Covestro plans new plants for polyurethane dispersions and polyester resins

• Significant increase of production capacity at the Shanghai site
• Environmentally compatible products replace solvent-based types
• Versatile applications in automobiles, furniture, textiles and shoes

Covestro’s existing production plant for polyurethane dispersions in Shanghai. © Covestro Polyurethane dispersions are used in many applications, including UV-curable gloss and matte floor coatings. © Covestro

Covestro is planning a new production facility for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) at the Covestro Integrated Site in Shanghai, China (CISS) to address the rising demand for environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives in the Asia-Pacific region. A further line for polyester resins, from which PUDs are produced, is also to be built there. The plants are due to be completed in 2024.

“With these investments, we are preparing for the continued growth in demand for these products and expanding our leading global position,” says Michael Friede, Global Head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at Covestro. “In the future, customers will continue to rely on replacing solvent-based products with more sustainable waterborne systems with equally good properties. Thanks to our versatile production, we are at the same time flexible and can satisfy many different requirements.”

Covestro develops tailor-made PUDs for a wide range of industries, thereby creating new growth opportunities. The company is a leader in research and development of products and process technologies and supports customers around the globe with technical service.

Wide range of applications

The areas of application for polyurethane dispersions are highly diversified. For instance, Covestro raw materials from the Bayhydrol® UH, U and UV series and Bayhytherm® are used in basecoats for automotive primary and refinish coatings, as well as in wood and furniture coatings and robust floor coatings. Adhesives formulated with Dispercoll® U are used in furniture and shoe manufacturing as well as in the automotive industry.

The low-solvent components also play an important role in the production of coated textiles and fiber-reinforced plastics.

https://www.covestro.com/press/covestro-plans-new-plants-for-polyurethane-dispersions-and-polyester-resins/