#Techtextil 2019

2019-05-09

Textile coating of furniture

The INSQIN® technology from Covestro is a water-based textile coating that does not use any solvents. At the Techtextil trade fair from May 14–17, Covestro will demonstrate that it can open the way to new consumer worlds, using the example of a refrigerator that is protected by a water-based polyurethane textile coating.

Create lasting value with the water-based INSQIN® technology

“It is an unusual eye catcher, that shows what is possible with INSQIN®, and it should inspire the industry to develop new concepts,” says Thomas Michaelis, head of Textile Coatings for the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America (EMEA/LA) region.

At the same time, the textile-coated refrigerator fits perfectly with a current trend: The border between the kitchen and the living room is becoming increasingly blurred, creating integrated living spaces. “Accordingly, more consumers are asking for customized household appliances and furniture that are elegant and appear valuable,” says Thomas Michaelis.

Demand for high-value look and feel

It goes without saying that household appliances are still almost always coated in white or have a stainless steel look. Why shouldn’t these and other home furnishings also be equipped with cozy and high-quality materials, as long as they are robust and environmentally friendly? The global warming potential of textile coatings made using the INSQIN® technology is 45 percent lower than that of solvent-based systems. In terms of chemical and mechanical resistance, the more environmentally compatible products achieve the same excellent level as solvent-based systems.

The INSQIN® technology stems from Covestro’s conviction that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. Accordingly, Covestro’s motto at Techtextil 2019 in Frankfurt am Main, hall 3.0, stand D 22, will be: “Material Solutions inspired by Sustainnovation.”

Covestro, FILK Freiberg, and OUT e.V. develop flexible, conductive polymer smart textile system

As the smart textiles market continues to grow across healthcare, personal protection, sportswear, and automotive applications, developers are seeking new ways to integrate electronic functionality directly into textiles, without the rigidity and complexity of conventional wiring. To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

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.

Ence and ShareTex begin initial testing of the ATENEA innovation project to promote textile recycling in Spain

Ence and ShareTex are making progress on the Atenea R&D project, which aims to develop a complete value chain for textile recycling in Spain. Specifically, the goal of the ATENEA project—which is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI)—is to connect all the necessary stages for the recovery of textile waste, from collection and management, through recycling and transformation into new raw materials, to their incorporation into new textile products.

DePoly Inaugurates its Showcase Plant in Monthey Switzerland

What if used plastic bottles, PET packaging material and polyester textiles could become raw materials just as high performing as virgin resources? That is the ambition of DePoly, a circular materials company based in Sion, Switzerland which inaugurated its Showcase Plant in Monthey on July 6th & 7th. The first depolymerization facility of its kind and scale in Switzerland, this industrial Showcase Plant represents a major milestone in the company's growth and its journey toward commercialization.

Commission clarifies rules on plastic bottles recycling

The European Commission today adopted new rules on recycling of single-use plastic beverage bottles made primarily of polyethylene terephthalate (PET bottles). These rules establish, for the first time, a methodology to calculate, verify and report chemically recycled content. This is part of the Commission’s December 2025 plastics package.