Covestro to showcase cast elastomer expertise at UTECH Asia / PU China 2026
The Material Effect
- Special focus on Vulkollan®: Applications in material handling, railways, robotics and agriculture, alongside options with a lower carbon footprint including chemical recycling
- 40 years of Baulé® casting machines: Anniversary marked with a dedicated Vulkollan® processing machine on display
Under the motto “The Material Effect,” Covestro will showcase its cast polyurethane expertise at UTECH Asia / PU China 2026, taking place in Shanghai from November 3 to 5. The trade fair brings together material suppliers, processors and application experts from across the polyurethanes industry.
“At UTECH Asia / PU China, we will demonstrate the material effect of cast polyurethane, turning materials, processing and applications into tangible value for our customers,” said Thomas Braig, Head of Elastomers at Covestro. “By combining material expertise with processing know-how and application knowledge, we help customers develop solutions that meet their specific performance and sustainability requirements.”
Special focus on Vulkollan®
A key highlight of Covestro’s booth will be Vulkollan®, a high-performance polyurethane elastomer used across a wide range of industries. Applications include wheels for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), railway buffer elements, shock-absorbing and protective components for robotic feet and joints, and agricultural rollers.
Covestro will also spotlight more sustainable options within its Vulkollan® portfolio, including Vulkollan® CQ elastomers. By incorporating mass-balanced or low-emission raw materials, Vulkollan® CQ can reduce the carbon footprint by up to 35 percent compared with the conventional grade.[1] In parallel, Covestro is progressing on end-of-life solutions for Vulkollan® through a new pilot plant for the chemical recycling of high-performance elastomers at the Leverkusen site.
In addition, Covestro will launch its Desmodur® 15 R prepolymer series, expanding its portfolio alongside the established Desmodur® 15 S series. Prepolymers are key building blocks in cast polyurethane elastomers, helping determine the performance characteristics of the finished material. The new series will offer customers additional options for high-performance cast elastomer applications thanks to a specific polyol.
Together, these solutions expand Covestro’s portfolio for high-performance cast polyurethane applications, offering customers greater flexibility to meet diverse application requirements, with selected options also enabling carbon footprint reductions.
40 years of Baulé® casting machines
At UTECH Asia / PU China 2026, Covestro will showcase a new Baulé® casting machine specifically designed for the Vulkollan® process. This year also marks 40 years of Baulé® machines, first introduced in 1986 for cast elastomer processing. Building on this experience, Covestro combines materials, processing and application expertise to support the development and production of high-performance cast polyurethane parts.
Solutions across industries
Beyond these focus areas, Covestro offers cast elastomer solutions for a broad range of other industries and applications, including sealing, construction, oil and gas, and mining.
For more information, visit Covestro at UTECH Asia / PU China 2026 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (Hall 1, Booth 150), November 3–5.
[1] Estimated product carbon footprint (PCF) calculated in accordance with ISO 14040 (life cycle assessment), cradle-to-gate, versus conventional Vulkollan® based on a mass-balance approach.
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.