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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Latest info on Covestro’s K fair presence:

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

Additional Press Releases:

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

Covestro at a Glance:

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

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

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

Materials with Impact: "The Material Effect" in Practice

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

Sustainable Future

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

Automotive

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

Electronics

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

Healthcare

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

Sports and Leisure

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

Press Tour for Media Representatives

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

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

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

In qualifying, the Covestro Æthon secured pole position with a time of 1:52.50 minutes, setting a new team record. Never before has a Team Sonnenwagen solar race car been faster on the circuit in Darwin. After five days of racing, the new Sonnenwagen Covestro Æthon finished in fourth place – a world-class performance in a strong field of 37 teams from 18 countries, made possible in part by Covestro products.

“Regardless of the outcome of the race, Team Sonnenwagen has done a great job in my opinion,” says Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro. “What these students from Aachen have achieved with the design of their solar car is a demonstration of innovative strength, team spirit, and determination. They deserve nothing but congratulations. And I am always delighted that we are able to support this extraordinary team with our innovative and sustainable technologies and our expertise.”

“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved,” says Leonie Brandt, Chair of Team Sonnenwagen Aachen. “Just finishing this race is an enormous achievement – and with Æthon, we made it into the ranks of the world’s best teams. Our vehicle proved itself under extreme conditions, and we are taking away many important insights.”

Covestro has been supporting Team Sonnenwagen since its founding in 2017 and has been its main sponsor and technology partner since 2018. The company is convinced that more sustainable high-performance plastics are key to climate-neutral and circular mobility. Together with customers and partners, Covestro is continuously developing new material solutions and recycling technologies for this purpose.

As with previous vehicles, the Æthon also relied on more sustainable high-performance plastics from Covestro – this time even more than ever before: over ten different materials from the company were used in the car.

One example of the application of our raw materials is chemically recycled car seat foam, which offers comfort while conserving resources. Sustainable mass-balanced Vulkollan^®, a particularly resilient elastomer that absorbs shocks between the battery and the chassis, was also used to protect the structure. For the cell holders, the team used Makrolon^® TC, a thermally conductive polycarbonate that helps to reduce the temperature during battery charging and discharging, thereby increasing the battery's service life. The coating cures at room temperature and contains a binder with a high proportion of sustainable Covestro raw materials. In addition, other Covestro raw materials were used as materials in the cockpit hood, outer shell, headlights, seat, and steering wheel, for example.

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

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

Covestro's Guiding Idea: "The Material Effect"

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

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

Progress Towards Corporate Vision and Strategy

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

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

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

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

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

_{* attributed via mass balancing}

Latest info on Covestro’s K fair presence:

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

Additional Press Releases:

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

Covestro at a Glance:

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

"What the students from Team Sonnenwagen have achieved here, alongside their regular studies and exams, is really impressive," said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro, during the unveiling. "The collaboration between our experts and the students has been and continues to be a great inspiration. Together with all the other strong partners, we're demonstrating what tomorrow's mobility can look like. We’re proud that we can contribute innovative materials and know-how to help shape a more sustainable future."

"Æthon" is the result of twelve months of intensive development. Over 40 students from RWTH and FH Aachen designed, tested, and built the vehicle alongside their studies – supported by Covestro as main sponsor and technology partner. The Leverkusen-based materials manufacturer contributes more expertise than ever: More than ten different Covestro materials have been incorporated into the vehicle – a record in the project's history. The solar car thus provides the company with the additional opportunity to test materials for series vehicle production under extreme conditions.

"We are very proud of Æthon. The entire team has put their heart and soul into this project," explains Leonie Brandt, Chair of Team Sonnenwagen. “The same goes for our partners, especially Covestro, who have been involved in the project for so long. Without this expertise and support, there would be no Sonnenwagen, and we wouldn't have been as successful as we've been. This year, we want to repay everyone involved with a victory in Australia. We're looking forward to it!”

Material Solutions for Future Mobility

Like its predecessors, the new Sonnenwagen relies on sustainable and innovative materials. The highlights: chemically recycled foam in the driver's seat – proving that comfort and circular economy can go hand in hand. Chemically recycled Vulkollan®, an extremely durable elastomer, is also used. It dampens impacts between battery and body, contributing to the structure's longevity. Covestro materials are also used in the battery cell holders, aerodynamic outer shell, interior trim, headlights and turn signals, as well as in the coating.

New Rules, New Challenges – New Opportunities

Such high-tech materials are more important than ever this year, as new rules apply at the World Solar Challenge: The allowed battery capacity has been halved, and the development time shortened by two months. At the same time, cars are allowed to be longer – an opportunity Team Sonnenwagen consistently utilizes with "Æthon": At 5.80 meters, it's longer and features six square meters of solar cells – a full two square meters more than its predecessor "Covestro Adelie." Additionally, the racing calendar brings a new challenge: This year, the race takes place at the end of the Australian winter - and thus earlier than usual. For the team, this meant less time for development and testing.

The official unveiling of Æthon marks the beginning of the intensive testing phase. In July, Team Sonnenwagen will depart from Aachen to Australia to compete against over 50 teams from 24 countries – including numerous leading international universities. Covestro continues to support the project on its journey – with the shared goal of advancing sustainable mobility and bringing the world championship title to Aachen with the power of the sun.

Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro, celebrated the anniversary at the birthplace of Vulkollan^® in the Leverkusen production site: "Vulkollan^® exemplifies Covestro's commitment to innovation in our solutions and specialty segment. As the inventor of polyurethanes, we continue to develop cutting-edge solutions that drive value for our customers. We are also guiding Vulkollan^® and its outstanding performance on a journey towards circularity, ensuring it not only meets industry demands but also becomes an integral part of a more sustainable future."

Made for the sustainable future

Generations of passionate chemists and engineers have driven this success and remain committed to taking Vulkollan^® to new heights. The dedication to innovation is matched by continuous investments in global production assets for Vulkollan^® raw materials. Recent examples include expansions in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, and Barcelona, Spain.

In 2024, Covestro took a significant step towards sustainability by announcing an investment in a pilot-plant for the chemical recycling of end-of-life Vulkollan^® parts located in Leverkusen. This initiative opens the door to a more sustainable future, reinforcing the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility while maintaining the material's exceptional performance.

Enabler of extreme performance in logistics and production

Over the years, Covestro has continuously expanded Vulkollan^®'s applications to meet evolving customer needs. Today, this versatile material excels in a wide range of critical uses like heavy-duty wheels and rollers for material handling equipment including automated guided vehicles (AGVs), advanced technical components for industrial machinery, shock-absorbing bumper elements and automotive noise and vibration control systems.

The widespread adoption of Vulkollan^® in these demanding applications stands as a testament to its superior properties. Even under extreme stress, Vulkollan^® consistently delivers optimal performance, enabling our customers to push the boundaries of what's possible in their respective fields.

Customer Partnerships: The Foundation of Success

"At Covestro, global supply security of quality raw materials for Vulkollan^® has top priority to allow our customers to grow with the Vulkollan^® technology," says Thomas Braig, Head of the Business Entity Elastomers at Covestro. "This goes hand in hand with developing the performance further and innovating jointly with our customers worldwide."

Customer cooperation is as integral to Vulkollan^®'s history as its exceptional performance. Strong and lasting partnerships have shaped Vulkollan^® into what it is today. Many of the customers celebrate 40, 50, or even more years of collaboration with Covestro through licensed cooperation, a testament to the trust and success Covestro and them have built together. Vulkollan^® has become the industry standard not just through innovation, but also through these deep-rooted relationships.

History of performance and versatility

The story of Vulkollan^® began in February 1950, with the publication of a groundbreaking article in a German leading chemical magazine “Angewandte Chemie”. Co-authored by Otto Bayer, the inventor of polyurethanes, this publication marked the birth of a material that would redefine performance in demanding applications across various industries.

Vulkollan^® quickly established itself as the premier material for industries demanding exceptional durability and performance, thanks to its outstanding properties such as high tensile strength, excellent tear resistance, low abrasion, and exceptional dynamic load-bearing capacity.

Innovation has always been at the heart of Vulkollan^®'s success. A major breakthrough came with the introduction of Vulkollan^® prepolymers, representing a significant process advancement for the customers. This innovation simplified the molding of Vulkollan^® parts, enhancing efficiency and reducing investment requirements for the partners working with this unique material.

The jubilee of Vulkollan^® is celebrated in all productions sites around the globe and can be followed on social media.

This technological development to recycle Vulkollan^® marks an important step towards more sustainability in the elastomers industry. The technology enables to not only recycle a mass fraction of more than 90% of the end-of-life material like forklift tires, but also to reduce the carbon footprint by up to two thirds compared to virgin material.

“The pilot plant and with it our commitment to proving the feasibility of recycling for elastomers demonstrates our clear commitment for circular solutions and marks an important milestone for our elastomer products”, states Dr. Thomas Braig, Head of the Elastomers business entity. “With the successful scale-up of this new recycling process we address the demand of our customers for end-of-life solutions and carbon footprint reduction while assuring the high quality of our elastomer products. At the same time, this pilot plant is an invitation for players along the value chain to cooperate on developing a circular setup and the reverse value chain for end-of-life materials.”

Pioneering Chemical Recycling for Elastomers

Covestro customers use Vulkollan^® systems to mold parts for many applications with a high demand for durability and performance. Typical applications for parts made of Vulkollan^® are wheels for forklifts, bumper elements in railways and vibration control elements and jounce bumpers in cars. The excellent quality of Vulkollan^® allows more sustainable and cost-efficient operation of the target application through longer lifetime, longer maintenance intervals and less unplanned shutdowns. Due to the high yield of the recycling process, end-of-life Vulkollan^® materials can be re-introduced into new automotive jounce bumpers and forklift tires via a mass balancing approach.

The new chemical recycling process is a game-changer for the elastomers industry. Unlike mechanical recycling methods, this approach breaks down elastomeric end-of-life material into its chemical building blocks, to obtain purified monomers that can be re-used for these materials with known and proven quality.

Driving Sustainability and Industry Collaboration

"The new chemical recycling process addresses the unique challenges of elastomer materials, which are trusted to be very resistant and long lasting. Downcycling is not an option for this high-performance application,” explains Markus Dugal, Head of Process Technology at Covestro. “This technology allows us to recycle a high mass fraction of the end-of-life material and, in this way, to reduce the environmental impact of our elastomer production. It is a testament to Covestro's innovative spirit."

The pilot plant will play a crucial role in refining the recycling process beyond lab scale, testing the process with various waste streams and with various end-of-life materials. It will also serve as a platform for Covestro to engage with potential project partners and customers, paving the way for the development of a larger commercial recycling plant in the future.

Covestro's investment in elastomers recycling aligns with its broader strategic goals of reducing environmental impact, promoting circular economy principles, and maintaining its position as an innovation leader in the polymer industry. The company invites potential partners and customers interested in circular elastomer solutions to engage in discussions about future collaborations and applications and prove the environmental benefit of the solution along the value chain.

“At UTECH Asia / PU China, Covestro is unveiling our robust portfolio in cast polyurethane, focusing on applications for rapidly growing industries in Asia Pacific, such as renewable energy, material handling and electric vehicles,” said Thomas Braig, Head of the Business Entity Elastomers at Covestro. “We are committed to delivering crafted solutions with superior quality, performance and sustainability, creating value for our customers and fostering their growth.”

Diverse applications for growing industries

Exhibit highlights include elastomer systems used in subsea cable protection parts, such as bend restrictors, bend stiffeners and cable protection sleeves for offshore wind farms. Characterized by their high resistance to impact, hydrolysis and wear, these materials extend the shelf life of cables and reduce maintenance costs. As offshore wind turbines are increasingly deployed in deep waters far from shore, Covestro also provides a total solution with enhanced elastomers and the high-output Baulé^® omega machine for their production, driving forward development in this sector.

For material handling applications, elastomer systems based on Vulkollan^® and Desmodur^® raw materials are used to enhance wheels for auto-guided vehicles and forklifts. These systems support digitalization and automation in logistics and manufacturing, enabling safe and efficient around-the-clock production.

Additionally, Vulkollan^® solutions will be showcased for applications in EVs, where electrification introduces challenges such as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), as well as the need for better damping solutions due to the heavier weight of batteries. Cellular Vulkollan^® is particularly suitable for more demanding damping elements like bumpers, top mounts and bushings in EVs.

Strengthening presence in Asia Pacific
To better support growth, Covestro has been strengthening its presence for the cast polyurethane industry in Asia Pacific. In recent years, it has launched a new production line for Vulkollan® raw materials at the Map Ta Phut site in Thailand and another plant for polyurethane elastomer systems at its Shanghai site in China. Most recently, it has launched the first locally assembled Baulé® alpha machine for cast PU processing at its Asia-Pacific Innovation Center in Shanghai.

“These investments and localization efforts improve our customer proximity, reinforcing our position to supply regional markets and support growth in key industries and new market development,” said Simon Chen, Head of Elastomers Asia Pacific. “We also provide adapted solutions for our customers’ specific technical needs, such as fire resistance and anti-static properties.”

In addition, the company can supply more sustainable elastomer grades, among them those in the CQ portfolio, at its new Shanghai plant by using alternative raw materials via mass balance attribution and renewable energy in production. CQ, which stands for “Circular Intelligence,” is a label used by Covestro to identify products with a physical or attributed content of at least 25 percent alternative raw materials.

For more information on Covestro’s elastomer solutions across diverse industries, visit its booth (No. 150) at UTECH Asia / PU China in the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center from July 17 to 19.

Following its successful production launch, Covestro's Map Ta Phut site has demonstrated exceptional performance and efficiency, cementing Covestro's position as a key player in the industry. In the meantime, customers have received and qualified the products, acknowledging their quality and unique performance. This qualification demonstrates Covestro's commitment to deliver cutting-edge solutions with outstanding mechanical properties and durability. Therefore Vulkollan® allows addressing needs for very demanding applications as driving and load wheels for material handling.

Beside existing assets, the new plants in Map Ta Phut and also the plant in Barcelona are enabling reliable supply of premium quality Vulkollan® raw material to serve existing and new applications. The continuous investment in state-of-the art production capacity is accompanied by new developments: Systems and prepolymer grades to generate value in new applications for Vulkollan®.

“With our latest investments in new operating plants in Map Ta Phut and Barcelona on top of existing state-of-the-art assets for Vulkollan® raw materials, Covestro is fully equipped to support the growing demand for Vulkollan® raw materials globally,” said Thomas Braig, Head of the Business Entity Elastomers at Covestro. “With meticulous planning and streamlined processes, we are able to ensure an efficient global supply chain, encompassing raw material procurement, stock management, and transportation logistics. Our teams worked hard and ensured that the plants are capable of promptly responding to any request from customers.”

"With the successful ramping up of our Map Ta Phut site, Covestro reaffirms its dedication to fulfilling promises made in November 2022," added Franz-Josef Niemeyer, Site Manager for Covestro at Map Ta Phut, Thailand. "Furthermore, the expertise and the commitment of our team allow us to reach the highest quality level for delivered products, solidifying our position as a reliable partner globally. Our customers can count on Covestro to provide products that enhance performance and durability."

The investments in the Elastomers business stand as a testament to the company's dedication to delivering exceptional Elastomer solutions to customers wherever they are located. With the ability to meet the current and future demand, Covestro is ready to remain the partner of choice for industries such as materials handling, mining and custom molder.

At its booth (C20), Covestro will present materials and solutions that support the corporate vision of achieving a circular economy. Climate neutrality¹ is a core element of that, for which the company just recently announced its “Scope 3 emission” targets, encompassing anything from the raw material base of products to their transport, the performance during their lifetime and the end of their life. By 2035, Covestro intends to reduce 30% of those emissions, while being entirely climate neutral across all scopes by 2050. Working towards that goal, the company’s product portfolio will become ever more sustainable.

“As provider of polyurethane raw materials and solutions, including for example systems for Elastomers, we are at the forefront of circularity and climate neutrality. We take that responsibility seriously and develop recycling technologies, switch to renewable energy and already started the switch to an alternative raw material base,” says Thomas Braig, Head of Elastomers at Covestro. "All the while we ensure maximum quality and performance of our products and to enable our customers to be successful to meet the needs and demands of the market. At our booth at UTECH Europe, customers and interested parties can get a glimpse of how we combine circularity and climate neutrality with product and innovation quality.”

To achieve full circularity, collaborations across value chains in and beyond core industries such as Automotive, Building and Construction or Furniture and Appliances will be key. The motto of Covestro’s booth therefore is “Crafting Solutions For You”, inviting for in-depth exchanges and discussions. It is divided into three core areas:

Crafting Sustainability

In the area dubbed “Crafting Sustainability”, Covestro will be showcasing innovative products and solutions from the fields of alternative raw materials, innovative recycling and renewable energies that tile the way to circularity. One example among the exhibits is Desmodur^® CQ MS. This climate-neutral MDI (cradle-to-gate assessment) is a key component in the production of low-carbon PU insulation boards, specifically designed for thermal insulation purposes.

Crafting Innovations

In the area “Crafting Innovations”, Covestro shows that innovative materials and solutions will be key to answer an ever more demanding market in terms of properties and reliability while striving to cope with the commanding challenge of a more circular and climate neutral world. At the booth, the company will for example showcase a Baulé^® alpha low pressure dispensing machine for cast PU processing. This machine is notably equipped with catalyst and pigment direct injection and allowing an output up to 10 kg/min. To demonstrate automated production capabilities, the company will also showcase a 3-axis robot equipped with sensors and camera allowing automatic mould detection and casting frame selection as well as safety alarms to improve and secure the casting process.

Covestro will furthermore give a glimpse on the latest in terms of recycling with its Evocycle^® CQ program. The goal of the Evocycle^® CQ Mattress initiative is to bring end-of-life polyurethane (PU) mattress foam back to its building blocks polyether polyol and toluene diamine (TDA), a key precursor of toluene diisocyanate (TDI), via chemical recycling. These shall then again be used just like virgin materials.

Crafting Performance

Circularity won’t happen unless sustainable products provide at least equal value and quality for customers and industries. Covestro aims to provide its customers with exactly that – and will showcase some examples how it “crafts performance” during UTECH Europe. For example several products made with Desmodur^® 15 prepolymer based systems. On top of improving safety and comfort in the railway sector, these cost-effective and safe solutions can also boost the sewing process in the loom shuttle or reduce maintenance costs in the offshore wind industry.

¹ _{Climate neutrality is the result of an internal assessment of a partial product life cycle from raw material extraction (cradle) to the factory gate (of Covestro), also known as cradle-to-gate assessment. The methodology of our LCA, for which an external audit and certification will soon be available, is based on the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. The calculation takes into account biogenic carbon sequestration based on preliminary data from the supply chain. No compensation measures were applied.}

The wire and cable industry plays a central role in the global networking of society, especially in the transmission of energy and data. Reliability and efficiency are of paramount importance for these products. That is why Covestro supports its customers with durable, high-performance and more sustainable material solutions.

The materials presented include:

• Coatings, inks and matrix: Covestro's innovative coatings, inks and matrix materials are designed to provide exceptional protection and performance in various applications in the energy and telecommunications industries. With more than 40 years of industry experience in fiber and cable materials, Covestro offers improved design capability, field deployability, reliable performance, ultra-fast curing and excellent protection against attenuation and micro-bending.
• Polycarbonates: Covestro's polycarbonate materials are characterized by excellent strength, transparency and versatility, making them well-suited for a wide range of energy and telecommunications applications. From optical fibers to electrical housings, Covestro's polycarbonates ensure dimensional stability and impact resistance over a wide temperature range.
• Thermoplastic polyurethanes: Covestro's thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) solutions combine flexibility, toughness and chemical resistance, making them ideal for the protection of flame-retardant cables in various energy and telecommunications applications.
• Elastomers: Covestro's elastomer materials are tailored for exceptional durability and strong resistance against wave and tidal action for energy subsea applications. They offer thermal stability, impact resistance and reliable protection against flex fatigue and hydrolysis. They are durable and reduce maintenance in the offshore wind industry.

Visit Covestro at booth H51 in hall 10 of wire fair to learn more about its innovative materials for the energy and telecom value chain. Further information: https://solutions.covestro.com/en/digital-event-space/wire

“We provide materials that help to facilitate a more climate-neutral and circular world. The products to be manufactured at our new plant in Shanghai are an excellent illustration of this, as they will assist our customers in meeting the increasing demand for renewable energy solutions,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer at Covestro. “In doing so, we are supporting the growth of an industry that is vital for preserving our climate. Furthermore, we are promoting sustainability in various industries by supplying materials containing renewable attributes.”

The polyurethane elastomers systems produced in the site can be used for a variety of end products. For offshore windpower, the protection of subsea cables is a core application area. The material is also used in the manufacturing process of photovoltaic panels or in screening medias in the mining industry. In all of the above, it is designed for purpose in close collaboration with customers to withstand even the harshest of conditions thanks to its excellent wear, tear and abrasion resistance.

“We want to support the growth of our customers and partake in the growth of key industries. As we expect the Elastomers market to grow above China’s gross domestic product, we want to enable our customers to capture it. That is what we do with our overall investments into our Elastomer business, and with this investment in our new plant in Shanghai right now,” said Dr. Thomas Braig, Head of the Business Entity Elastomers.

The new plant is the latest addition to the Covestro Integrated Site Shanghai (CISS), Covestro’s single largest production site worldwide. CISS is now home to twelve plants. Since 2001, the company has invested about 3.7 billion Euro into the site as of the end of 2022.

Holly Lei, President of Covestro in China, said, “Our company’s vision of becoming fully circular and our target of being operationally climate neutral by 2035 are perfectly aligned with China’s ambitions to be carbon neutral before 2060. The products we produce in CISS and this addition of polyurethane elastomers systems position us to make meaningful contributions to sustainability efforts in China and in the entire region, for example in the area of renewable energy generation.”

CISS is also among Covestro’s ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certified sites. This means it is capable of supplying customers with drop-in, mass-balanced materials derived from renewable attributed products, thereby helping customers to reduce their carbon footprint. To make more sustainable products easier to distinguish, Covestro introduced the suffix “CQ”. CQ stands for “Circular Intelligence” and identifies products containing a minimum of 25 percent alternative raw materials.

“We believe in the growth of the cast elastomers market and want to meet the increasing demand. With this new production plant, we achieve a significant improvement of our global infrastructure and strengthen our presence for high-performance elastomers in the Asia-Pacific region,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer at Covestro. “This investment also allows us to better serve our customers, improve our customer service and it supports the growth of applications and industries with high-end performance requirements.”

“The start up of our Map Ta Phut plant is the latest step of several investments in our Elastomers business to support the Vulkollan^® brand,” explains Thomas Braig, Head of the Business Entity Elastomers. “We firmly believe in the strong potential of this historic and well-known brand and are prepared, with this investment, for its future growth and the development of its customers.”

“Our Map Ta Phut site in Thailand has been well prepared to grow and is now proud and ready to contribute to the Elastomers business while supporting Covestro's overall strategy to strengthen its Solutions & Specialties segment," added Dr. Timo Slawinski, Site Manager Map Ta Phut.

The new plant in Thailand now employs more than 25 people. The elastomers produced from the raw material are suitable for a diverse range of applications: from forklift wheels, roller coaster wheels to couplings and seals for the engineering industry, among many others. The product is one of the most powerful elastomers on the market. Its superior durability, stability and thereby lowered maintenance requirements are among the key features of the material and make it a material of choice for ever more customers and applications.

"These projects will contribute to the high-quality and sustainable development in China and beyond," said Holly Lei, President of Covestro China. "They will also add to the scale and strength of our Shanghai site, which will be playing a key role in the quest of Covestro to becoming operational climate neutral by 2035."

A leading supplier for sustainable solutions

The new plant for PUDs, as well as a further line for polyester resins, from which PUDs are produced, are due to be completed in 2024. PUDs are used in more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives for a wide range of applications, including automotive, construction, furniture, footwear and packaging. For instance, Covestro’s Bayhydrol^® and Bayhytherm^® raw materials are used in basecoats for automotive OEM and refinish coatings, as well as in wood and furniture coatings and robust floor coatings, while adhesives formulated with Dispercoll^® U are used in furniture and shoe manufacturing as well as in the automotive industry. Independent of the investment of Covestro in Shanghai, its large portfolio of waterborne polyurethane coating raw materials based on PUDs for various applications also includes products of the Baybond^®, Impranil^®, NeoPac^® and NeoRez^® series. 

"With the new investment, we will be even better positioned to address the rising demand for more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives across the globe," said Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of the Coatings and Adhesives segment of Covestro in the Asia Pacific region. "As one of the global leaders in this segment, we will continue to tap the trend where our customers turn to more sustainable waterborne systems with equally good properties to replace solvent-based products."

High performance elastomers to drive sustainable growth

The new facility for polyurethane elastomers, which are widely used in industries ranging from offshore wind to solar energy as well as material handling, is expected to become operational already in 2023. The market for these flexible and durable materials in China and the Asia-Pacific region is growing faster than both gross domestic product and downstream industries.

"The new facility for polyurethane elastomers will ensure that we have a strong capacity to meet the needs of our customers," said Simon Chen, Head of Covestro’s Elastomers segment in Asia Pacific. "Our Desmodur^® based polyurethane elastomers will serve a wider range of applications as they boast excellent performance, particularly in the field of sustainable energy."

Since 2001, Covestro has invested EUR 3.6 billion into building the Shanghai integrated site, which comprises 11 plants and is the company’s largest site in the world. In the past year, the Shanghai site obtained the ISCC PLUS mass balance certification, meaning it can supply customers with larger product volumes from renewably attributed raw materials.

A major challenge here is decentralized electricity storage to compensate for fluctuations in the generation of wind and solar energy. Plastics will play a central role in all these issues in the future – from power generation and storage to use in vehicles and at home. Covestro will be showcasing a full range of innovative and more sustainable material solutions at the K 2022 trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 19 to 26.

Renewable energy on the rise

Take wind power, for example: an innovative polyurethane (PU) resin enables more efficient and cost-effective production of robust rotor blades. Covestro is working with key industrial partners to roll out this new resin technology for blade composites. The product portfolio also includes PU elastomers for offshore wind farms, which ensure kink-protected power cables and thus smooth transmission of electricity to the mainland.

Covestro is also gradually converting its global production to energy supply with green electricity. To this end, the company has signed supply agreements with European suppliers Ørsted to supply its German sites and with ENGIE for its production in Antwerp, Belgium; in both cases, the electricity comes from wind power. In Germany, Covestro has also contractually secured a long-term supply of solar power – 63 megawatts of capacity – from the country's largest solar park operated by energy company EnBW in Brandenburg. In China, Covestro also purchases solar power from the local supplier Datang Wuzhong New Energy Co. Further supply contracts for electricity from renewable sources are planned.

Energy storage challenge

The switch to renewable energy will create a major need for additional energy storage worldwide in the long term. Various storage solutions are being developed for electricity from renewable sources front-of-the-meter – immediately after generation – and behind-the-meter – before use in vehicles, buildings and industry. They will become part of a new infrastructure that includes, in large part, batteries and controllers for electric vehicles, but also stationary solutions such as charging stations and wallboxes, as well as batteries for domestic power supply.

The design of the battery in particular – the heart of the electric car – places great demands on the properties of the plastics used, especially since many cell holders have to be very well fixed in a confined space to ensure maximum range and safety of the vehicle. Covestro has developed a concept for this based on lightweight and robust polycarbonates and their blends, which also includes the production of modules, housing parts and crash absorbers for the batteries, as well as control units in the electric powertrain of the vehicle. The plastics are dimensionally stable, electrically insulating and offer a great deal of design freedom, while complying with the required high safety standards demanded by the industry and environmental guidances.

These properties of polycarbonate plastics are also beneficial in their application in charging stations, wallboxes and battery home storage systems. Covestro supports customers from material selection to component design and CAE-based simulation calculations, as well as mold flow analysis and injection molding.

On the way to a circular economy

For the applications mentioned above, Covestro now also offers polycarbonates that are climate-neutral from cradle to factory gate¹. They are produced using ISCC PLUS certified raw materials from mass-balanced biowaste and residual materials and using renewable energy. As a result, they have the potential to reduce the carbon footprint to zero.

Post-industrial waste from polycarbonates and their blends can be reused, reprocessed or recycled just like plastics after their useful life (post-consumer). To close the loop, systems for collecting, sorting and processing plastic waste, among other things, still need to be established.

Covestro has also created a much more sustainable basis for the production of two important polyurethane raw materials, the so-called isocyanates TDI and MDI, by using alternative raw materials. While the renewable TDI is based on mass-balanced and ISCC PLUS-certified precursors from biowaste and residual materials, MDI is also offered as a climate-neutral product from cradle to factory gate¹.

_{¹ Cradle-to-Gate is an assessment of a partial product life cycle from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate of Covestro. It is based on Covestro's internal calculations and was critically reviewed for plausibility by TÜV Rheinland.}

"With this strategic investment, Covestro aims to further enlarge the capacity and improve the reliability of its global supply of Desmodur^® 15 based products," says Philip Bahke, Head of Operations at Covestro Elastomers.

"On top of addressing our customers’ demand, Covestro's Barcelona site has been operating entirely on renewable energy since the beginning of 2022," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer at Covestro. "This approach is part of our ambition to reduce our environmental impact while offering our customers greater access to our solutions and specialties products."

"We are opening the new production unit for our Desmodur^® 15 prepolymers in Barcelona in parallel to the ongoing expansion of our NDI capacities in the Asia-Pacific region with the Map Ta Phut plant in Thailand," explains Thomas Braig, Head of Covestro Elastomers. "This new production unit will help us to support our customers’ growth in the cast polyurethanes high-end applications segment." The abbreviation NDI stands for naphthylene diisocyanate.

"Thanks to this new production line, our Vulkollan^® licensees, as Desmodur^® 15 prepolymers processors, will be able to further develop their business," explains Abdel Arhzaf, Head of NDI-Vulkollan^®. "Through these investments, we intend to support the demand for ultra-high-performance elastomers used for superior applications as e.g. in the material handling industry and also for a growing number of engineering applications."

Combining the highest mechanical characteristics with dynamic load-bearing capacity, elastomers based on Desmodur^® 15 prepolymers are not only one of the most powerful cast polyurethanes in the market, they are also as easy to process as conventional prepolymers. 

To do so, DNV evaluated complex and rigorous comparative tests as well as theoretical analysis by Covestro. Based on design standards for wind rotor blades (DNVGL-ST-0376:2015), DNV confirmed and adjusted the partial reduction factor γm1 of polyurethane resin processed using the vacuum infusion process. This certification applies to the Baydur^® 78BD085 PU resin and the Desmodur^® 44CP20 hardener from Covestro.

Longer and lighter rotor blade designs

Resin materials must prove their long-term aging resistance before they can be given lower safety margins that allow for broader rotor blade design and application. For the first time ever, DNV has lowered the γm1 factor of polyurethane resin, marking an important milestone for Covestro.

Compared to epoxy resin, which is often used to manufacture rotor blades, polyurethane resin shows better mechanical properties. With a lower γm1 value, rotor blade designers can take full advantage of polyurethane and also achieve greater design freedom. As the need for longer and larger rotor blades increases, so does the weight of the blades. Therefore, weight reduction has become an important issue in the rotor blade industry. Polyurethane resin enables the production of lighter blades with the same length, which greatly improves the efficiency of blade production and its applications.

Dr. Irene Li, vice president of research and development for Covestro's Tailored Urethanes business entity in Asia Pacific, remarked, "We are pleased that the excellent performance of polyurethane has been recognized by a wind power industry's certification authority. As more and more polyurethane rotor blades are installed, we look forward to further innovations in polyurethane resin and the rapid development this will bring to the wind power industry."

Innovative materials in focus

For a long time, epoxy resin was the main material used in the production of wind rotor blades. For years, Covestro has invested in research into polyurethane resins to improve rotor blade performance and reduce manufacturing costs. Today, polyurethane – a new material in the field of wind rotor blade manufacturing – is rapidly gaining recognition in the market. With this innovative solution, Covestro aims to drive the use of renewable energy and, in the end, the shift to a circular economy.

Kim Sandgaard-Mørk, executive vice president of DNV's Renewable Energy Certification Division, said, "Wind turbine blades are becoming lighter and larger, while favorable feed-in tariffs for wind energy are gradually being reduced. This poses a challenge for cost control in wind rotor blade production and development. The wind power industry is therefore looking for new material applications while optimizing designs to reduce costs while ensuring optimal performance. By demonstrating the performance of polyurethane under the new blade standards and obtaining a new safety factor certification for its resin products, Covestro is blazing a new trail for blade design."

Covestro and Tekmar Group have embraced this challenge and are collaborating to develop more sustainable subsea products by leveraging each other’s expertise in their respective fields.

Covestro Elastomers develops cast elastomer systems to provide solutions for the offshore energy market. Tekmar is a leading producer of polyurethane based cable protection systems for the global offshore energy markets.

A key component of the cable protection system is the bend restrictor, which along with the rest of the system, is designed to protect cables in the ocean for decades. So, why not propose an alternative polyurethane elastomer system for more sustainable casting of these products? One of the major challenges is the reconciliation of sustainability and technical performance, without any compromise on quality. To solve this, Covestro has developed a new polyurethane elastomer system based on its CO₂ Technology, now called Triturn^®, which positively contributes to reducing the products´ carbon footprint.

The new system for bend restrictors from Covestro, which was recently honored with the UTECH Europe Award 2021 in the CASE category (CASE stands for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers), allows to reuse CO₂ as a valuable material source in polyol production and to reduce up to 20 percent of the fossil raw materials which is normally used for the polyol. The new system also makes significant technical gains by being easier to process and improving non-aging properties in salt water. Tekmar is using the new PU system to manufacture sample products at its facility in the North East of England and is currently conducting a range of tests on the products.

Marc Bell, Managing Director at Tekmar Energy, says: "Tekmar is committed to developing more sustainable solutions for the offshore energy markets. Working with Covestro enables us to explore alternative solutions which we can share with our customers to support their transition to cleaner energy and net-zero emission targets."

Through a long-term collaboration, Covestro and Tekmar are proactively shaping the subsea protection industry by introducing an alternative and more sustainable solution to move the offshore industry forward.

"For this high performance elastomer, it is all about a close customer interaction to leverage the full benefit of differentiated innovative solutions," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Covestro. "The investment in the global Vulkollan® technical center is another consequent step of our commitment to develop elastomer solutions for our customers, especially when other elastomers are reaching their limit."

"Thanks to an extremely high mechanical strength and dynamic load capacity, Vulkollan^® is the preferred engineering material for highly demanding applications," explains Dr. Thomas Braig, Head of the Elastomers Business Entity. "For example, these elastomers perfectly suit high-end material handling applications. With this technical center, we intend to provide our customers with the opportunity to experiment and develop this elastomer in their most challenging applications."

Vulkollan^® has been one of the most powerful and reknown elastomers for decades. It is mostly used where highest performance cannot be compromised to ensure best reliability for the end-user. Whether it is to keep an e-commerce logistic platform running 24/7 or to contribute to the safety of most exciting roller coasters, Vulkollan^® is always part of the solution.

Functional material solutions – meeting the needs of multiple end markets – that will be introduced and displayed at Formnext 2021 include:

• New powder materials for selective laser sintering (SLS), high speed sintering (HSS), and new filaments for fused deposition modeling (FDM)
• E-Perform™ optimized for EnvisionTEC’s equipment, bringing the benefits of Somos^® PerFORM to a faster and more economical printer technology, released at RAPID + TCT in September
• Somos^® PerFORM HW, the DLP/LCD version of their industry-leading SLA resin Somos® PerFORM, including proven post-processing solutions developed with automated resin removal technology from PostProcess Technologies Inc.
• Somos^® WaterShed AF, the new launched stereolithography resin that simplifies 3D printing investment casting patterns
• Low Smoke filament PA6/66-GF20 FR LS, whose certifications for flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) and easy printing make it a popular flame retardant material in the railway industry; the filament is part of the filament business acquisition mid 2020
• Proven material-machine solutions for PBT printing with Farsoon
• Digital tools for scaling additive manufacturing, including the anisotropic design optimization software launched with ParaMatters at RAPID+TCT, and a virtual AM expert which helps customers navigate brand-agnostic AM solutions for their applications.

The booth will feature applications for the automotive and transportation, sports and lifestyle, industrial, electronics, and medical industries printed in a variety of Covestro’s materials for stereolithography, fused filament fabrication, fused granulate fabrication (pellet printing), DLP/LCD 3D printing and powder bed fusion.

Focusing on functional materials, industry experts will be at the booth discussing the current state of engineering-grade materials in the industry, various test methods developed by industry groups to replicate application conditions in vertical markets, and how Covestro continues to develop truly functional 3D printing solutions.

Hugo da Silva, Head of Additive Manufacturing at Covestro commented: "Everybody across the AM value chain recognizes that industrial AM will only occur if and when manufacturers have the functional materials that bring the required properties to their components. We are excited to attend a physical Formnext event and show what our two bright teams have been working on in the past two years."

Visit Covestro at booth C11 in Hall 12.1. Start early and learn more about our solutions on our Formnext web page.

Higher overall efficiency

Additively manufactured tooling offers foundries, service bureaus and other producers of investment casting tooling overall efficiency including cost savings and faster lead times without degrading part properties. Complex and intricate patterns are possible so engineers can optimize the cast for the part rather than for the mold-making process. And the ability to quickly print and test multiple design variations is more easily accomplished versus traditional manufacturing. That said, as a relatively new processing technology, it is often regarded as difficult and adding risk.

"SLA resins designed especially for investment casting offer foundries an investment casting solution that reduces risks and saves time – from printing to finishing," said Geoff Gardner, Innovation Director Additive Manufacturing at Covestro. With no detectable levels of antimony¹, Somos^® WaterShed AF enables investment casting for all types of high performance metals such as nickel-based super alloys and titanium. "It also reduces the chance of imperfections appearing on the cast part, requiring less rework to finish the part.”

Somos^® WaterShed AF is highly dimensionally stable thanks to its low moisture uptake, so parts maintain their dimensions and mechanical properties, even under varying environmental conditions. This is particularly important in applications with tight tolerances like e.g. aerospace and aviation, transportation, energy and utilities. The resin can create accurate, complex patterns with excellent surface finish. Its low viscosity makes parts easy to print and easy to clean – typical for all resins in the Somos® WaterShed family.

Covestro will showcase the new Somos^® WaterShed AF resin at the Investment Casting Institute Conference, from 7-9 November in Grand Rapids, MI, USA, and at Formnext, from 16-19 November in Frankfurt, Germany (Hall 12.1, booth C11).

¹ Measured by ICP-AES test methodology

Taking cast elastomers to a higher level

Often, cast polyurethanes replace materials in traditionally manufactured components, making their overall application more efficient. However, material innovations from Covestro aim to further improve mechanical, chemical or physical properties. In this context, the company has developed new PU casting formulations to increase application life or environmental resistance:

• Highly wear-resistant cast PU elastomers that challenge the previous use of rubber in mining applications
• Hydrolysis resistance for applications in wet environments
• Fungal resistance in contaminated or humid environments

For Covestro, innovation means more than developing new materials and products. The materials manufacturer also sets standards in terms of customer-oriented services and process efficiency.

Baulé® processing machines

Baulé® processing machines can be fully customized and scaled: They can be tailored to current processing needs and further developed to integrate functions for future requirements.

Baulé® quikmix: the practical hand caster

In hand casting, small deviations in mixing and degassing of the most demanding systems can lead to failure. To avoid this problem and simplify the processing of challenging systems, Covestro has developed a planetary mixer with unique features. This unit can be used to perfectly process all types of cast PU formulations.

Visit Covestro's booth E28 at the MECC Exhibition & Convention Center in Maastricht for a closer look at our PU castings on display as well as our processing machines and to participate in live demonstrations.

Proven Baulé® Easy services

Covestro has taken the next step in digitizing customer support. Digital solutions make life easier for injection molders today in many ways. These Baulé® Easy Services have been developed around the company´s Baulé® machines to ensure that its customers' production lines work perfectly and that any potential delay factor can be solved in a simple and effective way:

• Baulé® Easy Assist: solving process problems through remote monitoring by Covestro experts
• Baulé® Easy Parts: online identification and ordering of spare parts
• Baulé® Easy Data: production monitoring with all relevant process data

A casting companion in your smartphone

To help its customers, Covestro has developed an app that supports every operator on the customer's shop floor when working with hot cast polyurethane molded parts. The Easy Casting app is available via the Android platform. It guides each operator through the entire manual casting process. This daily casting companion allows recipes to be created and saved, automatically calculates the weight of each component, and supports the operator through every step of the process by providing practical instructions, such as reminders about temperature control or the mixing order of components, needed to produce better castings.

How Covestro digitized recipe development

To gain new insights for R&D, technical service and customer experience, Covestro has developed a set of digital tools that create digital recipe maps by leveraging the power of the design of experiments method. This method has been used to gain insight into the polyurethane casting process and recipe optimization, and was first applied to a Desmodur® MTX6076-based polyurethane cast elastomer system. By simply dragging a cursor, the Easy System Tool allows users to change processing and formulation factors and view the effects on the resulting properties of the polyurethane cast elastomer.

Visit Covestro's booth E28 at the MECC Exhibition & Convention Center in Maastricht to experience our digital solutions.

Sustainable contribution for offshore wind applications

Offshore energy generators need materials that are strong and durable. To this end, Covestro offers this industry materials that extend the life of equipment installed in wind farms by protecting turbines, submarine cables and more. On the other hand, these companies are also looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint. To this end, Covestro has developed a Desmodur® PU system made from a material with CO_₂ technology: It helps reduce the use of fossil raw materials and outperforms the previous material solution overall in its mechanical properties.

Introducing the circular economy into mining applications

In the mining industry, the need for solutions to reduce overall costs and increase efficiency in terms of performance and durability is critical. In addition, the industry is seeking insights to improve its waste management and reduce its environmental impact. To this end, Covestro offers a high-performance solution that allows waste to be reintegrated into the production process. Overall, this solution helps reduce the end-of-life costs of parts while maintaining their technical performance. In combination with the use of components made from CO_₂-free materials or bio-based raw materials, these solutions have an even more positive impact on the carbon footprint.

Mass balance approach with alternative raw materials

Mass balance is a chain-of-custody method that mixes fossil and alternative raw materials in production, but treats them separately in accounting. It enables the allocation of alternative raw materials to selected end products. The mass-balancing approach introduces alternative raw materials into the value chain while taking advantage of the existing chemical infrastructure's high efficiency and economies of scale, accelerating the industry's transition to a circular economy for plastics.

Mass-balanced products from Covestro with allocated alternative content have a significantly lower CO_₂ footprint compared to fossil-based alternatives, but show the same good quality and properties. For MDI raw materials, Covestro already relies on mass-balanced products. As part of its comprehensive program to drive the transition to a circular economy, the company is gradually shifting its system offering to alternative raw material sources, including renewables.

Visit Covestro's booth E28 at the MECC Exhibition & Convention Center in Maastricht to learn more about our solutions.

Sustainable contribution for offshore wind applications

Offshore energy generators require materials that are strong and durable. To this end, Covestro provides the offshore wind industry with materials that improve the lifespan of equipment installed in wind farms through subsea cable protection, cable kink protection, turbine protection and more.

On the other hand, these companies are also looking for ways to reduce their CO₂ footprint. To this end, Covestro has developed a Desmodur® PU system made with a material based on the CO₂ technology. The innovative solution enables processors to develop products that contain up to 20 percent carbon dioxide as a chemical raw material. They can replace some of the fossil-based raw materials previously used. Last but not least, this solution overall surpasses the previous material solution in its mechanical properties.

Introduction of the circular economy in mining applications

In the mining industry, the need for solutions to reduce overall costs and increase efficiency in terms of performance and durability is critical. In addition, as part of a global trend, the industry is seeking insights to improve its waste management and reduce its environmental impact. To this end, Covestro offers a high-performance solution that allows waste to be reintegrated into the production process.

In this solution, the steel insert of the screens is replaced by a grindable insert. After use, the screen is ground into particles, which are then incorporated into the Desmodur® PU system to produce the bottom layer of the screen. Covestro also offers a special device that can process the ground particles into the system. To produce a high-performance screen, the top layer of the screen is made with a Desmodur® based system specially developed for mining screens, which has excellent wear resistance. The screen produced in this way is fully recyclable, as it can be completely ground after use. Overall, this solution helps reduce the end-of-life cost of parts while ensuring the screen's technical performance.

Solutions for material handling

The transportation industry demands wheels that help keep logistics platforms moving. To deliver such performance with pinpoint accuracy 365 days a year, Covestro offers solutions for high resistance to dynamic loads combined with low wear for long-term performance with minimal maintenance. These solutions are based on Vulkollan® elastomers. For smaller loads, systems based on Desmodur® with an optimized price/performance ratio are suitable.

Baulé® processing machines

For all sizes of PU casting production, Baulé® processing machines offer the possibility of casting quality parts despite chemical or process limitations. These include Baulé® alpha machines – fully customizable and scalable machines that can be tailored to current processing needs. They can be further developed to incorporate features to meet future requirements. They also include Baulé® omega machines designed to meet the most demanding and specific requirements.

Baulé® quikmix: the practical hand caster for degassing and mixing When it comes to hand casting, small sacrifices in mixing and degassing can lead to failure in the more demanding systems. To avoid this problem and simplify the processing of challenging systems, Covestro has developed a planetary mixer with unique features. This Baulé® quikmix can be used to perfectly process all types of cast PU formulations.

Digital tools

Covestro has taken the next step in digitizing customer support. Digital solutions make life easier for molders today in many ways. For example, the company has developed a digital service for the quick and easy exchange of spare parts – for minimal interruptions to production processes. Customers can order spare parts via the online platform as soon as they identify a need. And by integrating customer databases with technical drawings, catalogs and machine documentation, Baulé® Easy Parts makes it easy to identify and order the parts they need in real time. Thanks to accurate references and regular price updates, this service reduces the number of quotes, speeds up the ordering process and reduces the possibility of errors.

Visit Covestro's booth at Stand 34, Hall 1 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC).

"The certification brings us one big step closer to our goal of making wind power generation more efficient," says Dirk Soontjens, who coordinates the global wind power program at Covestro. "At the same time, we are underscoring our global reach and desire to help wind turbine manufacturers around the world adopt this cost-effective, durable, and sustainable solution. For this purpose, we operate expert laboratories in Shanghai and Leverkusen and are currently scaling up more production capacity for the newly certified resin."

Advantages over epoxy resins

"The rotor blades are manufactured from the PU infusion resin and fiberglass meshes under vacuum in a process we developed together with our partners," explains Klaus Franken, who is responsible for the development of processing technologies. "Due to the high infusion speed combined with faster curing and significantly lower heat release of the PU resin compared to the commonly used epoxy resins, the productivity of rotor blade production can be significantly increased."

The DNV certification mark also confirms the good mechanical properties of the resin in rotor blades for wind turbines. This opens up opportunities for design optimization to produce lighter and longer blades.

Working with customers in the wind power value chain, Covestro offers materials that not only inspire innovation in wind turbine design, but also help boost the efficiency of wind farms on a larger scale. In addition to polyurethane resins, these include raw materials for protective coatings, including those for leading edges of rotor blades, and elastomers for guiding submarine cables.

A pillar of the circular economy

Renewable energy sources such as wind energy are becoming an increasingly important alternative to fossil fuels. In addition to developing innovative material solutions for wind turbines, Covestro aims to continuously enhance its production processes and energy systems to pave the way for a climate-neutral future. This is also a key pillar of a global program to fully align the company with the circular economy.

This also includes securing Covestro´s own energy supply from renewable sources. That's why the company has signed a supply agreement with the energy provider Ørsted to supply its German sites with green electricity starting in 2025. A contract has now also been signed with the Belgian utilities company ENGIE to supply the Antwerp site from its wind turbines, starting as early as April 1, 2021.

In its search for a more sustainable solution for the offshore industry, molding company Polarttech opted for a Desmodur^® elastomer system containing cardyon^® polyols. This cast polyurethane elastomer offers the following advantages:

• The part produced with this system shows very good hydrolysis resistance, as expected from such an offshore application, and is more durable than other elastomers such as rubber.
• The polyurethane system enables the production of elastomers with high-performance or even better mechanical properties such as tensile strength and tear resistance than corresponding conventional cast polyurethane systems made from fossil raw materials.
• The solution offers the possibility to reduce the carbon footprint and dependence on fossil raw materials.

"The use of CO₂ in chemical raw materials is a groundbreaking innovation that is in perfect harmony with our vision of recycling," comments Thomas Braig, Head of Covestro Elastomers. "What is important to us, of course, is a successful application in practical use. We are pleased when manufacturers choose this sustainable solution, and appreciate the trust they place in our innovations, especially in our Desmodur^® elastomer system, which contains cardyon^® polyols."

"Our goal is to provide our customers with the quality products they need," adds Arthur Brouwers, CTO of Polarttech. "The tests we conducted confirmed both the property profiles and the processing conditions of the system developed by Covestro." The newly developed solution surpasses Polarttech's previous system in terms of resilience and abrasion resistance. Moreover, its processing is easier thanks to a long pot life and excellent detaching when the part is demoulded. "The use of cardyon^® polyol in our system rounds off this project and makes it a perfect solution for everyone involved," says Arthur Brouwers, "especially for the environment!"

"With this strategic investment, Covestro wants to further improve its infrastructure and customer proximity and strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region," says Dr. Klaus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Covestro. "After expanding our capacities for polycarbonate films, we are now broadening the production spectrum at our Map Ta Phut site with a new investment project."

"With this additional production line, we are not only supporting our customers´ demand", explains Michael Friede, Head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment, "we are also investing in the future global growth of applications and industries with high-end requirements."

High-performance elastomer

"Due to its extremely high mechanical strength and dynamic load capacity, the elastomer is the engineering material of choice for demanding applications," explains Dr. Thomas Braig, Head of Elastomers. "In addition, its long-term functional reliability optimizes the total cost of ownership compared to other elastomers. This makes Vulkollan® the perfect material not only in the material handling industry, but also for a growing number of engineering applications."

The product is one of the most powerful elastomers on the market. It is mainly used where highest mechanical strength and abrasion resistance is required. Examples are wheels for forklift trucks as well as couplings and seals for the engineering industry.

Under all the parameters required for the production of packaging, manufacturers need efficient machines to produce and process the corrugated board and paper sheets. For this purpose, these machines are equipped with cast polyurethane parts such as anvil covers and pinch wheels.

High demands in production

These parts must have specific properties in order to produce and process corrugated paper and paper sheets advantageously. In order to prolong the working time of cutting operations, the anvil cover parts that protect the rolls must develop high cut resistance and very good hardness stability. The high rotational speed of the roller and the sharp knives are key elements that guarantee a longer and more efficient operating time of the rotary die-cutting process.

On the other hand, the corrugated board sheets must be handled carefully after cutting to avoid damage. The squeeze-free wheels used to drive the sheets not only need to be suitably designed, but must also have a good and soft grip, regardless of the paper grade.

Covestro offers elastomer solutions

Covestro Elastomers supplies polyurethane systems that are used to manufacture these two parts by means of a casting process. Systems based on Desmodur^® have proven to be a powerful solution for the requirements of the packaging and paper industry. Ester-based products have proven to be reliable solutions for anvil covers and wheels without crushing. In order to meet demand, Covestro Elastomers increased the stock of the raw materials concerned and secured the shipping with trusted carrier companies.

"Safety is a priority for all of us during the Corona crisis," says Olivier Vasseur, Sales Manager at Covestro Elastomers. "Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the solutions we have been able to develop for the packaging and corrugated cardboard industry. Overall, the challenge that this crisis presents to us strengthens the partnership with our customers."

"Times of crisis are the driving force for innovation," says Dr. Thomas Braig, President of Covestro Elastomers. "We want to use the full creative potential of our research staff to support all industries in their search for innovative elastomer solutions."

For this purpose Covestro, one of the world leading companies in high performance polyurethane solutions, provided the leading wind turbine blade manufacturer Goldwind with a special Baulé^® infusion machine for processing its high performance polyurethane resin. Goldwind and Covestro achieved a major breakthrough with the development and production of a 64.2 m long polyurethane turbine blade.

“Covestro Elastomers developed a tailor-made Baulé^® machine for the direct infusion of polyurethane rotor blades,” said Philippe Jeantin, Global Head of Machines Division, Business Segment Elastomers at Covestro. “We designed this machine to solve various challenges involved in this manufacturing process, e.g. process under vacuum, high volume casting and speed of resin infusion. This machine is therefore combining a very accurate dosing, a large variable output controlled by in-mold pressure and a real time data management to ensure a high quality direct infusion process for these large rotor blades.”

New vacuum infusion equipment for polyurethane resin processing

“Today, as the wind energy market is growing, we are faced with the challenge of producing ever-larger wind blades,” says Liu Baofeng, Professor-level Senior Engineer, Head of Windblade Material Development at Goldwind. “We were therefore looking for a reliable partner to provide us with the dispensing equipment which is suitable for processing the PU resin especially developed for larger wind blades. Our manufacture was successful thanks to the machine that Covestro engineered for the production of a 64.2 meter turbine blade. It will allow us to propel the whole industry to make sustainable and innovating progress towards such large blades. In the future, both sides will strengthen the cooperation in materials and related equipment, for promoting a continuous innovation and upgrading of materials for rotor blades.”

“The successful trail of this such long rotor blade manufacture using polyurethane resin proved that our Baulé^® machine is qualified for the direct infusion process,” adds Simon Chen, Head of Covestro Elastomers in the Asia-Pacific region. “Our local machine team in China will support our partners to achieve rapid growth and technical upgrading of the wind power industry.

”With the rapid development of the wind power industry, larger wind turbine blades have become increasingly popular in the industry. Covestro has been committed to providing innovative and sustainable products and cost-effective integrated solutions for the wind power industry to cope with market requirements and to support the expansion of renewable energy. In cooperation with industry partners such as Goldwind, Covestro will continue to contribute to the efficient development of the wind power industry.

The polyurethane wind turbine blade, from the spar cap to the shear web and the shell, is made entirely of polyurethane infusion resin, making it the first of its kind in the global wind power industry. Extensive static and dynamic fatigue tests are being carried out to evaluate the durability of the wind turbine blade before small-scale production commences in 2020.

“In the course of our R&D cooperation with Goldwind and LZ Blades, the superior properties of polyurethane resin were further proven through this trial production. We believe that Covestro’s solution can greatly contribute to the sustainable development of the wind power industry,” said Dr. Irene Li, Head of Application Development Asia Pacific in the Polyurethanes segment at Covestro.

Decreased costs and increased benefits for wind power enterprises

Test results showed that the polyurethane resin displays better mechanical properties compared with traditional epoxy resin. As it does not require post-curing and has a lower viscosity and faster infusion speed, the polyurethane resin system can greatly improve the efficiency of blade production, thus increasing the competitiveness of blade manufacturers. In the end, the solution with the polyurethane resin is more cost competitive than the one with the epoxy resin.

In addition, Goldwind has optimized the structural design of the blade, giving better play to the advantages of polyurethane’s mechanical properties and infusion speed and ensuring the smooth production of the blade.

Birong Wen, head of Goldwind’s wind blade development team, said, “Polyurethane is a very cost-effective material, and can thus provide great support for wind power enterprises when wind power prices will reach parity with thermal power after 2020. In the future, we will invest more in the development of new materials and explore how to apply these technologies to large-scale offshore blades to achieve greater competitiveness. This will help boost the upgrading of materials for wind turbine blades and the continuous innovation of the industry.”

Jitendra Bijlani, head of R&D from LZ Blades, said: “The improvement of blade production efficiency by using polyurethane not only enhances the blade cost competitiveness, but also becomes the key to serve our esteemed customers with material technology flexibility. This keeps us ahead in an increasingly challenging market environment."

With the rapid development of the wind power industry, larger wind turbine blades have become increasingly popular in the industry, resulting in higher requirements for various aspects of wind turbine manufacturing, including the infusion resin. As the inventor of polyurethane chemistry and a leader in its application, Covestro has been committed to providing innovative products and cost-effective integrated solutions for the wind power industry to ride the latest development trends. In further cooperation with industry partners, Covestro will continue to contribute to the efficient development of the wind power industry.

About Goldwind:

Established in 1998, Goldwind is a world leading wind turbine technology and energy solutions provider. Goldwind was among the “Top 50 Most Innovative Companies” on several occasions, one of 2016 “Top 100 Global Challengers”, and one of Intellectual Asset Management’s (IAM magazine) Intellectual Property Champions of China. Since Goldwind was founded, it has installed a total capacity of 50 GW in power around the world, with 31,000 operational wind turbines on six continents and in nearly 24 countries. Also, Goldwind is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (002202) and Hong Kong Stock Exchange (02208). On October 22, 2019, the “2019 Global New Energy Enterprise 500 List” was released, in which Goldwind ranked 24th.

About LZ Blades:

LZ Blades (Lianyungang Zhongfu Lianzhong Composites Group Co., Ltd. ) is a national key high-tech enterprise integrating the development, design, production and service of composite products. Belonging to China National Building Material Group (CNBM), a leading diversified PRC building materials company, LZLZ Blades is headquartered in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, the coast city which makes LZ Blades the nearest factory to the port with a distance of only 35 km. Besides, LZ Blades owns 8 blade manufacturing facilities in China.

With the faith of protecting clear water and blue sky, LZ Blades makes continuous efforts in blade development. Since the very first piece of blade was successfully manufactured in 2006, LZ Blades has earned great success in both home and abroad market. Up till the end of 2019, the accumulated installed capacity of LZ Blades reached 30,000 MW with 20,000 sets of blades being produced. Keeping the mind of forging ahead with innovation, LZ Blades dedicates to providing the best and professional services to its customers.

About Covestro:

With 2019 sales of EUR 12.4 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 17,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2019.

Forward-looking statements

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

The manufacturing sites at Covestro´s elastomers business continued to operate thanks to shift work organization, while the office employees worked remotely in home offices in accordance with local mandates and recommendations. Despite the situation, the company has been striving to advance its developments, to pursue its production, to deliver its goods and to provide its customers the support they required.

Driving developments forward

Innovation at Covestro cannot be limited in crisis times. It is quite the opposite: the company needs to unleash the full creative potential of its diverse research workforces to prepare a bright future once the crisis will be over. For that purpose, Covestro Elastomers has reorganized the work in the lab to enable all colleagues to advance their developments.

“Despite the challenge, we have had the opportunity to come up with innovative ideas,” explains Aurélie Perrenot, Head of R&D at Covestro Elastomers. “For example, our team has deepened its knowledge through a more thorough review of the literature and has made great strides in the development of the next generation of our solutions for the interface between our elastomers and other materials."

Pursuing production, delivering goods

Running a production implies being properly supplied with the goods needed to manufacture products. This applies to Covestro Elastomers and, moreover, to its customers. In order to enable the safe and continuous production of its chemicals, the company has implemented shift work. Furthermore, it secured all its shipments with trusted carrier companies.

“In spite of the difficulties,” illustrates Dr. Gaelle Baquey, Production and Technology at Covestro Elastomers, “we were, for instance, able to produce with short notice our hybrid system Desmodur^® MTX6076 and organize the shipment of a full container to Australia.” This secured delivery allowed the customer to produce screening medias for the mining industry, known for its high requirement to maximize the availability of mining equipment.

Providing support

The most important factor for Covestro Elastomers’ customers’ daily activities is to keep their production going. Unexpected interruptions can have serious consequences. However, even emergencies can be addressed remotely. The Baulé^® Easy Assist service has been designed to make that complex task much easier. It allows remote access to the machine via a secure connection – so the technicians can monitor, diagnose and provide remote assistance for maximum speed and convenience.

“Combined with our Baulé^® Easy Parts service, which enables to identify and order required spare parts in real time, our customers benefit from an efficient support wherever and whenever required,” says Romain Petit, Machines After Sales Manager at Covestro Elastomers. “These services have been very powerful over this crisis: they have allowed for instance to check a machine in Brazil, ship the parts to fix a defective clack valve and assist its replacement thanks to digital communication tool. As crucial as it is, our customer support service also managed to remotely organize a four days training for the setting of a machine just delivered to Italy.”

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

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

The highlight: a large multifunctional display

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

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

New seating concepts for future mobility

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

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

Flexible table construction

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

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

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

Change to circular economy indispensable

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

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

Turning away from crude oil

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

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

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

Digitalization as a growth driver

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

A stage for visitors

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

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

Theme Days from Automotive to Science

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

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

Automotive (October 16)

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

Science Celebration (October 17)

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

Start-up Challenge (October 20)

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

Local talent search

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

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

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

Industry pioneer

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

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

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

Digitalization creates added value

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

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

Completely networked society

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

Auto interior of the future

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

Textiles with CO₂

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

Renewable energies on the rise

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

About Covestro:

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

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

Forward-looking statements

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

The elastic fibers are made with a chemical component that consists in part of CO₂ instead of oil. This precursor called cardyon^® is already used for foam in mattresses and sports floorings. And now it is being applied to the textile industry.

“That’s a further, highly promising approach to enable ever broader use of carbon dioxide as an alternative raw material in the chemical industry and expand the raw materials base,” says Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro. “Our goal is to use CO₂ in more and more applications in a circular economy process and save crude oil.”

Sustainable production process

The fibers are made from CO₂-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using a technique called melt spinning, in which the TPU is melted, pressed into very fine threads and finally processed into a yarn of endless fibers. Unlike dry spinning, which is used to produce conventional elastic synthetic fibers such as Elastane or Spandex, melt spinning eliminates the need for environmentally harmful solvents. A new chemical method enables carbon dioxide to be incorporated in the base material, which also has a better CO₂ footprint than traditional elastic fibers.

“The CO₂-based material could be a sustainable alternative to conventional elastic fibers in the near future,” states Professor Thomas Gries, Director of the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University. “Thanks to our expertise in industrial development and processing, we can jointly drive establishment of a new raw materials base for the textile industry.”

Development of the method of producing fibers from CO₂-based thermoplastic polyurethane has been funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). It will now be optimized as part of the “CO₂Tex” project, which is to be funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) so as to enable industrial production in the future. “CO₂Tex” is part of “BioTex Future,” a project initiative of RWTH Aachen University. The initiative is devoted to developing production and processing technologies to facilitate the future market launch of textile systems from bio-based polymeric materials.

Development partners display interest

What makes the CO₂-based TPU fibers so special is their properties: They are elastic and tear-proof and so can be used in textile fabrics. Initial companies from the textile and medical engineering sectors have already tested the CO₂-based fibers and processed them into yarns, socks, compression tubes and tapes.

The aim of launching CO₂-based textiles on the market is to promote a material cycle in the textile and clothing industry based on sustainable resources.

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 employed approximately 16,800 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2018.

About Institute of Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University:

The Institute of Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University is involved in the project. The ITA is part of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the RWTH and conducts research in the fields of materials, production processes and products for technical applications of textile structures. It has a fully equipped technology center with about 250 textile machines and test benches across all textile process stages from spinning to joining. Furthermore, various laboratories (textile testing, polymer analysis) and workshops are staffed by experts (mechanics, electronic software and hardware).

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts issued by the management of 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.