Improved occupational safety in car refinishing

While the initial car paintwork is almost always carried out by robots, car refinishing is mostly performed by hand, so improved occupational safety is particularly important here. A new polyurethane coating system from the northern Spanish manufacturer BESA Bernardo Ecenarro S.A., based on hardeners from Desmodur^® ultra line of Covestro, is exemplary in this respect. "Thanks to the use of these hardeners, we can now offer powerful solutions for improved occupational safety – for the benefit of our customers and the environment," says Lorenzo Cerrada, BESA's Technical Director.

The ultra line crosslinkers contain only an extremely low residual amount of less than 0.1 percent by weight of monomeric diisocyanates. The quality of the hardeners is of the same high level as with conventional crosslinkers. Although handling cured polyurethane coatings is harmless to health, monomeric diisocyanates are considered to be respiratory and skin sensitizing if appropriate protective measures are not taken.

"We are pleased to be able to meet the growing market demand for improved occupational safety in the field of car refinishing. The cooperation with Covestro gives us the opportunity to position ourselves as a pioneer in the market," says Amaia Mujika, Marketing Manager at BESA. Thanks to Covestro's ultra line of hardeners for automotive refinish coatings, the Spanish company is already well prepared for the REACH regulation on the limited use of diisocyanates, which is expected to be passed by the EU Commission in the course of this year.

About Covestro:

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

Find more information at www.covestro.com.
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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.