Covestro expands Coatings and Adhesives lab in Shanghai
Faster and stronger formulation capabilities
Materials manufacturer Covestro is pleased to announce the completion of a major expansion of its laboratory for coating and adhesive formulations in Shanghai, strengthening its ability to deliver faster, tailored solutions to customers across Asia Pacific.
The lab, part of Covestro’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Center, now spans over 3,000 square meters—an increase of about 20 percent—and features cutting-edge equipment such as a new synthesis unit for waterborne polyurethane dispersions—a class of polymers key in enabling low-VOC coatings and adhesives. The unit enhances efficiency in scale-up simulations, troubleshooting and customer sampling.
The facility now supports a broader portfolio of raw materials including polyurethanes, acrylics, polyesters and sustainable alternatives. It enables faster formulation, testing and adaption to customer requirements across multiple industries—from automotive and renewable energy to construction, printing and packaging, and beyond.
The lab has integrated AI-driven formulation tools, simulation and robotics to automate and digitize development processes. These enhancements boost speed, precision and consistency while reducing material waste and carbon footprint—further accelerating the development of new products and formulations for customers in the region.
“This expansion is a significant step forward in strengthening our formulation capabilities and supporting our customers’ innovation needs more closely and quickly. It reinforces our strategy of investing in high-growth markets and sustainable solutions,” said Anand Khot, Head of Coatings and Adhesives Asia Pacific, Covestro.
“The lab also enhances cross-functional collaboration within our regional innovation center, leveraging shared technical and digital infrastructure to drive innovation efficiency. It’s a key milestone in delivering local-for-local solutions with global impact,” said Dr. André Rittermeier, Head of Group Innovation and Sustainability Asia Pacific at Covestro, who also leads the Asia-Pacific Innovation 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.