Covestro bets on TPU’s ‘sustainable’ future
Covestro has opened a Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU) Application Development (AD) Centre in Guangzhou, China, which it described as "a significant milestone in bringing innovation closer to customers".
TPU is used by the footwear sector for various parts of the shoe, including midsoles, outsoles and heel counters.
The new centre complements the company’s soon-to-be largest TPU production site, in Zhuhai, which began operations this year, and its regional R&D centre in Changhua.
Engineering Plastics (EP) and Specialty Films (SF) teams are co-located on the same site, enabling close collaboration. The EP unit brings compounding expertise and colour competence, supporting in-house colour matching for footwear.
Dr Christian Haessler, head of global innovation for TPU at Covestro, said: “TPU is a material for a more sustainable future, and the Guangzhou AD Centre will enable the development of highly versatile and recyclable TPU material solutions.”
