Covestro and ALBIS Celebrate 60 Years of Partnership at Fakuma 2026
- Partnership began in 1966 with the distribution of Bayer’s polymer products in Germany and is being celebrated at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen
- Collaboration spans Covestro’s high-performance polymer portfolio - from polycarbonate and polycarbonate blends to thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) - backed by decades of distribution expertise
- Partnership strengthens customer value, technical know-how and supply reliability
- Both companies are targeting joint growth in e-mobility, healthcare and applications focused on resource efficiency and circularity
Covestro and ALBIS are marking the 60th anniversary of their distribution partnership at Fakuma 2026. Established in Germany in 1966 with the distribution of Bayer’s polymer products, the collaboration has since expanded across markets, industries and areas of technical excellence.
Today, the collaboration includes Covestro’s polycarbonate, polycarbonate blend and thermoplastic polyurethane portfolios, as well as solutions for applications with specific requirements relating to resource efficiency and circularity. The two companies combine Covestro’s materials expertise with ALBIS’ application knowledge, distribution network and proximity to customers in numerous international markets. At Fakuma, Covestro and ALBIS will use the anniversary not only to look back, but also to highlight the role of their long-term partnership in an ever-changing plastics industry. As markets become more volatile and customer requirements more complex, reliable partnerships help preserve application know-how, strengthen supply reliability and accelerate the development of innovative solutions.
“Longevity in a partnership is not passive – it requires constant reinvention. What has lasted for 60 years is not only the original agreement, but the shared commitment to solving customer challenges together,” said Dr. Guido Naberfeld, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales and Market Development Mobility at Covestro.
“Many applications require not only the right material, but also deep application understanding, fast technical support and reliable supply. Together with ALBIS, we bring our expertise and solutions closer to customers – from joint application development and technical problem-solving to a shared pipeline of innovative projects,” said Nikolai von Harpe, Head of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes EMLA at Covestro.
ALBIS and Covestro are also pursuing new opportunities beyond Europe. In recent years, ALBIS has expanded its presence in markets including Brazil, Israel, India and North Africa, creating additional access to local customers and applications. Looking ahead, both companies aim to further strengthen their collaboration in high-growth, future-oriented applications. On that basis, the partnership is well positioned for its next phase of growth.
“Anyone can be a good partner when business is easy. The real test is what happens when markets and customer requirements change,” said Horst Klink, CEO of ALBIS. “Over the past six decades, we have been through many of those challenges together. That experience makes this partnership so valuable today and gives us a strong basis for future growth.”
Partnership at a glance
- 60 years of continuous collaboration, from 1966 to 2026
- Origin: distribution of Bayer’s polymer portfolio in Germany
- Expanded across Europe, Turkey, the Maghreb region, Brazil, Israel, India and other international markets
- Scope today: polycarbonates and TPU, plus distribution, technical collaboration, licensing and material solutions for applications requiring resource efficiency and circularity
- Future focus: e-mobility, healthcare, more sustainable packaging and applications involving recycled or renewable feedstocks and circularity
- Anniversary marked at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen
About ALBIS:
ALBIS is one of the world’s leading independent distributors of Standard Polymers, Engineering Plastics and Thermoplastic Elastomers. With deep technical expertise and one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in plastics processing, ALBIS helps customers identify the right material solutions for their specific requirements – reliably and close to their markets. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the company operates 26 locations across EMEA, APAC, India and Latin America, with over 500 employees.
More information: www.albis.com
About Covestro:
Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 12.9 billion in fiscal year 2025. At the end of 2025, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
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.