Covestro Press

The football world as the guest in Europe's third largest stadium

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0200

After four years of renovation, the venerable Luzhniki Olympic Stadium comes back to life for the 2018 World Cup in Moscow. It has 81,000 seats, 2,000 VIP seats and 2,500 media seats. It was the setting for the opening match and some preliminary games, further matches for the round of 16, the semi-finals and the final match will also take place here.

During the reconstruction phase, the arena received new grandstand roofing with multiwall sheets made of Makrolon^® polycarbonate from Covestro. The idea was no coincidence: even the old roofing was made of this high-tech plastic. Even after years of use, the panels showed only barely visible scratches and slight loss of color. When the stadium was renovated for the World Cup from 2015, the positive experience led to the decision to use Covestro's high-tech product once again.

Large-area roofing
Around 36,000 square meters are covered with 25 millimeters thick, white-colored multiwall sheets. Some 30 trucks were needed to safely transport the panels with a width of 1.20 meters and a length of 9.80 meters to Moscow.

The X-structure of the Makrolon^® multiwall sheet ensures high stability in all kinds of weather and withstands even high snow loads of up to one ton per square meter. Thanks to new additives and a special UV coating, the polycarbonate sheets are guaranteed to be protected from weathering for 25 years. Another advantage are the very good fire classification.

A lightweight that saves costs
Cost savings of 40 to 45 percent are another advantage in comparison to a glass roof construction. Polycarbonate sheets have a lower weight, making it easier to transport and process with much less effort. The substructures, mostly made of metal or aluminum, can also be designed in a more sophisticated way.

Solid and multiwall sheets made of polycarbonate have already proven their worth in stadium construction and many other large-scale projects. In Germany, numerous new or renovated sports facilities bear impressive testimony to the abundant possibilities of Makrolon^® sheets. Many other countries around the world, such as China, Poland, Brazil, Romania and Austria, also have examples of their application diversity.

Great history
The Luzhniki Stadium was opened in 1956. It was the venue for numerous Russian and international sports competitions, including the 1980 Olympic Games, as well as a stage for concerts by internationally renowned artists.

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

For more information please see www.covestro.com.

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.

Polycarbonate sheets "shape" the path of light

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0100

At the Light + Building lighting trade fair, Covestro invites you to come and follow the path of light. From 18 to 23 March 2018, the company will be presenting material solutions based on polycarbonate for energy-efficient LED lighting technology at Stand A84 in Hall 4.0.

Digital, minimized, refined – light for modern working environments is one of the top themes at this year's Light + Building trade fair. Glare-free office lighting and slim designs are the tasks that Covestro will be challenging with its new polycarbonate sheets and presenting them at the trade fair.

Structured illumination without glare effects
Makrolon^® DX Sky and Makrolon^® SX Sharp are transparent solid sheets. They each have a smooth and a textured surface with specially developed microprismatic optics produced in the extrusion process. Both types of sheeting have increased light transmission, as no scattering additives are used in the production process.

The diffusing sheet, the Makrolon^® DX Sky, has wide light scattering which is generated by the special arrangement of the lenses on the surface. It is perfect for industrial lighting applications, for example.

Makrolon^® SX Sharp solid sheets are also made without scattering additives. But thanks to the specially developed micro-optical surface structure, it "shapes" the light for specific illumination. Lighting designers and architects can easily achieve a UGR (Unified Glare Rating) of 19 and meet the requirements of the DIN EN 12464-1 standard.

Both types are very well suited for the illumination of interiors and are used for example for lamp covers at the workplace. The optical structure refracts the light and reduces, despite the brightness, annoying glare effects and thus provides a pleasant lighting environment.

Illuminated advertising put into the scene
With Makrolon^® UV AdLight, Covestro puts customer brands in the right light. To accomplish that, the diffuser plate harmoniously combines light transmission and diffusion. It boasts UV protection on both sides and has a glossy and a matt surface. Printing on the glossy side is no problem. Depending on the design, it can be used flat or thermoformed. The material is great for all types of backlit illuminated advertising signs, which should be robust, low-maintenance and durable.

Design options and fire protection included
With its simple processing, the material can be brought into various shapes according to the designer's ideas. The polycarbonate sheets have a good fire classification, guaranteeing fireproof solutions in the interior.

In addition to the light-forming and anti-glare solid sheets, Covestro's LED range includes various diffuser sheets for which uniform light scattering with good light output are important. These are white, opaque reflector plates that reflect up to 97 percent of the LED light and are used either as reflective surfaces or as housing parts.

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

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

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

Plastic solutions for LED lighting technology

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0100

From 18 to 23 March, Light + Building, the world's leading trade fair for lighting technology and building automation, will once again be opening its doors at the exhibition grounds in Frankfurt am Main. At Stand A84 in Hall 4.0, Covestro will be showcasing material solutions based on high-performance polycarbonate for applications in optics, light guides, diffusers, reflectors and heat sinks.

Under the motto "Walk the Way of Light with Smart Materials", the company will be informing visitors about current developments in the targeted bundling, scattering and reflection of LED light, and offers a wide range of polycarbonate granulates, films and sheets.

See and feel the materials
This year, Covestro will use the Light + Building trade fair to present a wide range of material solutions for future efficient lighting to visitors. The Sample Bar gives visitors the chance to see and touch dozens of samples – an ideal way to discover the fascinating characteristics offered by modern plastics.

They also attract the interest of designers. They gain a great deal of freedom, especially when it comes to the functional and individual design of light sources and interiors.

Highly transparent polycarbonate for secondary optics
Makrolon^® LED 5102 is a UV-stabilized, highly transparent polycarbonate for secondary optics in the general lighting industry. With its high transparency of more than 90 percent and long lifetime, it outplays major competitor products and existing Makrolon^® grades, and enables manufacturers to easily meet the demanding requirements of their lighting customers. Good flowability allows smooth processing specifically in case of larger parts with increased requirements for dimensional accuracy and less sink marks.

New product types for heat sinks
Freedom of design, even lighter weight and easy processing – these are the main features of new polycarbonate types for heat sinks. In exactly these properties, the Makrolon^® TC range of products (the abbreviation stands for thermally conductive) offers clear advantages over the conventionally used aluminum. They also facilitate the integration of functions.

Glare-free offices
Glare-free lighting and slim designs are core requirements for the office design of the future. Covestro has tackled this challenge and will be presenting two new transparent solid polycarbonate sheets at the Light + Building trade fair: Makrolon^® DX Sky and Makrolon^® SX Sharp. Both types have smooth and textured surfaces with special microprismatic optics. Both types are very well suited for the illumination of interiors and are used for example for lamp covers at the workplace.

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

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

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

Light advertising skillfully staged

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0200

A strong brand needs a strong presence – not only in the media but also live on location. Outdoor advertising is key for a company in this respect. For this area of visual communication, Makrolon^® UV AdLight solid polycarbonate sheets give the ideal combination of design freedom and efficiency.

They are provided with a UV protection layer on both sides and have a glossy and a matt surface, have high impact strength at low weight and are virtually unbreakable. The sheets can be easily installed with little risk of destruction, for example, by vandalism. It is possible to print easily on the shiny side and they can be used flat or thermoformed, depending on the design.

Uniform illumination

LEDs are very energy efficient lamps with a long life. A disadvantage is that they have - as background illumination – individual and clearly visible light spots, so-called LED hotspots. One of the main advantages of the Makrolon^® UV AdLight polycarbonate sheets is that they harmoniously combine light transmission and light diffusion. In the case of backlighting using LEDs, the light is transmitted unchanged through the translucent solid sheet to ensure a homogeneous light distribution. Even with slim applications, such as light boxes, visible LED hotspots are a thing of the past. Even without backlighting, the polycarbonate material attracts attention through its bright white surface.

Makrolon^® UV AdLight is easy to machine with conventional tools from wood and metal processing and can withstand continuous use of temperatures between -100 and 120 degrees Celsius. Another highlight is the good fire protection classification (European standard EN 13501-1, B-s2-d0) as well as the ease of cleaning with simple water and a microfiber cloth. The product is particularly durable and has a guarantee for weather resistance.

Versatile applications

The sheets are suitable for all types of backlit illuminations that should be robust, low-maintenance and durable. Examples are shop signs, logos, profile letters, pylons, displays, city light posters, light boxes or even emergency signs in public buildings.

About Covestro:

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

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.