#Dyeing, Drying, Finishing

2016-10-12

Covestro makes new breakthroughs in sustainable textile coatings

Covestro presents breakthroughs in its INSQIN® waterborne polyurethane (PU) technology at K 2016 in Germany, the world’s largest plastics trade fair. A new process technology for the production of PU synthetic base material combined with new products in the Impranil® range enables significant reduction in manufacturing cost of PU textiles and a broader range of fashionable material effects.

INSQIN® enables wider application scope and reduction in manufacturing costs

In accordance with an increasing demand for sustainable textile materials, INSQIN® waterborne polyurethane technology enables an entirely new level of material sustainability for PU-coated fabrics, key materials for apparel and footwear, furniture and diverse other industries. By enabling solvent-free material manufacturing processes, the technology brings significant improvement to worker safety, eliminates risks of environmental pollution and drastically reduces the consumption of water and energy.

More flexible production PU base materials are essential intermediates in the manufacture of many PU synthetic textile materials, particularly those used in the fashion industry, since they permit a very high level of production flexibility that is of critical importance in this industry. The new technology developed using INSQIN® shows the same high performance, especially softness, of materials manufactured using solvent-based products.

Furthermore, it can be embossed directly, bringing about a significant reduction in manufacturing costs and permitting manufacturers to bring an enormous range of surface effects to the material, another key success factor in the fashion industry. Manufacturers can adopt this new achievement utilizing existing production lines, without need for a major investment.

“We are particularly proud of this new breakthrough in the technology for base material manufacture”, says Nick Smith, Global Head of Textile Coatings. “It will further increase the appeal of our waterborne PU material to the textiles industry, that is searching for sustainable materials. It is a wonderful example of a combined development of both new products and textile coating application technology, that we carried out in close concert with key customers.”

Broadening the application of waterborne PU textiles Covestro has also launched new PU dispersions that further broaden the application possibilities of waterborne PU. The new products focus on both the creation of new material effects and on new performance levels.

Newly launched Impranil® CIL enables the production of fine nubuck material, a popular material effect that until now has posed a significant challenge for waterborne chemistry. Similarly, Impranil® DLI is a new PU dispersion designed for excellent wrinkle or fold recovery in the coated material. This is an important performance criterion in some applications, for example garment. The new materials are under trial with top brand owners in the industry.

Pic: The new Impranil® eco range of waterborne, bio-based polyurethane dispersions of Covestro has a renewable content of up to 65 percent.

Next leap in sustainability Covestro has developed a range of waterborne, bio-based polyurethane dispersions. With a renewable content that reaches as high as 65 percent, Impranil® eco contributes to a further reduction of CO₂ emissions, thus further improving the sustainability of waterborne PU. The first products in the series have been designed for applications in fashion apparel, accessory and footwear, and more products are being developed for other uses.

Visit Covestro at the K 2016 plastics trade fair from October 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf, Germany, Hall 6, Stand A 75.

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.

BW Converting expands Southeast Asian presence with new agency partnerships in Vietnam and Indonesia

BW Converting is strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia through new agency partnerships in Vietnam and Indonesia, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting textile manufacturers across the region. The expansion comes as BW Converting prepares to exhibit at SaigonTex 2026 (April 8–11, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) and INDO INTERTEX 2026 (April 15–18, Jakarta International Expo, Indonesia).

Orthopac RVMC-20 plus: German Engineering for Smarter Weft Straightening

In times of rising cost pressure and growing quality demands, textile producers worldwide are searching for solutions that combine precision, efficiency, and sustainability. With its latest innovation, the Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, Mahlo once again demonstrates the strength of German engineering: improving proven technology to meet today’s challenges.

DIENES at Techtextil 2026: Flexible pilot lines for bio-based fiber development

The growing relevance of bio-based materials in technical textiles is accompanied by increasing demands for reproducibility, high-quality data, and scalable process routes. Especially when working with cellulose and its derivatives, chitosan, lignin-based approaches, or bio-based PAN as a carbon-fiber precursor, R&D teams face variable feedstock quality, tighter process windows, and the need for reliable comparability across trials. This calls for flexible, data-driven experimental setups that can be reconfigured efficiently when recipes, solvents, and raw-material batches change.

Gunold showcases embroidery product range and services at Texprocess

At Texprocess 2026, GUNOLD will present numerous hands-on examples related to embroidery in Hall 8, Booth E20. The focus is on creative embroidery designs as well as the extensive product range of threads, nonwovens, and accessories for embroidery and embellishment. “Trade visitors can once again look forward to many new and creative embroidery designs. Of course, we will also showcase the matching products required to bring these ideas to life,” announces Marketing Manager Stephan Gunold.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.