for aliphatic PUR to life. Our partnership has already helped customers in several industries to solve key product challenges. Together, we’ll continue to develop exciting new Arfinio^® products that are designed to meet our customers’ and end-users’ needs."

Bayfol^® HX consists of a transparent film as a substrate and a photoreactive layer that is optimized for the specific customer requirements. Bayfol^® HX gives designers the greatest possible design freedom. For example, it is flexible enough to be bent – as in the Sony application – so that it can completely enclose a cylinder. It has tailor-made optical properties to produce high-quality holographic images. Both the very high transparency of the photopolymer film and the image brightness it enables were key factors in Sony's decision to use Bayfol^® HX for its development project.

"We spent a long time looking for the right material to realize our idea," said Sony's Yutaka Imai. The R&D General manager continues, "The project showed that Bayfol^® HX has excellent performance for AR applications."  It is imaginable that the prototype display technology will be used, for example, in museum showrooms and corporate presentation rooms – or in the home, for example, to accompany music with 360-degree videos.

"We are pleased that digital image information can now be presented floating in space rather than just presented in a frame, as it were, thanks to Bayfol^® HX and Sony's innovative screen concept. In addition to automotive head-up displays (HUD) and head-mounted displays (HMD), this is another extremely promising AR application for our holographic films," says Yuen-Ling Lok, Head of Commercial Operations Holographic Lightguiding at Covestro. 

Manifold collaborations for innovative smart poles

In addition to material properties and functionality, the focus is increasingly on design options. A current example of this is a smart pole designed for future mobility and smart cities – an intelligent pole with multiple functions that Covestro is presenting at the K 2022 plastics trade fair.

Smart poles must demonstrate stable performance even in harsh outdoor environments, while meeting high requirements for modern urban design, functionality and, not least, sustainable development trends. In addition to its own expertise and many years of experience, as well as a portfolio of suitable polycarbonate plastics and blends, Covestro therefore relies above all on intensive collaboration with technology and innovation partners in the development of such concepts, which include suppliers, customers, OEMs, start-ups, designers and universities.

This starts with product design: designs by students from Sweden's Umeå Design Institute were used to create the 5G small cell in the upper part of the smart pole. As part of a pilot project with this institute and Deutsche Telekom, Covestro investigated how a 5G network infrastructure could be implemented in an urban environment while taking aesthetic aspects into account. Polycarbonates are ideally suited for CMF (color, material, finish) design and enable interference-free transmission of high-frequency radio signals even in harsh weather conditions. To investigate the influence of material and CMF design under different conditions, Covestro operates state-of-the-art test facilities for a wide range of frequencies up to 50 GHz at its Asia-Pacific Innovation Center in Shanghai.

Together with the Umeå Design Institute, design concepts for electric charging stations for different usage scenarios have also been developed, one of which is the charging station design built into the base of the smart pole. Finally, as part of the modern urban landscape, the design of the smart pole must fit into the architectural and cultural context of the city in which it is installed. In addition to durability, the main focus here is on the weather resistance, flame retardancy, diverse light integration options and design freedom of the polycarbonates.

Circularity requires special partnerships

The value of such collaborations becomes even clearer when the complexity of the challenges increases: A circular world often requires the involvement of all partners along a value chain – industrial designers, raw material suppliers, plastics manufacturers, customers, disposers and recyclers. Only when all stakeholders are involved and work closely together can products be developed that can be recycled cleanly, reliably and affordably so that new products can be made from them.

Covestro works with partners from industry and science at all stages of a product cycle to find solutions for a more sustainable future. The exchange takes place with both established companies and start-ups. Covestro will be showcasing the results of these collaborations at the K 2022 plastics trade fair.

"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.

DIP, which is supported by the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, and the Worshipful Company of Horners, and headline sponsored by Covestro, challenged the students to come up with a brand new product made primarily from plastics which would commonly be used in the outdoor environment.

Announcing the final six, from an original, near record submission of entries, chairman of judges, Richard Brown, said the quality of work and thought which had gone into the entries presented by the finalists reflected not just their own intelligent research, but the quality of their universities and tutors.

„The very open brief for this year’s competition of ‘Design for a Natural World’, enabled a wide interpretation, and we’ve had everything from habitats for animals in nature, to products for use in the natural environment, as well as more esoteric interpretations stretching the boundaries of the brief,” he said.

„What is clear, is that a good number of entries - our finalists in particular - have grasped the need for sustainable products in the natural world and also researched the damage the human race is doing to the environment, and it is probable the current pandemic has increased that awareness. Our final six have understood the brief, which emphasised sustainability, quality and recyclability, and we are looking forward to see how they progress their designs in time for final judging on May 28.”

The students who have made it to the final are:

Pol Blanch – Brunel University
D-Shield: a semi-translucent foldable shield that minimises spray drift, blocking pesticides from drifting during application.

Christopher Farrell – Technological University Dublin
ClearWater: a handheld water quality testing device for the presence of chemicals in water, due to run-off from land, providing on the spot testing for several chemicals in one go.

Euan Gibson-Smith – Glasgow School of Art
ReCreate: a monthly educational service enabling children aged 7-11 to convert plastic waste into recyclable outdoor products.

Pradip Gurung – Brunel University
Stratus: a wildlife collar specially designed to prevent illegal poaching of big cats.

Finlay McEwan – Glasgow School of Art
Equipoise: a reusable plastic gas canister for outdoor cooking, with a stand designed for stability on rough terrain.

Andrei Petrar – London South Bank University
AER Drone: a fully autonomous drone which can be deployed in an emergency to alert rescue services.

In line with continued coronavirus restrictions, the final judging will take place on May 28, via video conference, and the overall results will be announced in early July.

The winner will be invited to Germany to visit headline industry sponsor, the leading polymer manufacturer, Covestro, when coronavirus conditions permit. In addition, the winner and the remaining five finalists will each receive a short industry placement with one of the competition sponsors: Brightworks, Innovate Product Design, PDD and RJG Technologies, along with cash prizes.

RAL was founded in 1925 and introduced the first industrial colour standard, which became widely accepted as an accurate colour reference. As a provider of colour matching services, the company today offers comprehensive colour tools and solutions for a wide range of industries and sectors.

“As an internationally recognized colour matching system, RAL offers professional colour cards for industrial design applications that require the highest level of colour accuracy,” said Dr. Christopher Stillings, Vice President and Global Head of Colour & Design in the Polycarbonates segment of Covestro. “As one of the leading polycarbonate suppliers, Covestro is not only a pioneer in the research and development of material technologies, but also has strong colour and design teams worldwide. Our collaboration with RAL underlines the precision that our polycarbonate materials provide for colour matching.”

“Through this collaboration, both partners offer designers a comprehensive colour and material approach. This gives designers broad support in winning new customers and creating surprising solutions for existing customers,” said Markus Frentrop, Global Head of RAL Colours.

Even the same colours in different materials lead to subtle changes in the visual experience. To ensure accurate and fast colour matching, Covestro's colour and design centers in Italy, Thailand, India and China worked together with RAL on solutions and completed the matching of the 15 trend colours within just one month. In September this year, Covestro used the RAL colour codes for the first time in the company's two CMF trend reports for the automotive as well as electronics and appliance industries.

Going forward, as part of its Open Innovation initiative, Covestro plans to explore opportunities to collaborate with global colour standards providers to provide additional CMF design and implementation solutions for polycarbonate materials. With these solutions, Covestro aims to inspire more partners to develop efficient, creative designs to ultimately deliver value to customers.

With a global network of colour and design experts, Covestro is able to offer its customers a variety of CMF solutions around the world.

"Rethink Materials is an invitation to everyone to come into conversation with us and think jointly about new solutions for existing and upcoming challenges," says Christopher Schirwitz, one of the two Covestro stand managers at Fakuma-virtual. "As a supplier of high-tech polymer materials, we would like to learn about new perspectives in order to create innovations in close cooperation with our customers and partners that start with the material and ultimately go far beyond it. For us, Rethink Materials is inseparably associated with sustainability and our focus on the circular economy."

Premiere for digital showroom

At Fakuma-virtual, the new virtual showroom of Covestro will experience its global premiere: From October 13, visitors can discover the showroom rooms and experience how innovative and functional materials are changing the way people live, work and communicate. Future design can be experienced in developments created with thermoplastic composites or advanced 3D printing technology.

It is not only presentations and customer experiences that are increasingly being conducted in virtual rooms. "Design processes are also becoming increasingly digital," says certified designer (Dipl. Des.) Hans-Eberhard Stein from Central Marketing at Covestro. "For example, this also includes the creation and use of digital prototypes." Covestro intends to intensify its focus on the target group of designers and their specific needs.

New Virtual Sample Library and CMF Library App

The virtual sample library is also making its debut: Here, everything is centered around the optical and haptic design of products. Designers and other visitors can search for specific materials or be inspired by the wide range of products. The combination of color, material and finish (often abbreviated as CMF) opens up a wide range of design possibilities. For this purpose, Covestro is offering the CMF Library App in its virtual showroom and is presenting the sample library in the form of a video – a new way of making materials tangible.

Companies are also invited to Topic Days on the first three days of the fair. In this context, videos on the following topics will be shown: 

• October 13: Designs for the Future (Topics: 3D printing and the Maezio® thermoplastic composite)
• October 14: Streets of Tomorrow (Topics: Car interior concept of the future, multi-functional display concept and efficient assembly of lithium-ion cells in the car battery)
• October 15: Future Home (Topics: 5G telecommunications, design of charging stations for electromobility and connectivity)

Visit the Covestro digital showroom and talk to the experts. You can reach them there from October 13 to 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CET. Further information is available at: fakuma.covestro.com. As of October 13, you will also find a link to the Covestro digital showroom there.

Press Kit
Press Releases about "Future Car Interior":

• "The automotive interior of the future: from display to vegan seat covers – Covestro and its partners develop a premium concept"
• "The reinvention of the display – The future of mobility: seamless and fully networked"
• "Get to your destination in peace and serenity – More privacy thanks to acoustic foams made from Covestro raw materials"
• "Innovative polyurethane synthetics thanks to INSQIN® technology – High quality, low environmental impact and customized design"

Images

Organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners, and industry headline sponsored by Covestro, DIP this year challenged students to come up with a brand new product which would enhance life in a city environment, for use in flat or whilst commuting.

The finalists: Ellen Dack and Hannah Dempsey – Technological University Dublin; Matt Foord – Coventry University; Matt Shaw – De Montfort University; Kristen Tapping – London South Bank University; and Zihao Zhang – Brunel University, all presented their products via video conference in a day-long session presided by the panel of industry judges.

The judges had previously whittled down the original submitted entry of over 100 to a final six, and given each student a chance to refine their product before making their final presentation.

“The standard of presentations this year was high, and we were impressed by the effort and detailed research each individual had carried out,” said chairman of judges, Richard Brown. “All the finalists had taken on board the judges’ guidance, improving and refining their original designs, and we feel that there are two or three that could, with further support, be viable products for the market.

“Each student has done themselves and their universities proud, and we will look forward to revealing the results in July, when all our deliberations and preparations have been completed.”

First prize for the competition is a visit to Covestro, in Leverkusen, Germany, along with a cash prize. In addition, every one of the six finalists receives a short industry placement with one of the supporting competition sponsors: Brightworks, Innovate Product Design, PDD and RJG Technologies.

The six finalists and their products are:

Ellen Dack – third year Product Design, Technological University Dublin: Complanter – an easy to use composting unit ideal for people living in confined spaces and which also functions as a planter for herbs.

Hannah Dempsey – third year Product Design, Technological University Dublin: Workspace – a personal ‘desk’ for students, which promotes better posture while being capable of being used in a variety of confined spaces.

Matthew Foord – third year, Product Design, Coventry University: His versatile Transforming Urban Trolley is designed to be used on trains and buses or open city streets as an alternative to single-use carrier bags. Made with components that are 100 per cent recyclable.

Matthew Shaw – third year Product Design, De Montfort University: Andas One – a smart device, which measures air quality, and helps the user to plan the cleanest and most direct route to walk, when in an urban area.

Kristen Tapping – fourth year Product Design, London South Bank University: Rolloe – bicycle wheel caps that actively purify the air, making for a cleaner ride for the user.

Zihao Zhang – MSc Product Design, Brunel University: FREEFITNESS – A sustainable fitness dumbbell, which uses plastic bottles, providing the user with multiple options for doing an upper body workout.

The results of the DIP competition, which is industry headline sponsored by Covestro, were announced at a ceremony in London on Friday.

Daniella Kaligorsky, a third year Product Design student from Technological University Dublin, came up with CHECKKIT, a kit which shows how to conduct a self-examination for breast cancer. It includes models that simulate the breast and the physical symptoms of breast cancer and it also has a brochure to explain what to do and how to recognize 12 possible symptoms, along with a notebook to log results.

The longest running student plastics design competition of its type, DIP is held every year to encourage university students to come up with brand new products made primarily of plastic.

Competition organisers, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners, this year set the challenging brief of ‘Healthy body – healthy world’ inviting ideas for improving health, wellbeing or encouraging exercise, with a product which could demonstrate longevity and sustainability.

Commenting on the winner, chairman of judges, Richard Brown, said the panel was extremely impressed with Daniella’s thorough research into the medical and practical need; her comprehensive review of materials to get the right texture and touch for her product, along with her analysis of manufacturing methods, costs, end user experience and sustainability. She had also given due consideration to competitor products. “We felt very strongly that this was a product that would enhance wellbeing and was market-ready to meet Daniella’s vision for it,” he added.

Another member of the panel, technical engineer, Mike Stuart, formerly of Covestro, said the well thought through manufacturing and practical presentation would help de-stigmatise the subject of breast examination and make it useable even in schools. “This product could be put into production fairly quickly, and we feel a possible future application could be a similar kit for testicular cancer,” he explained.

Daniella Kaligorsky said losing a member of her family to breast cancer had inspired her to look deeper into this subject and try to address the problem. “It is a great opportunity to be able to pursue product design and be recognized and acknowledged by such a great competition and I am proud that the significance of the problem with cancer is recognized,” she said.

“I’ve learned a substantial amount about plastics and the manufacturing process. There is still so much to learn, and I am excited to take a step further to discover more about the world of plastics and the benefits that it can provide.” In second place came Kai Wang – 4th year integrated product design student from Brunel University. His product, POTLUCK, is a clever combined cooking and storage device that encourages and simplifies the production of stock cubes using food waste.

Christopher Kay, a 4th year product design student from De Montfort University came third with EnviroJect – a re-usable syringe system, providing a safe and sustainable method of administering medications.

Highly commended awards went to:

Louis Farnsworth, 3rd year product design student from De Montfort University, whose product, Air, is a smart breathing aid for asthmatics to reduce asthma flare up and irritation to the lungs and airway when exercising

Namgyun Ryu, 1st year MSc Integrated Product Design student from Brunel University, with ‘Tri Walker’ – a walking aid for the elderly providing enhanced mobility improved functionality over conventional walking aids.

The five finalists, who were praised for their concepts and their very high level of professionalism, will all receive cash prizes and short work placements with one of the competition sponsors: Brightworks; Innovate Product Design; PDD and RJG Technologies.

The winner will take a trip to Germany to visit Covestro, and will be joined by Christopher Kay, who was given special recognition by Covestro for his innovation.

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

About Design Innovation in Plastics:

Established in 1985, Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running student plastics design award in Europe. For more information visit www.designinnovationplastics.org

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a major UK engineering institution and is the professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia, the public and the professions. For more information visit www.iom3.org

The Worshipful Company of Horners is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London and was formed to regulate the horn-working trade. In 1943 it adopted its modern equivalent, the plastics industry. For more information visit www.horners.org.uk

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.

Covestro offers material solutions for improved design compared to marketable products. The range is a response to the growing customer demand for materials with increased wearing comfort. Covestro offers the right combination of materials for the perfect lightweight, flexible and hardly visible patch that provides a comfortable feel. There is no comparable offer on the market so far.

Complete solution for modern wearable patches

For this purpose, Covestro has developed special breathable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films from the Platilon^® range. The materials are perfectly suited and designed for customers using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process that allows wearables to be efficiently produced. The electronics can be printed on the film and embedded in thermoformable polyurethane foam covered with a second film layer for better wearing comfort. The patch is then fixed with a special skin-compatible adhesive, which adheres firmly to the skin but allows painless removal of the patch. The adhesive system and the thermoformable foam are based on Baymedix^® polyurethane raw materials. Covestro thus offers a complete solution for modern and high-quality wearable patches.

A prototype was produced in collaboration with the Holst Centre, which is known for its expertise in printed electronics and wearables. The materials being used are already ready for the market. In addition to the wearable patch, Covestro will present a design study at K 2019 to present different wearable designs depending on their medical use.

Covestro is providing convincing design and material alternatives to currently available wearable raw materials. The company is considering advances in printed electronics to demonstrate that its materials can contribute to a design with a stronger patient focus that takes into account patient comfort and skin sensitivity.

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.

Headline sponsored by Covestro, and the longest running student plastics design competition of its type,it is held every year to encourage university students to come up with brand new products made primarily of plastic.

Organisers, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners, this year set the challenging brief of improving health, wellbeing or encouraging exercise, with a product which has the qualities of longevity and sustainability.

The panel of renowned industry judges carefully examined 149 entries at the preliminary judging stage before selecting five finalists, whose entries most closely matched the brief and satisfied the competition criteria.

Chairman of judges, Richard Brown (RJG Technologies), commented: “The brief this year was quite wide-ranging and was clearly open to different interpretations – but also provided the opportunity for more original thought.

“Whilst many fell short, due to insufficient investigation into intellectual property, materials and manufacturability of the product ideas, a hard core of students came up with some interesting product ideas.

“There was much debate among the judges, and it was eventually decided to pick five finalists rather than the usual six, as these were the candidates whose entries met the criteria. Having progressed to the final, we will be looking for these students to further develop their concepts taking into account the judges’ guidance.”

Commenting on their design and ingenuity, technical service engineer, Mike Stuart (formerly Covestro) said: “This year’s finalists have clearly spent a great deal of time and effort putting detail into their designs, giving thought to materials and production methods, including costings.

“It was interesting to see the variety of approaches, from re-thinking existing products; to using innovative material choices making them attractive as well as versatile; and addressing a particular day-to-day issue in a novel way, with a product anyone would be happy to try.

“Some have come up with very interesting new concepts, which could have tangible value in real world situations, depending on whether they can be further refined. We will look forward to seeing how the products have progressed when the finalists present them in person in a few weeks’ time!”

The finalists go through to a final judging round on May 24, and the overall results will be announced at a ceremony in London on July 5. The winner will receive a trip to Germany to visit Covestro, along with a cash prize. A key feature of the competition is that every finalist also receives short industry placement with one of the competition sponsors: Brightworks, HellermannTyton, Innovate Product Design, PDD and RJG Technologies.

The five finalists are:

Louis Farnsworth – 3rd year product design student, De Montfort UniversityProduct Name: Air – A smart breathing aide for asthmatics to reduce asthma flare up and irritation to the lungs and airway when exercising.

Daniella Kalligorsky – 3rd year product design student, Technological University DublinProduct name: Checkkit – A new way to raise breast cancer awareness by promoting self-examination.

Christopher Kay – 4th year product design student, De Montfort University.Product name: EnviroJect – A re-usable syringe system, providing a 97.8 per cent reduction in plastic syringe wastage per year within the NHS.

Namgyun Ryu – 1st year MSc Integrated Product Design student, Brunel University.Product name: Tri Walker – A walking assistant product for enhanced mobility and health for the elderly, adding improved functionality to conventional walking aids.

Kai Wang – 4th year integrated product design student, Brunel University.Product: Pot luck – A combined cooking and storage device that encourages and simplifies the production of stock cubes using avoidable food waste.

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.

About Design Innovation in Plastics:

Established in 1985, Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running student plastics design award in Europe. For more information visit www.designinnovationplastics.org/.

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a major UK engineering institution and is the professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia, the public and the professions. For more information visit www.iom3.org.

The Worshipful Company of Horners is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London and was formed to regulate the horn-working trade. In 1943 it adopted its modern equivalent, the plastics industry. For more information visit www.horners.org.uk.

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.