Covestro launches localized production of medical-grade TPU in Asia Pacific
- Changhua site meets international regulatory standards for global medical applications
- Enables faster, more flexible regional supply to meet growing demand
- Expands company’s medical-grade TPU production beyond North America
Covestro has launched production of its new Desmopan® Rx medical-grade Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) at its Changhua site in Taiwan, which has recently been qualified for medical-grade TPU manufacturing. As Covestro’s second facility worldwide—after New Martinsville in North America—qualified to produce medical-grade TPU, the Changhua site localized production of these high-standard materials in Asia Pacific, enabling more flexible and efficient regional supply to meet growing demand.
“With rising healthcare standards worldwide and an aging population, we’re seeing accelerated demand for medical-grade TPU solutions. With our Changhua site, we can now serve customers with such materials at shorter lead times and with enhanced supply security,” says Kevin Ho, Head of Sales and Market Development TPU Asia Pacific at Covestro. “By leveraging our Zhuhai production site and the new application development center in Guangzhou, we are enhancing regional synergies to support our customers with high-performance, globally compliant TPU solutions.”
Local production, global standards
Produced at the Changhua site in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles, the new Desmopan® Rx grades are engineered to meet stringent international requirements for medical applications and minimize contamination risks. The materials are verified for biocompatibility in accordance with ISO 10993 and China’s YY/T 1557 standards for TPU used in infusion, transfusion and injection equipment. They are free from added plasticizers, exhibit low extractables and are compatible with multiple sterilization.
“Our Desmopan® Rx grades meet established industry requirements for medical applications,” explains Dr. Frank Yang, Head of Asia-Pacific Innovation TPU at Covestro. “We’re committed to ensuring product safety and regulatory compliance while helping customers across Asia Pacific unlock greater value in regulated medical markets.”
Enabling advanced healthcare solutions
Desmopan® Rx grades are specifically developed for medical device components such as thin-walled flexible tubing, catheters, connectors, component housings, endoscopes, healthcare devices and wearables. Tubing made with Desmopan® Rx can be effectively used in a wide range of clinical applications, including surgical procedures, hemodialysis, drug delivery systems and wound care.
In addition, Desmopan® Rx grades are well-suited for medical nonwoven applications due to their compatibility with melt-blown processes. Nonwovens made from these grades combine functional performance with compliance to medical waste regulations, making them ideal for surgical drapes, wound dressings, gowns, sterile packaging and protective equipment.
Key material benefits include:
- Biocompatible formulation suitable for direct patient contact applications
- High clarity for medical observation
- Excellent kink resistance to reduce tubing blockage risk
- Superior flexibility and dimensional stability
- Strong chemical resistance against oils, cleaning agents and disinfectants
- Outstanding abrasion resistance for demanding applications
Covestro is presenting the new Desmopan® Rx TPU grades at Booth N5E24 at CPHI & PMEC China, Asia’s premier pharmaceutical event, running through June 26 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
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 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 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.