#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 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 Gravimax MMX-R X-ray sensor platform opens up new application fields

The demands placed on quality control in web-based production processes are increasing: materials are becoming more complex, basis weights are varying more widely, and at the same time, pressure is growing to make processes more efficient and transparent. Precise measurement data across the entire web width has therefore become a key factor in ensuring stable production processes. With its new Gravimax MMX-R sensor platform, Mahlo introduces a radiometric measurement solution designed to set new standards in determining basis weight and material composition. The platform combines advanced X-ray technology with newly developed signal processing, enabling measurement tasks that previously often required multiple sensor technologies.

BW Converting to present its Baldwin TexCoat® G4 at Techtextil 2026

BW Converting will present its Baldwin TexCoat® G4 precision spray finishing system at Techtextil Frankfurt 2026, taking place April 21-24 at Messe Frankfurt. Visitors to Hall 12, Booth C56B, will have the opportunity to explore how this advanced spray technology helps textile manufacturers improve finishing quality, increase efficiency and reduce resource consumption across a wide range of applications.

Smart sensors, smart savings - Reducing energy and cost in textile finishing

As energy prices, sustainability requirements and quality expectations continue to rise, manufacturers of technical textiles face increasing pressure to optimize efficiency while ensuring process reliability. At the same time, skilled labor shortages require production systems that are intuitive, automated and easy to manage. PLEVA addresses these challenges with robust, maintenance-friendly sensor technologies combined with intelligent process control.

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.