#Techtextil 2022

2022-06-21

Covestro at Techtextil 2022

Covestro will present more sustainable polyurethane coating systems and films at Techtextil 2022, including for such synthetic products. © Covestro

Development and performance go hand in hand - Focus on waterborne and efficient coating systems

Covestro will showcase new polyurethane (PU) coating systems and films at this year’s Techtextil trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, that are more sustainable and environmentally compatible in terms of raw materials, processing, and properties. "For example, we will be presenting new PU dispersions as binders for digital textile printing and a new two-component (2K) PU high solid system of our INSQIN® technology for textile coating," explains Thomas Michaelis, Head of Textile Coating in the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America (EMLA) region at Covestro. In addition, Covestro’s booth will focus on variants of Dureflex® TPU films, which are skin-compatible and guaranteed free of harmful substances according to the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Good haptics and durability with high color intensity

Digital textile printing enables economical production of small batches, shortens time-to-market, and reduces waste volumes by up to 85 percent compared to analog printing technologies. PU dispersions are currently establishing themselves in the production of inks for digital inkjet printing processes because, among other things, they enable a stable printing process due to their low viscosity and particle size. With Impranil® DL 1602, Covestro is launching a new anionic, aliphatic-based PU dispersion that can be used to formulate water-based pigment inks for digital inkjet printing. The dispersions show excellent stability at high shear rates. They produce very finely divided ink dispersions with good jetting behavior that are characterized by high re-solubility. "This minimizes the risk of the pressure nozzles becoming clogged. Long and therefore economical runtimes in printing are the result," explains Dr. Inga Bargende, Digital Printing Expert at Covestro. Other strengths of PU-based inks include good abrasion and rub resistance and high color and wash fastness.

Long pot life and high grain stability

The new INSQIN® 2K PU system consists of Impranil® HS 1062 and Imprafix® IO 3330. It mainly targets synthetics for car interiors. The High Solid system does not require blocking agents. "Nevertheless, it is characterized by long pot lives during processing. This means, for example, that the processor does not necessarily have to use PU mixing heads. It also gives the grain a high degree of stability and is particularly resistant to hydrolysis," explains Michaelis. Potential applications include instrument panels, seats, door panels, or steering wheels.

Certificate for TPU films free of harmful substances

Several TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) films in Covestro’s Dureflex® product line have now been certified to the 100 by OEKO-TEX® standard. The films are breathable, waterproof, tear-resistant and, above all, kind to one’s skin. That makes them the material of choice for sports articles and outdoor clothing, but also for furniture and seat covers for cars. In 2019, several Platilon® brand TPU film grades have already been certified to the standard.

Covestro will also be showcasing its partially biobased Platilon® H2 EC hotmelt film at Techtextil. "It exhibits excellent adhesion during lamination, is very heat resistant and easy to process. Applications include textile labels, sealing strips, laminates made of glass and aluminum, and conductive tracks for the textile and automotive industries," explains Dr. Elmar Lins, Segment Manager Consumer & Industrial Solutions Specialty Films for the EMLA region.

Techtextil will be held at Messe Frankfurt from June 21st to 24th, 2022. Covestro’s booth in Hall 11 is number D12.

Covestro to exhibit solutions for a more sustainable and productive textile industry at Techtextil 2026

Covestro will present a broad portfolio of material innovations for textile coatings, adhesive films and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) at Techtextil 2026 (Hall 11.0, Booth C79). The exhibits will demonstrate how advanced solutions can enhance durability, recyclability and manufacturing efficiency across applications such as automotive, infrastructure, protective apparel and sportswear. A particular focus will be on more sustainable coating technologies, including antimicrobial systems based on INSQIN® in combination with AGXX from Heraeus Precious Metals, as well as the integration of Pontacol® thermoplastic adhesive films into Covestro’s offering.

Covestro showcases monomaterial concept in autonomous SUE People Mover

UE | STUDIOS has unveiled the fully autonomous electric minibus “Self-driving Urban E-Shuttle” (SUE), placing strong emphasis on sustainable material design. Developed within a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union, the vehicle will begin public road testing this year. At the core of the concept is the consistent use of recyclable monomaterials to improve circularity at end of life.

Covestro and Heraeus Precious Metals collaborate to enable safer, more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings

Laboratory tests reveal that AGXX antimicrobial surface technology from Heraeus Precious Metals is fully compatible with Impranil® PU dispersions which are part of the waterborne INSQIN® textile coating technology from Covestro, paving the way for more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings. This discovery comes at a key moment for the textile coatings industry. As the sharing economy continues to grow, more people are coming into regular contact with high-use surfaces, creating ideal conditions for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms to thrive.

Covestro celebrates decade of innovation and sustainable growth

Covestro celebrates its 10-year anniversary today. Since its carve-out from Bayer in 2015, the company has developed into a global leader in high-performance polymer materials and a pioneer in circular economy solutions. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, Covestro’s materials are now embedded in countless applications worldwide – from mobility and construction to electronics, healthcare, and consumer goods.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.