Covestro Opens TPU Development Center in China
Covestro has opened its new thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) Application Development (AD) Center in Guangzhou, China. The opening marks an important milestone in the implementation of the company's strategy to bring innovation closer to customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
The new AD Center complements the company 's future largest global TPU production site in nearby Zhuhai, which started operations at the beginning of this year, as well as the existing regional research and development center in Changhua. Together, the three sites form an integrated network along the entire value chain - from research and development to application development and large-scale production.
The TPU market in Asia-Pacific, particularly in southern China, continues to see strong demand from fast-growing industries such as consumer electronics, automotive and specialty films. The AD Center in Guangzhou strengthens the company's ability to translate this demand into customized material solutions through closer technical collaboration with customers.
"This new Application Development Center is a strategic cornerstone of our global TPU strategy to grow in high-value and new segments in Asia Pacific," said Andrea Maier-Richter, Global Head of TPU at Covestro. "Together with our customers, we will explore, pilot and scale new application areas for TPU in robotics, healthcare and mobility solutions - in close collaboration and right in the heart of the market."
Expertise in Speed and Precision
The center was developed to help customers act faster. The processing simulation lines replicate real production conditions in extrusion and injection molding, enabling rapid adjustments to formulations and material modifications. These capabilities help to reduce test cycles, shorten time-to-market and tailor solutions to specific application requirements.
"Asia is home to some of the most dynamic and fast-paced industries in the world, and our customers expect partners who can keep up with this pace. This center is our answer to that, bringing together our cross-business capabilities under one roof here in South China," said Holly Lei, President Covestro China. "It also demonstrates our strong commitment to this market and our belief that real innovation comes from being close to customers and industry."
Value Creation Through Cross-Business Synergies
A special feature of the AD Center in Guangzhou is its cross-business setup: Teams from Engineering Plastics (EP) and Specialty Films (SF) work closely together at the same site, enabling faster integration of skills. The EP unit contributes compounding and color expertise and supports internal color matching for applications such as consumer electronics, footwear and Paint Protection Films (PPF). The SF unit enables pilot production and commissioning of end products for high-performance films and other extrusion-based applications. This integrated approach bundles competencies across business entities and creates additional added value for customers.
"Innovation at Covestro is driven by the markets and always aims to combine our global strengths across business entities for our customers," said Christian Haessler, Head of Global Innovation TPU at Covestro. "TPU is a material for a more sustainable future, and the Guangzhou AD Center will enable the development of highly versatile and recyclable TPU material solutions in one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in the world."
The Guangzhou AD Center is now open to customers and partners across the Asia Pacific region, offering end-to-end support from initial material consultation to pilot production and troubleshooting.
