"With our automated laboratory, we can work together with our customers on the future of coatings and adhesives. Because it operates almost completely autonomously and learns from our existing knowledge and data lake as well as newly generated data, it makes the process of optimizing and developing formulations many times more efficient and precise. This allows us to optimize existing formulations faster or even develop completely new formulations for and together with our customers. We can say: We are reaching a new level of modern research," says Thomas Büsgen, head of the laboratory.

Testing Formulations with ����AV Binders and Crosslinkers 

Specifically, the new laboratory will test formulations with ����AV binders and crosslinkers for coatings and adhesives. Their clever selection ensures properties such as hardness, adhesion, opacity, gloss, or durability. Such formulations typically consist of seven to 15 components, whose combination determines the properties of the final product. The resulting high number of possible combinations means that standard formulations are usually used. The new laboratory now enables more extensive test series, also thanks to the computer-aided design of test series and the use of automation.

"Our new automated laboratory gives us more possibilities for testing formulations. It relieves our specialized laboratories of their standard tasks and can analyze samples more systematically. This allows us to focus our expertise and experience even more on customer-specific topics or try approaches we couldn't have implemented otherwise," says Martin Merkens, Head of Sales & Market Development EMLA in ����AV's Coatings and Adhesives business entity. “This will particularly help us in the area of circular economy: Alternative raw materials, for example bio-based or recycled materials, can be tested faster and evaluated for their properties in the final product.”

Facility to Run Tens of Thousands of Tests Annually 

The new facility can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to run tens of thousands of tests annually. This sets a new standard in terms of number, variety, precision, and testing speed. Another advantage: The automated laboratory generates a large amount of structured data. The knowledge about formulation possibilities and influencing factors thus will grow rapidly. The collected data, combined with measurement data from existing studies, is evaluated using special machine learning algorithms to further improve formulations. Artificial intelligence is also used to predict new experiments based on property goals and simultaneously verify them in the automated laboratory – creating a self-learning system.

In addition to formulating water- and solvent-based 1K and 2K systems, the automated laboratory also performs numerous material tests on the raw materials themselves, their formulations, and applied films. Application can even take place in different climates in the lab to simulate product use under application conditions. The progressing laboratory digitalization across ����AV also enables easy forwarding of generated samples to more specialized testing laboratories. This makes it possible to supplement the datasets with market-specific test results and identify relevant dependencies more quickly.

����AV at European Coatings Show 2025 in Nuremberg 

At the European Coatings Show from March 25-27 in Nuremberg, experts from application development and segments such as automotive, printing & packaging, or construction & architecture will be present to discuss new, joint approaches made possible by the laboratory with customers. Visit the company's booth in Hall 4A, Stand 438. There you can learn more about the laboratory and other innovative material solutions and technical developments for the coatings and adhesives industry.

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Special focus is placed on technologies that increase productivity while promoting circular economy. These include an automated laboratory for formulation development, material screening, and polymer analytics; an innovative Direct Coating process for the automotive industry, and a TÜV-certified, cloud-based solution for product-specific lifecycle analyses (LCA).

"Our customers' and partners' challenges are becoming increasingly complex. Be it accelerated development cycles, ever-higher product requirements, or circularity and recyclability. We offer innovative solutions that not only convince technologically but also make an important contribution to greater sustainability," explains Martin Merkens, Head of Sales & Market Development EMLA in ����AV's Coatings and Adhesives business entity. "At ECS 2025, we demonstrate how we make customers and partners successful and can accompany them every step of the way. We look forward to personal meetings and discussions!"

Automated Laboratory Revolutionizes Application Development

At ECS, the company will announce an automated laboratory for optimizing formulations with ����AV's binders and crosslinkers for coatings and adhesives. With this, ����AV sets new standards in the productivity of its application development. The new facility can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to conduct tens of thousands of tests annually. This sets a new benchmark in terms of quantity, variety, precision, and testing speed. Another advantage: The automated laboratory generates a large amount of structured data. The knowledge about formulation possibilities and influencing factors thus will grow rapidly. The collected data, combined with measurement data from existing trials, is evaluated using special machine learning algorithms to further improve formulations. Application development experts and specialists from segments such as automotive, printing & packaging, or construction & architecture will be present at ECS to discuss new collaborative approaches now made possible by the laboratory.

Digitalized Lifecycle Analyses for Greater Transparency

As a pioneer in the digital transformation of the chemical industry, ����AV announced in January the use of a new cloud-based solution for product-specific lifecycle analyses (LCA). The TÜV Rheinland-certified software solution not only enables significantly faster and more precise calculation of a products' environmental footprint but also identifies concrete approaches to reducing the CO₂ footprint, thus supporting ����AV's customers in their sustainable transformation.

Direct Coating: Solutions for the Automotive Industry

With the innovative Direct Coating technology, ����AV presents a pioneering solution for the automotive industry that fundamentally simplifies the coating process while making it more sustainable. This technology enables direct coating of plastic components in the injection molding machine without pretreatment or separate painting and drying. At ECS, ����AV will display products that were manufactured using this process.

Focus on Sustainability

����AV aims to fully align itself with the circular economy. This includes using alternative raw materials, transitioning to green energy, and developing recycling technologies and recyclable products. To make sustainable products more easily identifiable, the company has introduced the "CQ" label, which stands for "Circular Intelligence." Products labeled this way contain at least 25% alternative raw materials. Several examples used in coatings and adhesives will be exhibited at ECS. For example, food packaging coated with fully recyclable, partially bio-based resins, or water-based polyurethane dispersions for textile printing.

Additional information on ��DZ�����ٰ���’s presence at the ECS can be found at: or on the .

Desmophen^® CQ NH polyaspartics contain at least 25 percent bio-based content, contributing to a lower carbon footprint, and maintain the high performance of their fossil-based predecessors. These resins offer excellent chemical and weather resistance, ensuring long-lasting stability and protection across diverse environments. With rapid curing properties, they enhance construction efficiency for a quicker return to operations. Additionally, they are formulated to minimize VOC and odor emissions, supporting a reduced environmental impact. Key applications include wind turbine coatings, flooring coatings and grouts.

Notably, the Foshan site is entirely powered by renewable energy sourced from offshore wind farms in southern China, further reducing the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of Desmophen^® CQ NH.

“����AV is dedicated to promoting a circular economy, which includes expanding the use of alternative raw materials and transitioning to renewable energy in production,” said Anand Khot, Senior Vice President of Coatings and Adhesives for Asia Pacific at ����AV. “Our local production of partially bio-based Desmophen^® CQ NH demonstrates our commitment to building a stable and efficient supply network in Asia Pacific that quickly adapts to market needs, supporting our customers’ and end-users’ requirements for increased circularity.”  

Desmophen^® CQ NH is part of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s Pasquick^® fast-curing coating technology and can also be paired with other partially bio-based products, such as Desmodur^® CQ aliphatic polyisocyanates, within the Pasquick^® technology portfolio.

Currently, ����AV locally produces about 75 percent of its products sold in the coatings and adhesives industry across Asia Pacific, reinforcing the company’s commitment to strengthening manufacturing in the region.

Beyond Leather’s approach captures the value of apple waste – of which around 4 million tons is produced every year – by upcycling it into a high-performance and more sustainable alternative to conventional leather made with animal skin. With a high content of short fibers and polymers, apple waste (including cores, seeds, and stems) can be activated to give a strength and suppleness to the final material, recreating the functional and aesthetic properties that make leather so desirable. To produce LEAP^®, the apple-waste blend is applied to a TENCEL^TM textile backing and finished with the protective coating containing INSQIN^® PU.

Inspirational leather-look products; aspirational performance

For brand customers and end consumers looking for leather alternatives, the launch of LEAP^® stands as a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration.

“With around 25% of an apple discarded after pressing, we wanted to capture this waste’s value in premium applications. We believe that looking into waste streams and using upcycling is crucial to reduce emissions. It is our mission to show how much value there is in waste and, ultimately, make waste beautiful,” says Mikael Eydt, Co-Founder & CEO, Beyond Leather Materials.

“����AV is delighted to have contributed to the development of this leather alternative made with apple waste, which has significant potential to improve textile sustainability in a wide range of industries,” says Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings ����AV. “Our low-VOC, low-emission, waterborne, and partly-bio-based INSQIN^® coating technology is the perfect fit for LEAP^®, enabling the premium durability, flexibility and perceptual quality needed in today’s market while offering a more sustainable solution for partners like Beyond Leather. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in applications spanning everything from small goods typically made of leather such as wallets, purses, and key cases, to automotive interiors.”

Under this partnership, one of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s key roles is to provide more sustainable plastic solutions along with their carbon footprint data. Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert, an AI-driven sustainability platform, plays a crucial role in realizing the whole life cycle emission accounting from recycled materials to final consumer products leveraging digital technology such as blockchain. It also provides an end-to-end solution for industrial companies to measure and optimize their carbon footprint across their production lifecycle.

“As a materials manufacturer with a high focus on sustainable material innovation, ����AV is committed to driving circularity and climate neutrality. Our collaboration with Alibaba Cloud marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a circular and climate-neutral future,” says Lily Wang, Global Head of the Engineering Plastics Business Entity, at ����AV. “With our joint solutions, we are supporting our customers to improve their supply chain transparency while building trust among environmentally conscious consumers, thereby driving industries towards a greener future.”

“We are proud to partner with ����AV in pioneering sustainable solutions that drive positive environmental impact,” says William Xiong, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. “By leveraging our advanced cloud infrastructure and expertise in sustainability technology, we are enabling value chain partners to trace materials with enhanced transparency and efficiency as well as to optimize their carbon footprint to achieve their sustainability target. This partnership exemplifies the transformative power of technology in creating a more sustainable future.”

The joint solutions offered by the two parties have already been implemented in the consumer goods sector. For example, ����AV collaborated with China’s leading beverage maker Nongfu Spring to recycle its 19-litre water barrels into post-consumer recycled polycarbonate. The material was then used by KACO, a niche stationary brand in China, to produce gel pens. Through Alibaba Cloud Energy Expert’s carbon emission accounting and digital tools, consumers can scan a QR code on the packaging of the pens to trace the origin of the material, see a detailed breakdown of the carbon footprint at each stage in the production chain and the number of carbon emission slashed compared to the virgin materials.

The automotive supplier Webasto has developed the prototype of a Roof Sensor Module (RSM) in an elegant design. It is equipped with a polycarbonate panel for aesthetic and seamless integration of sensors for automated and autonomous driving. For the module’s bezel, ����AV supported with its injection molding expertise at the technical center at its Headquarters in Leverkusen.

The bezel is produced on ����AV's 2300-ton injection molding machine. The first shot is made of the transparent polycarbonate Makrolon^® AG, which is highly permeable to various sensor signals. For the second shot, the black, mineral-reinforced PC-ABS Bayblend^® T95 MF is used. Thanks to the combination of both materials, the roof module meets high mechanical requirements while offering an attractive design with glass-like surfaces and transparent sensor windows.

Integration of components and coating

In addition, the combination of these materials provides the necessary design freedom for the integration of all relevant electronic and mechanical components. Many of such parts are furthermore attached by elements that are formed in the second shot. Suitable potential coating systems for the RSM are polysiloxane coatings, which are sprayed via a high-speed rotary bell to ensure homogeneous layer thicknesses over the entire component surface.

In use, radar and lidar sensors, as well as cameras, measure the distance and speed of objects in front of and next to the vehicle and also reliably detect traffic lights, traffic signs and road markings. In order to function optimally, the temperature of the electronics must be regulated. This is ensured by an integrated thermal management system. The high heat deflection resistance of polycarbonate ensures that the roof module remains in shape even at high outside temperatures and strong sunlight and that the functionality of the sensors is not impaired.

The Makrofol^® ST polycarbonate film, which is introduced in specific sections and is characterized by a defined transmission spectrum in the visible and infrared range, enables a seamless design with high transparency for LiDAR signals. In addition, the film serves as a carrier for Canatu's transparent heating system. This de-icing function as well as the specially developed cleaning system ensure flawless operation even under adverse weather conditions.

All in all, this development offers not only a portfolio of engineering solutions, but also concepts for developers of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) who need reliable and cost-effective bezels for their 3D imaging systems.

At the international VDI Congress PIAE on June 19 and 20, 2024 in Mannheim, Germany, ����AV expert Christoph Klinkenberg and Head of Research and Development Magnus Sviberg from Webasto Roof & Components SE will give a presentation on this development on June 19 from 12:15 p.m. The co-author is Rainer Hagen from ����AV. The company will also be exhibiting at the accompanying exhibition.

Textile coatings

From more sustainable raw materials to textile recycling technologies, ����AV is supporting the coated textiles value chain in its sustainability transformation thanks to its waterborne INSQIN^® technology. Exhibits on show at Techtextil include a new concept for automotive interior door panels, breathable vegan coatings for functional textiles, and a next-generation, partly biobased leather alternative made using apple waste.

Modern coatings

��DZ�����ٰ���’s Desmomelt^® U range of thermoplastic resins is a new class of aliphatic, non-yellowing polyurethane (PU) powders for adhesives, ideal for processing into filament or foil for digital printing applications. Desmomelt^® U will be showcased in an automated 2D-printed hot melt application for shoe uppers, where it can significantly reduce the number of processing steps in footwear production and make end-of-life disassembly of shoes easier.

Specialty films

With its Platilon^® and Dureflex^® film solutions, ����AV helps makers of sportswear and outdoor gear overcome the challenge of balancing processing efficiency, high performance, and consumer safety. The team will showcase the combined power of these thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films in inflatable surfing kites and wings, enabling reliably excellent performance in this demanding application while meeting production requirements, sustainability needs and safety certification standards.

Thermoplastic polyurethane

Durable, versatile, soft touch, and more sustainable, ��DZ�����ٰ���’s recyclable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) Desmopan^® is an innovative mono-material solution that brings strong mechanical and sustainability properties to a diverse array of applications. Techtextil visitors will discover the benefits of Desmopan^® solutions in more circular truck tarps, attractive artificial leather, and high-performance yarns that help meet the demands of the fashion industry.

"With our wide-ranging selection of high-performance solutions, ��DZ�����ٰ���’s booth will be an essential destination for Techtextil visitors," says Thomas Michaelis, Head of Textile Coating in the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America (EMLA) region at ����AV. "We’re excited to showcase our latest textile innovations in different markets and applications, and to connect with other industry players who share our ambition of enabling a more efficient, more sustainable textile value chain."

Techtextil will be held at Messe Frankfurt from April 23 to 26, 2024. Attendees can find ����AV in Hall 11.0, Booth E76.

The wire and cable industry plays a central role in the global networking of society, especially in the transmission of energy and data. Reliability and efficiency are of paramount importance for these products. That is why ����AV supports its customers with durable, high-performance and more sustainable material solutions.

The materials presented include:

• Coatings, inks and matrix: ����AV's innovative coatings, inks and matrix materials are designed to provide exceptional protection and performance in various applications in the energy and telecommunications industries. With more than 40 years of industry experience in fiber and cable materials, ����AV offers improved design capability, field deployability, reliable performance, ultra-fast curing and excellent protection against attenuation and micro-bending.
• Polycarbonates: ����AV's polycarbonate materials are characterized by excellent strength, transparency and versatility, making them well-suited for a wide range of energy and telecommunications applications. From optical fibers to electrical housings, ����AV's polycarbonates ensure dimensional stability and impact resistance over a wide temperature range.
• Thermoplastic polyurethanes: ����AV's thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) solutions combine flexibility, toughness and chemical resistance, making them ideal for the protection of flame-retardant cables in various energy and telecommunications applications.
• Elastomers: ����AV's elastomer materials are tailored for exceptional durability and strong resistance against wave and tidal action for energy subsea applications. They offer thermal stability, impact resistance and reliable protection against flex fatigue and hydrolysis. They are durable and reduce maintenance in the offshore wind industry.

Visit ����AV at booth H51 in hall 10 of wire fair to learn more about its innovative materials for the energy and telecom value chain. Further information:

"The vegan idea fits perfectly into the overall concept of AQUAIR^® and is a logical further development for us," says Matthias Krings, Managing Director of . Performance and responsible product design in all steps form the basis of the highly breathable overall system. The starting point is the synthetic layer, which can be individually designed in terms of color and grain.

"The microporous PU system is based on our aqueous and more sustainable INSQIN^® technology, with which the production of coated textiles also requires up to 95 percent less water and 50 percent less energy compared to conventional production processes," explains Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings at ����AV. In combination with the technologies from Trans-Textil, this results in unique properties with a wearing comfort and functionalities that raise the to a new level and are now also verifiably vegan according to the PFI standard.

In addition to textile substrates, the test seal also included waterproof, breathable Topaz membrane systems based on polyurethane (PU) and polyester (PES), so that there is a great deal of creative freedom in product design with regard to structure, coloring and technical properties. The PU hotmelt systems used to manufacture the multi-layer composite products, which are applied at Trans-Textil using the high-quality and durable Point-in-Point^® lamination technology, have also been vegan tested. Water-repellent properties are already integrated in AQUAIR^® and no additives need to be added which are currently often viewed critically. All components and process steps are also tested according to Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX^® for processing without harmful ingredients.

In a regional and responsibly designed supply chain, breathable synthetic products "Made in Germany" are created with AQUAIR^® for the design of shoe components, leisure, sports and outdoor clothing, bags and accessories as well as for use in functional upholstery and furniture – even for small series or samples. The production as roll goods is the basis for an optimal use of material in the manufacture. If required, compatible Topaz tapes are available for seam sealing, which are also based on water-based formulation components.

Since the new dispersion has the same outstanding properties as the established one, as well as a high solids content of 55 percent, customers can now replace Impranil^® DLU one-to-one with Impranil^® CQ DLU in their processing operations – and thereby easily achieve an additional increase in textile coating sustainability. Sustainability is increasingly becoming a key purchasing criterion not only for the industry, but also for brand owners and consumers. CQ stands for "Circular Intelligence". The core idea of the CQ concept is to label ����AV products if the alternative raw material base exceeds a content of 25 percent, as in this case.

As the raw material for INSQIN^® technology, the established Impranil^® DLU already enables aqueous textile coating without the use of solvents. The ecological footprint of such a coating is significantly lower than that of solvent-based systems. "With the innovation Impranil^® CQ DLU as part of our Impranil^® CQ portfolio, we are now enabling the textile coatings industry to take the next step towards more sustainability through the increased use of renewable resources," says Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings at ����AV.

Impranil^® CQ DLU is suitable, among other things, for producing synthetic materials for sports articles, technical textiles, car interiors, and bags. Properties of coatings based on the new high-performance dispersion include excellent hydrolysis resistance, very good lightfastness, as well as high tensile strength and scratch resistance. In addition, the coatings have a pleasant feel and good alkali resistance. Impranil^® CQ DLU can be used for both the intermediate coat and the top coat. The dispersion can be applied in various ways: The spectrum ranges from direct or transfer coating to printing processes and microfiber dipping.

Visit us at the Automotive Interiors Expo

From December 5 to 7, 2023, visitors to the Automotive Interiors Expo in Stuttgart can explore the new PU dispersion for themselves: A car interior door panel coated with Impranil^® CQ DLU will be demonstrated at the ����AV exhibition stand no. 3424 in Hall 3.

“China is one of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s largest markets and one of the world’s largest polyurethane markets. ����AV remains committed to strengthening its presence within the market while fostering the advancement of industry clientele. The completion of our new facility for polyurethane dispersions (PUD) in Shanghai exemplifies our dedication to meeting the burgeoning demand for sustainable coatings in Asia Pacific, especially China,” affirmed Anand Khot, Senior Vice President of Coatings and Adhesives Asia Pacific at ����AV.

The #STATUSNEXT series events feature online seminars and virtual exhibition halls. These platforms are thoughtfully designed to offer industry colleagues a flexible, convenient, and highly efficient communication channel.

Commencing with innovation: expanding product portfolio  

����AV remains customer centric, perpetually broadening its product portfolio to meet the industry’s stringent requirements for carbon reduction, emissions reduction, and heightened quality and efficiency. The latest additions comprise:

·       The Desmodur^® N 31500 hardener, innovatively developed in China, is designed for metal coatings in railway transportation. It meets industry needs for low-carbon emission and high-efficiency coating processes. It is suitable for two-component non-baking high-solids coating systems, enabling fast drying and DTM (direct to metal) processes. In a single rolling stock workshop, this system potentially saves about 25 percent of energy for 1,000 carriages annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 24,000 tons. Additionally, Desmodur^® N 31500 can enhance production efficiency and workplace hygiene in automated coating and sanding processes.

·       Desmodur^® ultra E 30800, a solvent-free polyisocyanate crosslinker based on HDI, is specifically designed for the Pasquick^® coating system. It has diverse applications in flooring, grout, anti-corrosion coatings, and beyond. With low monomer content, it prioritizes industrial hygiene and safety. Its low viscosity removes the need for solvent dilution during use, striking a balance between extended pot life and fast drying. Additionally, it provides excellent water resistance and durability while maintaining a balance between rigidity and flexibility.

·       The upgraded waterborne acrylic emulsion, NeoCryl^® XK 824, is locally developed to address challenges posed by adverse weather and environmental conditions in industrial coating applications. This upgraded product excels in early water resistance, crucial for safeguarding against potential damage in humid environments during the coating and curing process, ensuring the surface integrity of workpieces. With its high solid content, NeoCryl^® XK 824 enables the rapid stacking of workpieces after coating, significantly enhancing production efficiency. Furthermore, its remarkable salt spray resistance enhances the performance of industrial light anticorrosive coatings, making it suitable for use as primers, topcoats, and mono-coat systems on metal substrates.

·       Driven by sustainable development trends in the packaging industry, paper-based packaging materials are widely used. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s new waterborne acrylic emulsion, NeoCryl^® A 2085, is specially developed for barrier coating of food-contact-grade paper packaging. This product provides excellent water and grease resistance, effectively preserving the taste and quality of packaged foods. This innovative technology serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional polyethylene (PE) laminating films. Packaging featuring NeoCryl^® A 2085 is a responsible option, aligning with regulations to ensure consumer health and safety by avoiding the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Additionally, NeoCryl^® A 2085 contributes to promoting paper recycling and reuse, as demonstrated by repulping test results exceeding 90 percent.

·       In the pursuit of a circular economy, alternative raw materials play a crucial role. ����AV introduces Decovery^® CQ 6010, a partially bio-based waterborne acrylic emulsion with 37 percent bio-based content. Its barrier performance is comparable to traditional fossil-based products when used for barrier coating. This coating ensures food freshness with a low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR). Decovery^® CQ 6010 serves as a viable alternative to multi-layer paper-based food and non-food packaging materials produced through polyethylene (PE) lamination coating processes. Test results, including a repulping test exceeding 90 percent, align with the commitment to recycling and reusing paper-based food packaging.

Cultivating service capabilities

����AV has been actively expanding its product portfolios to meet evolving development needs across various industries. Concurrently, the company has been enhancing its service capabilities to effectively cater to the diverse demands within specific sectors. In collaboration with Du Huanzheng, a professor from Tongji University and FoodTalks, an industry portal, ����AV has co-authored a comprehensive white paper titled “Sustainable Packaging Innovation Trends: How Food and Beverage Companies Achieve ‘Comprehensive Recycling’.”  This publication delves into strategies for guiding packaging technology towards recyclable and sustainable pathways, covering a range of topics—from the recycling of paper-based materials to monomaterial flexible packaging and the utilization of bio-based inks and adhesives.

����AV will leverage its innovation capabilities and local market insights through this partnership to address the challenges facing the industry in its transition to sustainability, such as high energy consumption resulting from complex multi-step baking processes and the low efficiency associated with manual coating application.

“In alignment with the objectives of China’s 14^th Five-Year Plan, which emphasize green advanced manufacturing and the high-quality development of railroad vehicles, CRRC Tangshan has been proactively engaging with innovative materials manufacturer ����AV and paint maker Paint-Key to explore energy-saving and emission-reduction solutions,” said Ma Xiaofeng, Director of Manufacture Technology Center at CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd. “We have already made tangible progress, and with this partnership, we are excited about our role in guiding the railway transportation industry into a new era of sustainability.”

“Paint-Key is committed to fostering scientific and technological innovation. Our primary focus is to transform scientific and technological breakthroughs into specialized coating solutions that effectively address industry-specific challenges,” said Ye Fuqiang, President of Suzhou Paint-Key Material Science Co., Ltd. “The cooperation agreement with ����AV and CRRC Tangshan aims to advance various aspects of railway transportation painting, including production efficiency, energy conservation, carbon reduction, and the promotion of water-borne solutions.”

��DZ�����ٰ���’s low-carbon emission coating solutions for the railway transportation industry play a pivotal role in CRRC Tangshan’s transition towards a greener, low-carbon future, serving as the central focus of the latest cooperation agreement.

High-speed railroad car components, such as wheel bogies, traditionally require multi-layer coating and multi-step baking production processes. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s low-carbon coating solution is designed for two-component, non-baking systems, enabling rapid curing and direct to metal (DTM) application for enhanced efficiency. This innovation empowers CRRC Tangshan to streamline its coating processes and significantly reduce workshop energy consumption related to coating baking. Consequently, this solution is expected to save approximately 20 million kilowatt-hours annually in the final production workshop. This estimation is based on an annual production of 1,000 carriages, equating to roughly 25 percent of the current energy consumption. Additionally, the adoption of a non-baking system is expected to contribute to an annual reduction of approximately 24,000 tons in CO₂ emissions.

Traditional putty used in railway vehicle bodywork relies on unsaturated polyester systems and manual application. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s low-carbon solution revolutionizes this process by enabling automated spraying and sanding of putty, along with rapid ambient curing. This breakthrough has the potential to significantly enhance vehicle production efficiency, with an estimated reduction of 40 percent in the production cycle time.

“We’re committed to a ‘customer-centric’ approach, leveraging our robust research and development capabilities to comprehensively support urban rail and high-speed rail in elevating their green manufacturing standards,” said Li Jinqi, Vice President of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s Coatings and Adhesives segment in Greater China. “Beyond our energy-saving and carbon-reduction solutions, we also provide cutting-edge waterborne coating solutions for the railway transportation sector, providing practical greener solutions from the raw material end. By doing so, we aim to transform the vision of a circular economy into reality.”

��DZ�����ٰ���’s waterborne topcoat solution for high-speed trains has successfully completed 300,000 kilometers of off-road testing, fulfilling commercial standards. This solution exhibits outstanding weather resistance and chemical durability, capable of withstanding adverse factors like wind, sand, stones, and changing weather conditions, satisfying the stringent requirements for high-speed train topcoats. It also delivers a high-gloss finish that meets the aesthetic design requirements of premium trains.

For a closer look at ��DZ�����ٰ���’s solutions for a fully circular future at the CIIE, visit us at booth 3B6-05, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from November 5 to 10, 2023.

A key highlight in this portfolio is Dispercoll^® U2682, designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of the consumer electronics industry in temperature-sensitive lamination applications. This innovative PUD enables adhesive activation at lower temperatures (50-55°C). It not only enhances adaptability to various materials and environments but also lowers energy consumption. It enables single-sided gluing, resulting in minimal adhesive usage and waste while maintaining strong adhesion.

In response to the footwear industry’s pursuit of streamlined processes, ����AV has introduced the cutting-edge Dispercoll^® U 68 PLUS 1K waterborne adhesive solution for shoemaking. This solution boasts outstanding hydrolysis resistance, washing durability, initial bonding strength, and heat resistance, addressing the industry’s specific adhesive demands. Furthermore, it optimizes both equipment and labor costs associated with on-site mixing processes.

��DZ�����ٰ���’s newly enhanced waterborne polyurethane adhesive solutions, Dispercoll^® U PLUS and Desmodur^®, are tailored for the automotive interior market, delivering heightened quality and environmental sustainability. In comparison to conventional solutions, these enhancements prioritize low VOC and solvent emissions while guaranteeing the stability of bonding performance even in demanding climate conditions.

����AV has launched Dispercoll^® U84, a versatile adhesive raw material applicable in soft furniture and car seats, notable for its good yellowing resistance, absence of halogens, and low VOC content. As a polyurethane-based material, it serves as an ideal choice for bonding polyurethane foam in mattress applications. This innovation offers a monomaterial solution that streamlines the recycling process, paving the way for future possibilities in the chemical recycling of foam mattresses.

Also showcased is Decovery^® CQ 6400, a label adhesive resin that is partially biobased (35 percent) and suitable for application on glass and PET bottle labels. This innovation leads to a reduction of 300 grams of CO₂ emissions per kilogram when compared to traditional products.¹ Its alkali solubility simplifies label removal during recycling, promoting environmental conservation from production to disposal and fostering a circular economy.

Dr. Sherry Yang, Head of Application and Development Asia Pacific, Business Entity Coatings and Adhesives at ����AV, said, “����AV has consistently embraced a customer-centric approach throughout our research and development endeavors, crafting adaptive solutions that align with the specific needs of industry sectors. ����AV aims to strengthen its presence in China, seamlessly integrating production and research capabilities. This will expedite the transition from conventional solvent-based products to water-based systems, therefore promoting the advancement of the circular economy within the broader industry.”

����AV has recently completed a new PUD facility at its integrated site in Shanghai. Once coming on stream in the first quarter of next year, this increased capacity is poised to address the rising demand for environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives in China and Asia Pacific. It will also offer PUD grades with more circular contents in 2024.

¹ According to internal calculations

“With this new facility we aim to offer the broadest portfolio of PUDs to support the sustainability efforts of downstream industries here in Asia Pacific,” said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer of ����AV, at an event in Shanghai marking the mechanical completion of the plant. “The modular concept adopted in the construction phase will also enable us to implement future investment projects and build up capacity more efficiently to capture market demand.”

Housed inside ����AV Integrated Site Shanghai (CISS), the plant was built by a service provider, leveraging modular construction under controlled conditions in a hall in Nantong, Jiangsu province. The individual modules, upon completion, were transported to and assembled at the final site. This approach helps shorten the total construction lead time while making investment more efficient.

High-performance PUDs to drive sustainability trends

Building on ��DZ�����ٰ���’s local innovation strengths, the new plant will further enhance the company’s capability to supply PUD, supporting sustainability trends in the coatings and adhesives industry in Asia Pacific. For example, waterborne PUDs are key enablers for low-emission solutions. They also help customers to more efficiently apply furniture paints or bonding in shoemaking, thanks to the innovative one-component technology from ����AV.

“With this additional PUD capacity, we are meeting and driving the trend for sustainable, waterborne coatings and adhesives in Asia Pacific, reinforcing our commitment to customers in this region. Our ongoing dedication to sustainability and circularity enables us to provide our customers and partners with even better access to more sustainable solutions that at the same time offer comparable performance to classic, solvent-based products. This enables us to actively promote widespread adoption of environmentally compatible alternatives,” said Dr. Thomas Roemer, Head of Business Entity Coatings and Adhesives at ����AV.

“With this new PUD facility, we are even better positioned to meeting the growing market demand for more sustainable materials in China and Asia Pacific,” said Holly Lei, President of ����AV China. “It also further enhances the capability of ����AV Integrated Site Shanghai, which plays a key role for us as we support our customers’ sustainability journey.”

To help customers reduce their carbon footprint, more circular PUDs will be offered from the Shanghai plant with a share of biobased or biocircular raw materials. CISS received its ISCC PLUS certification in 2021, which allows it to supply mass-balanced products in large volumes. To make more sustainable products easier to distinguish, ����AV furthermore introduced the suffix “CQ”. CQ stands for “Circular Intelligence” and identifies products containing a minimum of 25 percent alternative raw materials.  

The new official team equipment provided by Huafeng features shorts and sports shoes with designs using Huafeng’s newly launched HAPTIC^® textile coating system, which contains partly bio-based INSQIN^® PU dispersions from ����AV. In addition, fabrics for the garments and shoes are made by Huafeng based on Cyclone recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) yarns derived from post-consumer plastic bottles. The shoe upper material is made of 100 percent Cyclone rPET, while the shorts consist of 86 percent Cyclone rPET and 14 percent Spandex for ensuring a comfortable fit.

Lina Schwering, Team Manager of Team Sonnenwagen Aachen: “Our new official equipment looks fantastic – and we’re particularly excited about its sustainability benefits! Combined with its excellent performance, it fits well with our vision for a more sustainable mobility future. We’re grateful for the continued support of Cyclone, Huafeng with its HAPTIC^® products, and ����AV as we pursue this vision.”

The next generation of textile coating

Developed by Huafeng using ��DZ�����ٰ���’s partly bio-based PU Impranil^® CQ DLS/1, the HAPTIC^® Art textile coating system used for the shoes enables especially outstanding aesthetics, improved mechanical performance, and reduced production-related emissions. Thanks to its high solids content and thixotropic properties, the system allows manufacturers to achieve a high coating thickness, making it well-suited for creating coatings with detailed images and sophisticated 3D effects on apparel and footwear.

Images and textures applied using the HAPTIC^® Art ink system have undergone a series of tests for properties such as flexibility, adhesion, and resistance to hydrolysis, washing, and abrasion. The excellent results demonstrate that the Art ink is particularly suitable for coating on high-performance sports footwear. In recognition of its excellent mechanical properties, Huafeng’s ink coating system recently received the ISPO Best Product Award.

Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Director of Innovation & Creation at Huafeng: “HAPTIC^® Art ink represents an important expansion of our aesthetic coating capabilities, offering exceptional design versatility along with substantial environmental benefits. For example, the new Team Sonnenwagen shoes deliver savings of 260 g CO₂e per pair compared to conventionally manufactured sports shoes*. We look forward to developing even more sustainable solutions that help drive the future of textile coating.”

Toward a more sustainable sportswear industry

With strong environmental credentials, this new coating system can also help meet the growing demand for more sustainable sportswear. Traditionally, sports apparel and footwear have relied heavily on virgin fossil-based PET materials and PU coatings to achieve the required performance, appearance, and durability. However, by combining Huafeng’s textile coating expertise with ��DZ�����ٰ���’s partly bio-based INSQIN^® PU technology, Team Sonnenwagen´s new equipment proves that a more sustainable approach is possible.

Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings at ����AV: "This new textile coating system represents a major step forward in terms of both performance and aesthetics. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s partly bio-based Impranil^® CQ PU dispersion plays a major role in the shoe’s strong environmental credentials, contributing around 80 g to the overall CO₂e savings*. This technology will enable garment and footwear manufacturers to create products that not only look incredible but also deliver a reduced environmental impact."

_{*According to internal calculations}

The latest innovation from ����AV provides a solution to meet these growing needs: a partially bio-based barrier coating resin, Decovery^® CQ 6010, which helps ‘close the loop’ for recyclable paper packaging.

Reducing waste by replacing PE and aluminum layers

Many packaged food products are sensitive to moisture, so controlling the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) is critical to maintaining the quality of the food. To protect the product inside a package, paper and board food packaging is often laminated with polyethylene (PE) or aluminum. These materials limit the packaging’s recyclability, meaning it often ends up going to landfill or being incinerated. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s innovative barrier coating resin reduces waste by replacing these PE or aluminum layers in paper food packaging to make it recyclable.

By enabling low MVTR values, Decovery^® CQ 6010 provides a moisture barrier to protect the food, as well as delivering good oil and grease resistance. This makes it suitable for use in packaging for a wide range of food, from dry high-fat products such as chocolate bars to ice cream, frozen food, and fresh fruit. The resin is made with 37 percent plant-based and transparently sourced ingredients, such as bark, castor beans, and corn. This substantially reduces its carbon footprint in comparison to virgin PE and standard fossil-based coatings.

Davide Reverdito Bove, Sector Marketing Manager Printing & Packaging at ����AV: "While PE laminates do a good job of protecting food contents, they make food packaging virtually impossible to recycle. As a result, a lot of them go to landfill or are incinerated. Our new resin is a game-changer in addressing this issue. It gives food producers and packaging makers an excellent opportunity to deliver the protection that packaging requires while having less impact on the environment. That’s just one reason why we are so proud of this new coating, and so excited to be telling the world about it."

To learn more about Decovery^® CQ 6010, visit its dedicated landing page: 

At the inauguration of the new line, the company also launched its new Desmopan^®UP TPU series. UP stands for “Ultimate Protection”. The series offers high durability, adaptability and aesthetics, protecting automotive surface coatings from harsh environmental conditions. The material can also be used to protect wind blades or screens of smart devices.

“We are convinced that our customers and the TPU market enquire not just materials suppliers, but partners to jointly develop solutions. We at ����AV have the capabilities to be such a partner,” says Dr. Andrea Maier-Richter, Head of TPU at ����AV. “We strive to collaborate with our customers and along the value chain to unlock the potential of Desmopan^®UP and meet the growth ambitions of core industries such as automotive and wind.”

The global PPF market is projected to grow steadily until 2030, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for the largest share of the overall market. The expected growth in that region in turn is driven in large part by the growth of the chinese market. At the same time, North America and Europe are showing solid growth projections as well.

The high interest in the material stems mostly from increasing attention of vehicle owners to the aesthetic condition of vehicles and particularly their surfaces. TPU is a performance benchmark in PPF for quality, long-term aesthetics and surface integrity. ����AV is one of the biggest international suppliers of TPU resins for PPF production.

"We are really excited to start our new production line and launch the new Desmopan^®UP series to meet the increasing demand for high-performance PPF in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world," says Lisa Ketelsen, Head of TPU in the Asia-Pacific region. "This is a perfect example of how ����AV is committed to providing our customers with innovative, high-performance solutions to meet emerging challenges. In addition to this, we can also further develop our product range together with our customers thanks to our local R&D capabilities."

In PPF, the choice of materials and its formulation play a decisive role. ����AV has put years of research into formulation and advanced manufacturing technologies to build the basis for the Desmopan^®UP-based TPUs for PPF. It provides superior UV durability, excellent hydrolysis and chemical resistance, as well as outstanding optical clarity. This ensures long-lasting performance, weather resistance, and impact resistance. In addition, Desmopan^®UP allows PPF to adapt to the complex designs and surfaces of different vehicles quickly and easily.

The R&D teams of Solar Coating Solutions booked their first successes back in 2005 with the development of a new and innovative anti-reflective coating, which could be used in different applications. Around 2010, however, the solar industry worldwide started to emerge and turned into a business opportunity with a huge market demand and growth potential. This was the trigger for the decision to build a dedicated production plant for solar glass coatings in the Netherlands, more specifically on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen.

With the solar photovoltaic industry growing globally, the Solar Coatings Business also spread its wings and installed teams in China and in the US. Thanks to smart decision taking, to the expertise of its business development teams in the regions and to the excellent performance and quality of its solar glass coatings, the Netherlands’ plant today remains the largest independent producer outside China. Additionally, during the past ten years the solar glass coatings product portfolio developed from a ‘one fits all solution’ to a highly diversified offering.

Robert von Beulwitz, Managing Director of the Solar Coating Solution, explains: ʺToday we offer amongst others combined anti-reflective and anti-soiling coatings for modules used in desert environments, high power coatings for large utility scale solar parks and special aesthetic coatings for pitch black appearance of solar panels mounted on residential rooftops – mainly in the Netherlands. Our latest innovation being the development and commercialization of a retrofit coating application for older solar parcs. With the expansion of the industry and of our portfolio, we also saw our employee base rising and I would like to thank each and every one of these colleagues for the relentless efforts they deliver every day!ʺ

"All these different solar coating products were developed in the Netherlands by listening to end market requirements around the world. And all of them are produced by employees in our production facility on the Brightlands Campus in Geleen. I am very proud about this story with which – from the Netherlands – we empower solar energy and harvest more energy from the sunʺ, adds Aukje Doornbos, Managing Director of ����AV in the Netherlands.

"Thanks to this new milestone, ����AV will soon be able to serve even more customers around the world with an easily accessible, more sustainable product portfolio," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of ����AV. "Customers in North America can now reduce their carbon footprint and Scope 3 emissions with drop-in, mass-balanced materials derived from recycled and bio-attributed products."

Learn more about ��DZ�����ٰ���’s ISCC PLUS certification in the US: /en/company/covestro-worldwide/united-states/covestro-in-the-united-states/sustainability-and-innovation/iscc-plus-certification

����AV is the first manufacturer of polyurethane and polycarbonate raw materials to receive this certification in the United States. The certification is an important milestone for both ����AV and the industries it serves, including the automotive, construction, comfort, electronics and appliance industries, which will now have access to ISCC PLUS-certified products made from more sustainable raw materials in North America.

To underscore how the products support both the company’s vision to become fully circular and its customers' journey to greater sustainability, ����AV has introduced a specially branded product line with the suffix "CQ". CQ, which stands for ʺCircular Intelligenceʺ, is a portfolio of products with attribution of at least 25 percent alternative raw materials derived from biomass or recycled plastics. 

����AV is also introducing the name Evocycle^® CQ for all evolutionary recycling processes. The first project of this kind is called Evocycle^® CQ Mattress and denotes an innovative chemical recycling technology for polyurethane mattress foam. ����AV currently has more than hundreds of CQ products and is continuously expanding this portfolio.

The ISCC PLUS certified products produced at ��DZ�����ٰ���’s Baytown facilities will include: 
• Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) – used primarily in the production of rigid polyurethane foam for efficient insulation of refrigeration equipment and buildings
• Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) – used in the production of flexible foam for the automotive and furniture industries
• Makrolon^® RE – polycarbonate, a high-grade plastic used in the automotive, electronics and medical industries, among others
• Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), Desmodur^® W and Desmodur^® Z – used in various coatings and adhesive applications

����AV expects to begin supplying select ISCC PLUS-certified products from its Baytown facility in the second half of 2023.

The products will be produced using a mass-balance approach. Sustainable raw materials will be accounted for throughout both the value chain and production process, allowing for an accurate attribution in the end products. The existing production infrastructure will be utilized while reducing the carbon footprint of the final products.

ISCC is an internationally recognized sustainability certification for biomass and bioenergy. The standard applies to all stages of the value chain and is recognized worldwide.

"In our studio, we offer solutions for current challenges, but also want to inspire our customers with visions for ambitious future goals. True to our motto 'Status Next,' we are our customers' partner in driving the circular economy in the coatings and adhesives industry to make our lives more sustainable," says Dickon Purvis, Head of Marketing in the Coatings and Adhesives segment at ����AV. "Only in close exchange with external stakeholders can we identify trends early on and offer products and technologies tailored to future requirements."

In focus: circular economy, productivity and regulations

For the coatings and adhesives sector, as well as downstream industries, the transformation to a circular economy is key to combating climate change and conserving resources. As a leading raw material manufacturer, ����AV is aware of the great responsibility it bears for optimizing these products so that they make an important contribution to the transformation as fundamental building blocks for coatings and adhesives formulations.

At the same time, it is important to maintain or even increase productivity at a high level to ensure growth and profitability in these industries. And last but not least, ����AV wants to support customers in complying with stricter regulations and standards, with the aim of improving occupational safety and industrial hygiene. For all these goals, the company has set up the Status Next Studio platform to ensure lasting and strong customer relationships in an increasingly digitalized world.

The spectrum of applications and industries for ����AV solutions is wide, ranging from future mobility, smart living and infrastructure development to sports and leisure, health and beauty, architecture and construction, printing and packaging. The offers highlight topics and best practice examples on the aforementioned focus areas and industries.

Webinars on key trends

����AV invites customers, partners and anyone interested to dive into the key trends impacting the world of coatings and adhesives. To this end, the company is offering three webinars in English on the following key topics:

Circular Economy 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 14:00 CET. 
Register at

Regulations 
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 14:00 CET 
Register at

Productivity 
Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 14:00 CET 
Register at

In its , ����AV invites participants to further webinars on overarching and strategic coatings and adhesives topics for various industries, where participants can directly exchange ideas with experts from the company.

“We wish to share our expertise, reliability, and the high quality of our materials today and our sustainable, circular, futuristic vision of tomorrow. We will continue to deepen our influence in the industry as we answer its needs and explore more sustainable possibilities, ultimately becoming your inventive companion for hands-on coatings and adhesives solutions,” said Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of ����AV Coatings and Adhesives Asia Pacific.

Empowering high-quality development

Covering mobility, construction, printing & packaging, and home & living, ����AV is launching a series of bio-based and waterborne polyurethane coatings and adhesives solutions to support high-quality and sustainable development in China.

• The new polyurethane dispersion (PUD) Bayhydrol^® UH 2110 can be used as waterborne basecoat for automobile, replacing solvent borne basecoats. It ensures consistent colors while supporting automakers to operate more sustainably.
• The upgraded two-component waterborne polyurethane Dispercoll® U plus for auto interior lamination features enhanced heat and climate resistance. The low-VOC and low-odor solution thus can ensure the stability of bonding performance in challenging climate conditions.
• Bayhydur^® ultra 309 is a locally developed and produced hydrophilic polyisocyanate for two-component waterborne PU coatings for the construction sector. As a cost-effective solution with high performance, it can be used in flooring coating and wall coating to provide excellent easy-to-clean and scratch resistance performance even in matt formulation.
• The bio-based resins Decovery^® CQ are tailor-made for printing and packaging applications. Decovery^® CQ 6200 is tailored for inks and primers, while Decovery^® CQ 6400 can be used in bottle label adhesives. Containing alternative raw materials, Decovery^® CQ can effectively reduce manufacturers’ carbon footprints while making production process more sustainable and meets the environmental demands of the packaging markets .
• NeoCryl^® A 1137 — a waterborne self-crosslinking acrylic copolymer emulsion — is another innovative solution for printing and packaging. It can be used as a primer for UV inks, providing excellent adhesion and printability. It can also be used for flexo and gravure film surface printing inks. This waterborne solution enables film applications with lower VOC emissions.
• The Bayhydur^® ultra 307/1 hydrophilic polyisocyanate hardener for two-component waterborne PU wood coatings was newly developed for the China market. It features enhanced compatibility with hydroxyl resins, which can bring better transparency, and physical and chemical performance. The product also has cost-effective advantages.

Next: Pioneering a Circular Economy

“With our entrepreneurial vision of becoming fully circular, we aim for operational climate neutrality by 2035 for our own emissions as well as external energy sources. Therefore, in the light of the current business, we are advancing our local innovation and production capability, featuring our new production facilities in Shanghai. The new plant for PUDs is positioned to address the rising demand for more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives solutions,” said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Global Head of Coatings and Adhesive at ����AV.

The CQ portfolio is one of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s best practices in implementing its vision of a circular economy. Launched in May 2022, the “CQ” brand stands for “Circular Intelligence” and aims to make circular solutions in the product portfolio even more visible to customers. Products labelled as such consist of at least 25 percent alternative raw materials.

For more information on the new launches, please visit ��DZ�����ٰ���’s .

According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at ��DZ�����ٰ���’s booth at the China International Import Expo, the company will work with customers like Sherwin-Williams and Changzhou Changtu Chemical Co. Ltd, logistics solution and infrastructure partners such as Sinotrans Chemical International Logistics and Harbour New Energy Technology Shenzhen, as well as industry organizations such as Smart Freight Center China to devise new green logistics solutions to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the industry ecosystem.

Truck transport in focus

In the Asia-Pacific region, around 70 percent of ����AV's goods are transported by truck, while in Europe and North America only around one-third is transported by road in each case, with inland waterways and railroads otherwise being used more frequently.

As such, the new partnership will focus on designing more sustainable means of road transportation by truck, and evaluate the viability of certain solutions under specific scenarios.

This includes the experiment of using electric trucks, which are prohibited for the road transport of dangerous goods under Chinese and European laws, for the short-distance shuttling of non-dangerous chemicals – free of limitations regarding the range. The team is also trying biodiesel, whose prices are subsidized in Shanghai, in long-haul transport of dangerous goods. Other solutions the program is looking at include hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks. Some of the experiments will be adopted in real cases with cost and benefit estimation in the first half of 2023 under the partnership.

"The idea is to pilot, adopt and scale up low-emission fuels, vehicles and more sustainable logistics solutions with optimal costs and even financial benefits through an open platform," says Samir Hifri, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Logistics Asia Pacific, ����AV. "We believe the supply chain could be an essential part for the chemical industry to achieve climate neutrality, and it’s crucial for us to find a balance between economics and emission reductions through such collaboration."

Under the partnership, efforts will also be made to standardize calculations and reporting of GHG emissions. Through these efforts, ����AV and its partners hope to create a transparent and reliable certification mechanism that promotes green logistics as a widely applicable business model in the industry.

Jason You, Senior Supply Chain Director of Sherwin-Williams Asia, said: "Sherwin-Williams is committed to satisfying customer needs through quality products, excellent service and a highly trained and professional workforce and is constantly seeking ways to become more sustainable. We are excited to work with ����AV and other leading partners on this challenge. We look forward to continuing to innovate and introduce more sustainably advantaged product solutions to our customers in China and across the globe."

Key to scope 3 emissions target

Earlier this year, ����AV announced that it is aiming to become operationally climate neutral – this includes reducing both direct emissions from its own operations (scope 1) as well as indirect emissions from purchased energy (scope 2) to net zero – by 2035. The company will be reporting its scope 3 emissions target next year.

"The MoU marks an essential step in ��DZ�����ٰ���’s planned announcement of the scope 3 emission target in 2023," says Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of the Coatings and Adhesives segment of ����AV in Asia Pacific. "We expect to provide an integrated offering that combines more sustainable products and logistics services, thus supporting our customers to meet their sustainability and climate-neutrality targets and moving towards a circular economy."

The largest import themed expo in the world, the CIIE gathers a myriad of companies from across industries every year. This is ��DZ�����ٰ���’s second appearance following its debut in 2021.

"The world is increasingly facing enormous challenges. It is in our hands to meet them and set the course for a green, smart and safe future. Many ideas, concepts and technologies are there, they now need to be realized with determination," says Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of ����AV. "At CIIE, we want to raise awareness for building a circular economy and for climate neutrality by presenting particularly innovative and sustainable material solutions. At the same time, we want to strengthen relationships with our partners in China and around the world."

A leading example of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s successful partnerships comes from Hong Kong-based , a manufacturer of polyurethane-based comfort products, which will make the global debut of its first low-carbon mattress at the ����AV booth.

"We are honored to stage the world debut of our new low-carbon sleep system products together with ����AV at the CIIE," says Sinomax President Eric Cheung. "This marks a major step towards sustainable development at Sinomax Group, amid growing market demand for low-carbon products in China and around the globe. We look forward to further cooperating with ����AV on a global scale for more sustainable products."

The mattress uses bio-attributed mass-balanced TDI (toluylene diisocyanate), a key component for the production of flexible foams, purchased from ����AV. This can reduce CO₂ equivalent emissions by about 10 kilograms for a single mattress.

Materials with lower carbon footprint

����AV offers renewable TDI, among other materials, using the mass-balanced method, under which alternative raw materials are allocated to the products as certified by ISCC PLUS. They uphold the same high quality as their fossil-based counterparts without customers having to change their processing operations, while enabling them to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Other solutions featuring the mass-balanced method at CIIE include low-carbon coatings applied to the wood structure on ��DZ�����ٰ���’s booth. The coatings, made by Chinese company Baichuan, are based on the Desmodur^® CQ hardener from ����AV. The hardener contains more than 30 percent of biomass according to ISCC PLUS and reduces CO₂ emissions by more than 20 percent from cradle to ��DZ�����ٰ���’s factory gate.

"We believe mass-balanced solutions, among other low-carbon materials, are crucial to support the sustainable development and climate-neutral future of various industries and society. But to broaden this impact, we rely on the strength of more partnerships, and that’s why we are here at the CIIE," says ����AV China President Holly Lei.

In another example, ����AV and Chinese premium smart EV brand are deepening their partnership to create next-generation solutions to make mobility smarter and greener. Under a new agreement to be inked during the CIIE, an array of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s CO₂-reduced polycarbonates, coating and adhesive solutions are expected to be applied in HiPhi’s future models, enabling new functions while reducing their carbon footprint.

Broad portfolio to promote circular economy

����AV will showcase its cutting-edge materials, solutions, technologies and collaborative ties at several exhibition areas: Future Mobility, Clean Energy, Green Building and Sustainable Living, on top of a Branding & Culture corner designed to improve visitor engagement.

"We look forward to further advancing our sustainable development agenda in China through advocacy and collaboration with our customers, partners and other key stakeholders here," Lei adds.

To learn more about ��DZ�����ٰ���’s solutions for a climate-neutral future at the CIIE, visit its booth, 3C3-01, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from November 5 to 10, 2022.

¹ Renewable TDI is produced using the mass balance approach using renewable feedstocks – from virgin biomass as well as biowaste and residuals – which are mathematically assigned to the product.

����AV is presenting the advanced solutions for automotive interiors unveiled at the plastics trade show to the advanced solutions for automotive interiors now at this year's Automotive Interiors Expo in Stuttgart, Germany, November 8-10, 2022. At booth 3312 in Hall 3, the company will showcase a range of smart and sustainable material solutions that keep pace with the latest trends in automotive interior design.

Shaping the driving experience with new technologies

Makrolon^® Ai polycarbonate offers a special edge-lit composite color that can range from transparent to translucent, providing various options for ambient and dynamic automotive interior lighting. The combination of this material with the lightweight composite Maezio^®, which offers tremendous design freedom and is made partly from post-industrial recycled materials, allows occupants to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Functional integration through back-injection of polycarbonate

����AV has developed the first material that is shrinkage-free and highly dimensionally stable, transparent and heat-resistant: Makroblend^® OM 845G, a polycarbonate blend with 20 percent glass fibers. This material can be back-injected and back-lit to create textured and 3D shapes.

Soft-touch coatings create surprising textures

����AV offers a versatile range of hard to flexible aqueous 2-component (2K) polyurethane dispersions that allow a high degree of design freedom (from soft to hard). By combining this 2K polyurethane technology with edge-lit and high-tech Makrolon® Ai materials, it is possible to create a wide range of innovative textures.

Innovative coatings and adhesives for instrument panels and door 
trims

Together with designer Miika Heikkinen, ����AV's Coatings & Adhesives and Engineering Plastics segments have developed a door panel concept with new material solutions. The prototype contains a waterborne coating with innovative INSQIN^® technology in combination with an adhesive based on a Dispercoll^® U dispersion – two waterborne polyurethane (PU) solutions with low levels of volatile organic components (VOCs). Specially developed to provide cost-effective and sustainable applications for future automotive interior requirements, they provide translucent appearance, coating adhesion and deep color effects in door panels. As a vegan solution, the lower CO₂ emissions and reduced energy consumption of INSQIN^® can reduce the overall CO₂ footprint of plastics by up to 45 percent while providing virtually odor-free indoor air quality. The carbon footprint can be further improved by using an Impranil^® CQ DLU PU dispersion, which consists of approximately 35 percent renewable carbon by weight. In addition, the application also includes a partially biobased water-based soft-touch coating with up to 33 percent renewable carbon in the final formulation.

Lighting and heating integrated into the sunroof

Panoramic sunroofs and moonroofs are very popular in modern vehicles. ����AV, in collaboration with Loomia, has developed a roll-up sunroof shade concept that combines the sun-reflecting properties of Platilon^® TPU film during daylight hours with integrated fabric circuits for lighting and heating at night and in cold weather. To help passengers get the most out of the interior, we bonded the textile surface and electronics layer using our thin and flexible Platilon^® polyurethane film. It is tough enough to withstand repeated rolling without compromising performance.

Makrolon^® and Makrofol^® films for smart surfaces

����AV and TactoTek^® have teamed up again to showcase the endless, more sustainable design possibilities of IMSE^® technology: Together, they developed demonstrators that showcase functional electronics while integrating control surfaces, computers and displays. The final design consists of a Raspberry Pi computer, an OLED display, all necessary circuitry and electronic components, and inks for coloring and decorating – all embedded in a Makrolon^® resin between two layers of Makrofol^® film. With this, we are showcasing powerful new material solutions for consumer electronics with a mono-material design where the plastic can be recovered at will and converted into new raw materials.

A revolution in packaging materials

Traditional flexible plastic packaging uses multi-material laminates, which are difficult to recycle as it is expensive and time-consuming to separate the different polymer layers. Driven by concern around packaging waste from consumers, governments, and industry, packaged goods brands are looking for more circular solutions. One increasingly popular option is mono-material packaging, made with materials such as BOPE.

BOPE can be used to make flexible packaging in which all the layers are manufactured from PE polymer grades. This packaging can then be recycled in a single stream. However, BOPE-based mono-material stand-up pouches are difficult to manufacture at scale on FFS lines due to their low heat resistance compared with current PET- or PA-containing laminates. To solve this problem, ����AV engineered a heat-resistant coating for mono-PE BOPE-based stand-up pouches. This increases the pouches’ heat resistance so they can be manufactured on high-speed FFS production lines while maintaining high visual and performance qualities. Thanks to ��DZ�����ٰ���’s new coating, SABIC’s BOPE polymer can be a viable alternative to replace PA and PET containing multi-material laminates for flexible plastic packaging.

"We take our responsibility to create lower-impact packaging seriously. Our circular economy strategy focuses on recyclable solutions that unlock pathways toward closing the loop on materials," explains Davide Reverdito Bove, Sector Marketing Manager at ����AV. "In SABIC, we found an expert partner. This close collaboration will enable us to accelerate the engineering and testing process of our new heat-resistant coating for BOPE with clear benefits for the product quality, the customer, and the planet."

Catalyzing circularity in the packaging industry

��DZ�����ٰ���’s heat-resistant coating has several benefits for packaging manufacturers. It prevents heat seal bars from sticking during the sealing stage of the HFFS and VFFS process – allowing for a broader sealing temperature window and eliminating wrinkling and shrinkage. This enables the creation of high-performing mono-material flexible stand-up pouches with simple, single-stream recyclability.

"Thanks to this heat-resistant coating solution for flexible packaging, manufacturers can meet challenges in processing, without compromising on the properties and machinability of the packaging," says Roel Beckers, Sales Manager at ����AV. "It allows a faster switch to mono-PE solutions and the use of the BOPE material as we work with global value chain partners who share our mindset of contributing to a more circular plastics economy."

����AV innovative heat-resistant coating enables brands, retailers, film producers, and others in the value chain to create new high-performance yet recyclable mono-material packaging – supporting the drive to achieve a circular economy for flexible packaging in Europe and beyond. Although the coating is currently at the proof-of-concept stage, ����AV and SABIC are excited to further develop this innovative solution into a commercial product, helping brands and consumers achieve their sustainability ambitions. By embracing open innovation, both ����AV and SABIC are also committed to working together with the full packaging value chain to accelerate the introduction of more circular packaging solutions to the market.

"These projects will contribute to the high-quality and sustainable development in China and beyond," said Holly Lei, President of ����AV China. "They will also add to the scale and strength of our Shanghai site, which will be playing a key role in the quest of ����AV to becoming operational climate neutral by 2035."

A leading supplier for sustainable solutions

The new plant for PUDs, as well as a further line for polyester resins, from which PUDs are produced, are due to be completed in 2024. PUDs are used in more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives for a wide range of applications, including automotive, construction, furniture, footwear and packaging. For instance, ��DZ�����ٰ���’s Bayhydrol^® and Bayhytherm^® raw materials are used in basecoats for automotive OEM and refinish coatings, as well as in wood and furniture coatings and robust floor coatings, while adhesives formulated with Dispercoll^® U are used in furniture and shoe manufacturing as well as in the automotive industry. Independent of the investment of ����AV in Shanghai, its large portfolio of waterborne polyurethane coating raw materials based on PUDs for various applications also includes products of the Baybond^®, Impranil^®, NeoPac^® and NeoRez^® series. 

"With the new investment, we will be even better positioned to address the rising demand for more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives across the globe," said Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of the Coatings and Adhesives segment of ����AV in the Asia Pacific region. "As one of the global leaders in this segment, we will continue to tap the trend where our customers turn to more sustainable waterborne systems with equally good properties to replace solvent-based products."

High performance elastomers to drive sustainable growth

The new facility for polyurethane elastomers, which are widely used in industries ranging from offshore wind to solar energy as well as material handling, is expected to become operational already in 2023. The market for these flexible and durable materials in China and the Asia-Pacific region is growing faster than both gross domestic product and downstream industries.

"The new facility for polyurethane elastomers will ensure that we have a strong capacity to meet the needs of our customers," said Simon Chen, Head of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s Elastomers segment in Asia Pacific. "Our Desmodur^® based polyurethane elastomers will serve a wider range of applications as they boast excellent performance, particularly in the field of sustainable energy."

Since 2001, ����AV has invested EUR 3.6 billion into building the Shanghai integrated site, which comprises 11 plants and is the company’s largest site in the world. In the past year, the Shanghai site obtained the ISCC PLUS mass balance certification, meaning it can supply customers with larger product volumes from renewably attributed raw materials.

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, ����AV 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 ����AV. 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 ��DZ�����ٰ���’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.

����AV 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 21^st to 24^th, 2022. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s booth in Hall 11 is number D12.

JFC, which has a long history as a joint venture between European and Japanese companies, is one of the leading suppliers of optical fiber coatings. The Tsukuba plant focuses on the manufacturing of UV-curable resins supporting the optical fiber market through safe and stable operations. This year JCIA awarded the Tsukuba plant with the ‘Safety Award Grand Prize’ in recognition of its excellent safety track record of more than 20 years without a recordable incident since the start of its operations as a result of integrating and nurturing a European-Japanese culture of safety.

"We have steadily carried out in-depth safety activities such as safety morning meetings and on-the-job training based on Japanese safety culture to pass on and to deepen our knowledge, skills and culture on safety. On top of that, we succeeded in integrating European-Japanese safety cultures by introducing global safety tools such as the ‘Safe Start Program’ , which analyzes mental conditions in the event of an accident and near miss," explains Takahiko Kurosawa, site manager of the Tsukuba plant. "In terms of equipment, we are implementing safety upgrades including the introduction of safety instrumented systems (SIS), which takes automated action in case of abnormalities, and a bar code system to prevent the erroneous handling of raw materials. We are very honored that our daily efforts have resulted in achieving more than 20 years without a recordable incident, and that our efforts have been recognized with this award."

JCIA is the leading association representing the chemical  industry in Japan, which includes approx. 4,700 chemical sites. The Safety award is a practice to award business establishments which engage in outstanding safety activities that promote security, safety, and health in the chemical industry on their own initiative serving as a golden standard for others. The safety award has a history of nearly half a century since its inception in 1977. Award-winners in the past included leading Japanese chemical companies, but this is the first time that a foreign-affiliated company receives the ‘Safety Award Grand Prize’.

"We are very honored that this is the second award for the ����AV Group after the ‘Safety Award Special Prize’ for the Niihama Plant of Sumika ����AV Urethane Co.,Ltd. in 2017. ��DZ�����ٰ���’s global motto towards safety, ‘Nothing we do is worth getting hurt for’ clearly shows that safety is the highest priority. We will engage in continued operational safety based on our current corporate safety culture," explains Kimiyasu Yonemaru, President of ����AV Japan.

More than 50 years of manufacturing experience of ����AV have also played a key role for this development. Going forward, solutions sourced from sustainable materials will be a key component of their overall portfolio. Sustainable coating resins represent an attractive growth market that aligns with the ultimate goal of the company to move to a fully circular economy, meeting the world’s materials and coatings needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. ����AV is excited to collaborate with its customers on the journey to the circular economy as new material solutions transform urbanization, mobility, and their impact on climate change.

Alternative raw materials made using biotechnology

One of the most exciting results is the fruit of work of the company with pioneering biotech company to successfully produce the first significant volumes of a plant based version of HMDA (hexamethylene diamine). HMDA is a key precursor for several coatings, adhesives, and a widely used type of nylon (nylon-6,6). 2 million tons of HMDA are used each year, but until now it has been manufactured exclusively from fossil feedstocks. This new process is expected to be able to produce ton-quantities of high-quality material in the near future, helping the automotive, construction, furniture, and textile industries become that much more sustainable going forward.

"Our partnership on this innovative technology allows us to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil feedstocks," said Martin Vlak, Head of Sales & Market Development – North America Coatings & Adhesives at ����AV. "With a purely plant-based HMDA, we can significantly advance our corporate objective of CO₂-neutral production."

Several examples of ��DZ�����ٰ���’s sustainable products are on display in their booth (#2529). ����AV will be showing off Desmodur^® eco N 7300, an isocyanate clearcoat hardener whose carbon content is 70 percent sourced from biomass instead of fossil fuels. This sourcing reduces the carbon footprint of the hardener by around 30 percent, compared to conventional solutions using the same application process, with no compromise in performance or quality.

Partially bio-based resin for high-traffic flooring

A third product, Decovery^®, is an up to 52 percent partially plant-based flooring resin. ����AV has long experience in resin technology for flooring. Their engineers know better than anyone how traditional bio-based paints have struggled to meet the tough criteria required for high-traffic flooring. Extensive testing has shown that Decovery^® has equal performance in durability, chemical resistance and wear resistance when compared with current fossil-based products in the market.

"The emerging line of sustainable and plant-based products of ����AV is the result of our long-term goal of becoming the leading provider of sustainable coating solutions," says Vlak. "Markets are increasingly asking for more environmentally compliant products based on renewable raw materials without compromising functionality. But it’s about more than growth from a margin perspective. It’s about growing sustainably with the right kind of product innovation that brings us to carbon-neutral production. A truly circular economy is within our reach if we remain committed to this level of focus and innovation."

"This is good news for anyone who wants to maintain an athletically active, healthy lifestyle in the most environmentally friendly way possible," says Tony Wu, Global Marketing Manager, Textile Coatings, ����AV. He emphasizes that the increased sustainability achieved does not compromise the durability, appearance or comfort of the footwear upper. In combination with Huafeng HAPTIC® printing technology, 3D shapes can be applied to textile fabrics creating trendy designs and high performance in athletic footwear. 
 

Impranil® eco DLS, as a partially bio-based binder, is part of the INSQIN® range of waterborne textile coating resins. Its use contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions with around 60 grams of CO₂ equivalents per pair of shoes. The value comes from internal calculations verified by independent external experts. It is obvious that the difference in the CO₂ footprint becomes even greater when solvent-based PU textile coatings are used for comparison. The use of fabric based on recycled PET yarns mitigates greenhouse gas emissions by about 170 grams of CO₂ equivalent per pair of shoes.

To share the experience and findings with the industry, ����AV, Huafeng and Cyclone jointly hosted a webinar globally to introduce the three technologies and the synergy created from this co-development. The recorded webinar can be accessed .

"Sustainability is key to our market success at Huafeng. With the help of the partially bio-based PU dispersion of ����AV, we were able to introduce more renewable ingredients into our HAPTIC® coatings, further improving their sustainability," says Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Director of Innovation at Huafeng. Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings at ����AV, adds, "The combination of our partially bio-based INSQIN® PU coating binder with Huafeng HAPTIC® printing on recycled PET fabric shows how partners in the value chain can work together creating more sustainable products."

"I am very pleased that we can now offer our customers even more certified mass-balanced products and thus help them even better to achieve their sustainability goals and drive the transition to a circular economy," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of ����AV. "In doing so, we are also supporting the use of alternative raw materials and reducing CO₂ emissions along the value chains."

Dr. Klaus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer at ����AV, adds, "The raw materials we use for these products meet the high sustainability requirements of the ISCC Plus standard all the way back through the supply chain. That's why we want to make greater use of alternative raw materials such as these renewably attributed precursors in our production. In addition to the three German sites, also our plants in Antwerp and Shanghai are already ISCC Plus certified, with more sites to follow."

In the mass balance approach, bio-based or recycled raw materials – in this case reprocessed residual materials – are fed in at an early stage of raw material extraction and mathematically attributed to the finished products. This saves fossil raw materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while the quality of the mass-balanced products remains the same compared to purely fossil-based ones. Manufacturers can continue to use their proven formulations, equipment and processes.

ISCC ("International Sustainability and Carbon Certification") is an internationally recognized system for sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy, among others. The standard covers all stages of the value chain and is widely used worldwide. ISCC Plus includes further certification options for technical-chemical applications, among others, including plastics from biomass.

Across the decorative coatings market, painters and consumers are increasingly seeking longer-lasting exterior coating systems. Through proprietary painter and consumer market research, ����AV found that adhesion and durability are key issues for painters in exterior paints. Specifically, as the use of multiple substrates becomes more common, painters increasingly need paints to deliver stronger multi-substrate adhesion. At the same time, as the global climate crisis becomes increasingly severe, exterior coatings are more vulnerable than ever to cracking under extreme weather conditions, which cause surfaces to contract and expand more severely. As a result, coatings now need to be more flexible to reach the required levels of durability. In response to the climate crisis, there is also growing demand from end-users and governments for more environmentally friendly coatings with enhanced bio-based content.

To enable its customers to meet both these performance and environmental needs, ����AV has developed Decovery® SP-8310: an acrylic resin designed to formulate easily into multi-purpose paints with up to 37 percent bio-based content. The resin’s combination of UV- and water-resistance with low dirt pick-up gives it excellent long-term outdoor durability, making it well suited to architectural and industrial applications. And its broad adhesion profile means Decovery® SP-8310 is also suitable for a wider range of substrates and application areas. The solution also delivers good water vapor permeability and high elongation, enabling long-lasting paint systems with high breathability and elasticity.

Thanks to its 37 percent bio-based content (verified by ¹⁴C analysis), Decovery® SP-8310 can enable a carbon footprint reduction of up to 8 percent compared with non-bio-based water-based alternatives. Taking the decorative wood coating market’s yearly consumption into account, this impact is equivalent to that of one million football fields of forest. In this way, Decovery® SP-8310 opens new possibilities for longer-lasting exterior coatings with enhanced bio-based content, as well as for a safer, more sustainable coatings industry.

Gerjan van Laar, Marketing Manager Architectural: "I’m delighted to be launching Decovery® SP-8310 – a new-generation exterior solution. By addressing the market need for both improved outdoor durability and enhanced bio-based content, this resin will enable our customers to develop future-proof products, accelerate their growth, and improve their environmental impact. In line with our unique approach to decorative-market innovation, we’ll continue investigating these needs and developing solutions to meet them, helping the coatings industry to accelerate both its performance and sustainability."

To find out more about Decovery® SP-8310, .

Across the global decorative coatings industry, there is now unprecedented demand – from regulatory bodies, professional painters and consumers alike – for more sustainable products that protect health and safety while still driving functionality and efficiency. In fact, according to a recent Paint Monitor report, environmentally compatible paints are now the number-one desired innovation among painters in the EMEA region. And, with the decorative industry changing rapidly, it’s increasingly important for paint manufacturers to differentiate themselves by meeting these demands.

����AV’s ‘Decorative House of resins’ strategy aims to address these requirements through three key pillars: proprietary market insights, its advanced resin technology toolbox, and its frontrunning position in partially bio-based innovation. The organization’s latest initiative – known as ‘A natural home to create more sustainable paints’ – focuses specifically on this last pillar and the plant-based family of Decovery^® resins, which have a bio-based content of up to 52 percent, verified to C14 standards.

In particular, to further drive the decorative market’s adoption of bio-based solutions, ����AV is expanding its Decovery^® family of resins, which will open new sustainable horizons for the decorative coatings market. Together with additional services such as technical advice, sustainability dialog workshops, and marketing support, these solutions will enable ����AV’s customers to deliver a wider range of coatings that protect the planet without compromising performance.

Gerjan van Laar, Marketing Manager Architectural: "I’m thrilled to be introducing ‘A natural home to create more sustainable paints’ and launching our latest Decovery^® innovations! By expanding our range of more sustainable, safer, high-performance partially bio-based solutions that meet the needs of the decorative coatings market, we’re helping our customers differentiate themselves while making a positive impact on our industry. More than ever, for paint manufacturers, the switch to bio-based decorative coatings is within reach!"

"We want to open up the process for broad use in electromobility and autonomous driving applications and use it, for example, to manufacture large-area decorative parts with multifunctional, seamlessly integrated display, operating and ambient lighting elements for car interiors," explains Dr. Olaf Zöllner, head of application development Europe in ����AV's Engineering Plastics business entity.

"We also see good opportunities in highly integrated passenger car exterior parts such as spoilers, radar covers, front fascias and pillar trim with touch panels for vehicle access. There is also great potential in medical, communications and IT technology," adds Dr. Ingo Kleba, managing director at Rühl Puromer.

Almost unlimited design freedom

The DC process combines two established technologies in one process: injection molding of thermoplastics and reaction injection molding (RIM) of PU systems. First, a thermoplastic carrier is produced in a mold cavity and then transferred to a second cavity, which is enlarged by the thickness of the coating layer. There, the PU system is then injected onto the carrier.

The PU coatings offer unusually great freedom in design. The surface of the component can be made transparent, translucent or colored through, and it can be made highly resistant to chemical media such as fatty skin creams or given leather-like soft-touch haptics. Filigree surface structures can be precisely molded. High-gloss areas can be directly adjacent to matte structures. In addition, there is no need to invest in separate painting systems. Compared with spray painting, there is no paint loss due to overspray, and there is less scrap due to painting errors.

Scratches that disappear by themselves

����AV has built up special PC and PC blend compounds under the Makrolon®, Bayblend® and Makroblend® brands for the DC process, as well as an extensive modular range of coating raw materials without solvent additives – such as special Desmodur® isocyanate crosslinkers and Desmophen® polyols – for PU coatings.

For the DC process, Rühl offers, among others, the light- and color-stable 2K PU coating systems puroclear®. Their RIM cycle times are usually at least equal to those of injection molding. The systems contain an "internal release function" that has been proven in series production many times. The mold therefore does not have to be sprayed with release agent. This contributes to short cycle times and a simple process.

In addition, self-healing variants have been added to the product range (reflow effect). Ingo Kleba: "Superficial scratches in the paint, which are quickly caused by vehicle keys or stone chips, for example, disappear by themselves over time. The components retain their appearance, value and function for longer, which means maximum suitability for everyday use."

Strong bond even after hydrolytic aging

Makrolon® and transparent puroclear® grades adhere firmly to each other in themselves. There was still room for improvement in terms of adhesion during aging. The development partners therefore optimized several material combinations and assessed their adhesive strengths in the POSI peel test (ISO 4624). "We can now offer material systems that meet OEM adhesion specifications even after prolonged aging in hot and humid environments," says Zöllner.

Flawless, air bubble-free surfaces

Precise simulation of the PU filling process and warpage are essential for optimal performance of a DC component. ����AV has developed suitable tools for this purpose. "With a new calculation method based on a two-phase CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation, it is now possible to precisely determine where air bubbles form during filling and whether they remain in the component or reach the mold vent. This was not possible with previous methods," explains Christoph Bontenackels, responsible for the calculation of DC components at ����AV. A new calculation tool is also available for simulating component distortion. It can be used to find the optimum layer thickness ratio for 3D structures with larger wall thickness jumps, at which warpage and cycle times are minimal.

Outlook – integration of films

The development partners want to expand the range of applications for the DC process even further. One approach is to integrate foils into the process in order to expand the possibilities for functional integration. For example, foils can be printed with conductive tracks and circuit diagrams on the reverse side, which is a prerequisite for equipping operating panels with backlit, inductive key functions.

"Thanks to the use of these raw materials, our refinish coatings satisfy the highest safety requirements while offering constant premium quality," says Fabien Boschetti, Director Global Marketing at BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions. "This allows us to minimize the impact of new EU regulations on collision centers."

The Ultra products are below the limit of 0.1 percent by weight of residual monomers set in the new REACH regulation on the restricted use of diisocyanates. Therefore, painters at the body shops supplied by BASF avoid additional efforts to comply with the new REACH regulation. This continues the BASF philosophy of steadily improving the occupational health and safety of its coating solutions.

BASF's Coatings division also benefits: "Since this involves a 1:1 replacement, our customer was able to retain its coating formulations. This significantly simplifies the conversion to Ultra products," explains coatings expert Dr. Markus Mechtel from ����AV. "Collision centers therefore benefit from the performance of two-component polyurethane coatings while meeting the highest occupational hygiene requirements."

The solution is also in line with three UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): Number 3: Good health and well-being, Number 8: Decent work and economic growth, and Number 12: Responsible consumption and production.

����AV will showcase the development during , September 14-16. For more explanations, join the webinar with digital printing and coatings experts Dr. Fabian Schuster and Dr. Inga Noll on September 15 starting at 3 pm CEST.

In conventional automotive OEM coating, multi-layer, 1- or 2-component coatings are typically applied by spray. Polyurethane coatings based on Desmodur® hardeners from ����AV used for this purpose feature proven good chemical, scratch and weather resistance, they are high-gloss and represent the state of the art in automotive OEM coatings.

However, spray application causes overspray and high energy consumption during drying, but above all during conditioning of the process air. In addition, in the case of multicolor painting, the painted body parts have to be masked with films at great expense for protection. If, in the future, paints with different functions are to be applied that are particularly resistant to UV radiation, bird droppings or stone chips, for example, the process becomes even more complex.

Advantage of digital printing

Digital printing makes efficient use of coating quantities, and there is no overspray. Car manufacturers can also dispense with covering steps, thus reducing investment costs for painting equipment. Instead, individual colors and functions can be implemented efficiently. Aliphatic Desmodur® raw materials ensure non-yellowing coatings with additional, proven benefits.

The project is part of a comprehensive program with which ����AV is systematically driving forward digitalization. One of the three pillars of the "Digital@����AV" program is the development of new business models and digital technical services. One focus area is a more efficient production at customers and the digitization of entire value chains. The two other pillars of the program are focused on digital operating processes in the company's own production and the development and use of digital chemical trading platforms.

Formulations with Bayhydur® quix 306-70 dry as quickly as those with solvent-based crosslinkers, in contrast to coatings with low-VOC, water-based standard hardeners. This not only allows the wood and furniture industry to process their products quickly after coating, but also reduces the CO₂ footprint, which in the case of 2K PU wood coatings is mainly influenced by energy consumption during the drying process.

����AV will be presenting the study at the and during , from September 14-16. Further explanations will be provided in the webinar with wood and furniture coating expert Dr. Berta Vega Sánchez on September 15, starting at 10 a.m. CEST.

Up to 25 percent less CO₂ emissions

Waterborne 2K PU systems based on Bayhydur® quix 306-70 emit up to 25 percent less CO₂ equivalents during their production and application compared to corresponding solventborne systems. Conversely, water-based standard systems reduce CO₂ emissions by around 8 percent in comparison with solvent-based systems.

A significant reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 60 percent compared to solvent-based polyurethane coatings can be achieved when drying is powered by electricity from renewable sources instead of standard electricity from the grid. In this case, the coating composition is the main contributor to the carbon footprint, with water having a negligible carbon footprint compared to organic solvents.

"Regardless of the hardener used, further sustainability factors speak in favor of water-based wood coatings," says Dr. Berta Vega Sánchez, Marketing Manager and Sector Lead Industrial Coatings at ����AV: "The study demonstrates that water-based systems contribute less to photochemical ozone formation at ground level than solvent-based wood coatings owing to their significantly lower VOC content."

Dr. Sven A. Thomsen, Head of R&D at Hesse GmbH & Co. KG, points out, "Together we proved it is possible to produce a low VOC furniture coating without sacrificing on quality or drying speed. Our lifecycle assessment study also showed that using Bayhydur® quix as a drop-in alternative solution to solvent-borne coatings, the carbon footprint can be improved significantly."

Properties as good as solvent-based coatings

In terms of their property profile, water-based wood coatings based on Bayhydur® quix 306-70 are in no way inferior to the best solvent-based systems: they feature a polished appearance and are highly resistant to coffee, red wine, mustard, ethanol and water. In addition, coatings manufacturers can replace the crosslinkers in existing formulations with the fast hardener without having to invest in processes or equipment.

The introduction of water-based 2-component polyurethane (PU) wood and furniture coatings marked a major milestone in sustainability years ago. They emit less than 100 grams per liter of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Their solvent-based counterparts, by comparison, release more than 500 grams of VOC per liter. The life cycle analysis shows that the CO₂ footprint can also be further improved for waterborne PU wood coatings. The results of the study are representative for the systems investigated and depend on the assumptions made, for example formulations, solids content, overspray and drying conditions.

The result is an for the production of interior parts with seamless, intelligent surfaces using ����AV's DirectCoating technology. The coated component is produced in two steps using a polyurethane reaction injection molding (PU-RIM) process.

����AV will showcase the project during from September 14-16. For more explanations, join ����AV experts Dr. Markus Mechtel, Thomas Michaelis and Esther Grau Zuriaga for a webinar starting at 10 a.m. CEST on September 14.

Multiple challenges

Car manufacturers and their suppliers face the challenge of integrating smart functions such as display and ambient lighting and touch control, in addition to a wide range of visual and haptic surface properties. Above all, the aim is to manufacture durable products as cost-effectively as possible in order to achieve broad acceptance in the industry. The goal is car interiors that can easily serve as a lounge, workspace and driver cockpit. In this way, an environment can be created in the car that combines comfort and infotainment with a feeling of safety.

PURIFLOW^® paint systems from Votteler Lackfabrik GmbH & Co. KG enable outstanding surface properties such as good scratch resistance and a self-healing effect, but also a feel that ranges from soft leather to hard metal. These benefits, and the ability to create completely seamless surfaces, are thanks in part to polyurethane coating raw materials from ����AV.

In implementing the innovative solution, Votteler drew on the manufacturing expertise of Reichle Technologiezentrum GmbH, which operates Europe's largest laser texturing site. The company provided laser-textured PU-RIM molds for the project. ����AV supplied process technology know-how, coating raw materials from the Desmodur^® and Desmophen^® ranges without solvent additives, and Makrolon^® and Bayblend^® polycarbonate plastics, which proved to be a key to the project's success. Effect pigments from Merck^® KGaA can be used to achieve various color and transparency effects.

DirectCoating: innovative technology for producing coated parts

In the DirectCoating process, the plastic substrate is first produced in an initial cavity by injection molding. The resulting part is then transferred to a second, minimally larger mold. The cavity between the substrate and the laser-engraved RIM mold corresponds exactly to the desired volume of the coating that is injected there. This creates a coated precision part in just two steps. It requires little rework and is highly resistant to chemicals and daylight. DirectCoating also offers advantages over conventional coating methods, including a shorter and faster process, no overspray and no need for a separate drying step.

With the environmental impact of fossil-based products becoming increasingly clear, recent years have seen an unprecedented demand for sustainable products and brands. Across the global paints and coatings industry, regulatory bodies are setting higher and higher sustainability and transparency standards, while consumers are increasingly applying their spending power to choosing eco-friendly solutions. For example, a recent European Painter Insight Monitor¹ report found that environmentally friendly paints are now the number-one desired innovation among painters, with 36 percent of France’s professional painters selecting this as a desired innovation/ranking this as their most desired innovation.

Market insights from artificial intelligence and Big Data

To address these changes in the market landscape and help shape more sustainable high-performance paints and coatings industries, ����AV is launching a new plant-powered approach marked by transparency, dialogue and collaboration – called ‘Paint with Nature’. Leveraging its proprietary market insights gained through artificial intelligence and big data, ����AV will work closely with partners across the value chain to provide education and support on biobased raw materials. Additionally, it will implement a ‘Sign the Sustainability Pledge’ initiative.

Through these initiatives and its Decovery® family of resins, whose biobased content is verified to C14 standards, ����AV will drive awareness of biobased solutions as an alternative to fossil-based products and accelerate their adoption across the paints and coatings industries.

Tim Gratzke, Marketing Manager Decovery®: “At ����AV, we are very excited and proud to be launching a new approach to further drive plant-based resins for paints and coatings, and better connect the needs of end-users and manufacturers to environmentally friendly technologies. Using our market leadership in biobased solutions, we’ll be able to provide education and support to accelerate our customers’ sustainability journeys. This will help them to better address market needs, as well as protect the environment.”

No compromise on performance

He continues, “More than ever, the transition from fossil-based paints and coatings to biobased ones is within reach and involves no compromise on functional performance. And we’re committed to continuing to push the boundaries on sustainability – as such, a new, exciting plant-powered paints and coatings age awaits!”

To learn more about Decovery® paints and coatings, and ����AV’s new approach, please visit the dedicated landing page here:

¹

Producing wound dressings and plasters, as well as medical wearables, involves a multi-stage process. Various coating and cutting processes can be employed to convert the products to achieve different desired functions. For instance, the liner material is often given a wavy cut (S-cutting) to allow clinicians to quickly remove the carrier when applying the dressing. In other cases, the outer edge of the carrier is not coated with adhesive and can therefore be easily lifted to remove it (finger lift).

Advantages of films with rigid PP liners

PP liners are relatively stiff and therefore offer sufficient strength, for example when gently creating windows without damaging the underlying layer, or when transferring the adhesive layer to the product. At the same time, they are flexible enough to optimally cover curved body parts such as hands, ankles and shoulders. PP carriers can also be combined with multilayer TPU films, for example to produce individual properties.

The blown film technology enables high speed production and enhanced efficiency. Blown TPU film on PP liner feature a wide range of surface qualities from silky to extra matt. In addition, various colors are offered in different skin tones for more discretion. ����AV has a range of TPU films with polyethylene (PE) liner and is developing paper carriers to offer a large choice of solutions to its customers.

The Platilon^® XM range of from ����AV is ideally suited for use in wound management as well as other medical applications: They are breathable and feel like a second skin with their soft texture. These types also have an extra matte surface. This offers lower friction with textiles and they also do not reflect much light. This allows them to be used as incision drapes in brightly lit operating rooms to eliminate distraction of surgeons as little as possible from their work.

"Our aim is to introduce the world's first climate-neutral polycarbonate plastics this year," Jochen Hardt, Marketing Mobility ����AV, told media representatives. "This is an important step in achieving our vision of becoming fully circular. At the same time, we offer products and solutions that combine outstanding performance, cost efficiency and sustainability designed to help our customers in the mobility industry succeed in achieving their sustainability goals."

World's first climate-neutral polycarbonate

The polycarbonates are climate neutral "from the cradle to the factory gate¹" thanks to the introduction of raw materials sourced from mass-balanced biowaste and residues², as well as renewable energy accumulated during the production process. ����AV is already offering ISCC Plus-certified polycarbonates, which are attributed to renewable raw materials using the mass balance approach and enable a considerable reduction in the carbon footprint.

By incorporating renewable energy, ����AV will probably fully reduce CO₂ emissions from the cradle to the factory gate for these selected products. The products have the same high quality and performance as fossil-based polycarbonates and are a drop-in replacement without having to change existing processes or workflows.

����AV has also collaborated with partners to develop polyurethane raw materials in which up to 20 percent of the petroleum-based raw materials previously used are replaced by the climate gas CO₂. Applications of such polyols, called cardyon^®, are also currently being developed in the automotive sector. Partially bio-based precursors for automotive clear coatings from the Desmodur^® N range also contribute to circularity as alternative raw materials.

Innovative recycling technologies

Plastics recyclates are an important building block in significantly reducing a car's carbon footprint from raw material and component production through the use phase to recycling. In addition, ����AV is increasingly driving forward the development of chemical recycling technologies. A decisive factor in the success of such developments is that the products satisfy the high quality requirements and specifications of the automotive industry. ����AV supports the mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics through its role as a member in associations such as the Circularise Plastics project group. This group's goal is to establish a new standard for the traceability of plastics back to the raw material.

_{¹ Cradle-to-Gate is an assessment of a partial product lifecycle from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate. This assessment is based on ����AV's internal calculations and is currently being externally validated.
² The calculation of the carbon footprint takes biogenic carbon uptake into account.}

This application focuses on waterborne PU dispersions with up to 50 percent biomass-based carbon content, reducing the CO₂ footprint accordingly but offering the same good quality as fossil-based raw materials. The coating also features a premium look and feel – as befits the characteristic quality of these notebooks. Using INSQIN® technology, Moleskine® and Chinese PU synthetics material specialist are now able to produce partially bio-based coatings for hardcover and softcover notebooks.

On the path to more circularity

"We are partnering with ����AV to perfect these high-quality, low-solvent coatings for our classic Moleskine® notebook covers," says Daniela Riccardi, the company's Chief Executive Officer. "��DZ�����ٰ���’s partially bio-based coating technology enables us to reduce our impact on the environment and improve our sustainability."

"Working with innovative partners like Moleskine® allows us to develop more sustainable materials," explains Dr. Torsten Pohl, global head of Textile Coating at ����AV. "With our new partially bio-based raw material, ����AV allows for a total of approximately 23 percent renewable carbon in this coating, which is in line with our vision to become fully circular."

The project is part of a global strategic program with which ����AV is fully committed to the circular economy. That’s why the company is focusing on the use of alternative raw materials and renewable energy, the development of innovative recycling technologies, and collaboration with partners along the value chains.

“The rollout of the 5G network in particular, will take the industry to a whole new level, but will also lead to higher consumer expectations regarding device performance,” says Dr. Miya Ma, Industrial Marketing and Business Development Manager for 5G Applications in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment in the Asia-Pacific region at ����AV. “That's why we are working with partners and customers to develop innovative material solutions to bring trendy products to the market faster.”

Intelligent accessory

One current example is the functional Smart Mirror from the Chinese manufacturer MINE Technologies. The mirror cover is coated with AkzoNobel's waterborne soft-touch coating, which gives it a silky feel and a luxurious matte effect. It is highly resistant to abrasion and scratching and is based on the polyurethane raw materials Bayhydrol® and Bayhydur® from ����AV. The water-based coating is characterized by only low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contributing to a more sustainable manufacturing process.

The mirror also features compelling new electronic functions. If you swipe its edge, it begins to glow. The brightness can also be adjusted via swiping. The Smart Mirror can also connect to WiFi networks and is capable of recharging wirelessly. The product received an “iF Design Award” and an “International Design Excellence Award (IDEA)” in 2018.

Versatile material solutions

With pilot projects like this, ����AV is positioning itself in the growing consumer electronics devices market. In doing so, the company is supporting customers along the value chains in accordance with principles of CMF design (Color, Material, Finishing). In addition to the variant presented here, silk, velvet, and leather-like product surfaces with various degrees of matte and gloss can also be produced.

The mirror's back panel and light ring are made of Makrolon® polycarbonate from ����AV, which is characterized by its impact strength, heat resistance, flame retardancy and transparency. The company also offers post consumer recycled solutions and polycarbonate material with renewable contents to help consumer electronics customers achieve their sustainability goal. The mirror also includes a bag made by the Shanghai-based company Huafon Microfibre. It employs a microfiber leather solution for this purpose, using the polyurethane raw material Desmodur®.

The more sustainable raw material can already be used in many products and industries and enables similar or better properties than with fossil-based raw materials. New applications are consistently being developed. ����AV´s CO₂ technology has thus developed into a platform technology that contributes to resource conservation and circular economy and to reducing the ecological footprint.

Comfortable padding

The foams are characterized by durability and a high compression hardness – an important quality for athletic activities. Compared with products made of pure fossil raw materials, they have more favorable physical properties and, above all, better elasticity and a finer cell structure.

Plama-pur offers these products under the name ECO Foams. Its customers laminate the cut foam pieces onto self-adhesive materials and punch them out into various shapes according to the specifications.

Other sports applications

The CO₂-based precursor is also found in concept sneakers designed by Chinese shoe designer Axis Liu. More specifically, in a thin, translucent film made of the thermoplastic polyurethane Desmopan® 37385A, which matches the color and structure of the upper material. It is applied to the upper shoe by hot stamping and features good scratch and abrasion resistance. ����AV presented the sneakers at the K 2019 plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf.

At the end of 2018, cardyon® experienced another premiere in the sports sector: The material was used in the subfloor of the of a renowned sports club in Krefeld, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In this application, too, CO₂ is used in a recycling process to save fossil raw materials.

Both shoes feature ����AV products derived from alternative raw materials such as CO₂, biomass and plastic waste. These are a valuable resource as they provide carbon that can be put to use beneficially in a circular economy, instead of being released into the atmosphere as waste gas. ����AV is pioneering the use of such raw materials to reduce its dependence on fossil materials and increase the sustainability of the value chain.

Walking with CO₂ technology

One example is the upper and inner lining of the two shoes. The base is a soft foam that ensures a good fit and comfortable footfall. Here, a precursor product was used that contains up to 20 percent carbon dioxide and is marketed by ����AV under the name cardyon®. The CO₂ replaces some of the fossil raw materials previously used, but does not compromise the favorable properties of conventionally produced foam.

Two different types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are found in the outer soles of both women's shoes. One of them is also based on cardyon®; while in the other, 60 percent of the carbon content is derived from biomass. As a result, both products have a lower CO₂ footprint than fossil-based TPU and help close the carbon cycle.

High heels made from recycled plastic

����AV is also focusing on the recovery of plastic waste as part of its strategic program to support the circular economy, and is working with partners to develop new value-adding cycles to achieve this. For example, used polycarbonate products are shredded, cleaned, possibly mixed with new plastic and reused as recycled Makrolon®. In women's shoes, this lends lasting strength to the insole and heel.

No solvents

Footwear manufacturers such as Beira Rio want to offer more sustainable products for the benefit of their customers, but also want to improve hygienic conditions in production. That's why they are increasingly relying on water-based raw materials, which emit significantly fewer volatile organic components (VOCs) than the solvent-based substances used in the past.

INSQIN® technology is used in the lining, upper and heel of the women's pump, as well as in the synthetic upper material of the casual shoe. This technology is based on water-based polyurethane raw materials and was developed specifically for a more sustainable textile coating. Aqueous adhesives with the polyurethane dispersion Dispercoll® U provide the necessary strength in the upper and outer sole of both shoes.

“Especially in buildings with high foot traffic, it’s important to have an abrasion-resistant and durable flooring so that it still looks appealing after several years,” explains Contardo Pafumi, Industrial Marketing Manager Construction at ����AV. “For such applications, polyurethane-based sealers have proven their worth. They are very robust and also easy to clean.”

More environmentally compliant coating

For these and other reasons, ����AV chose the elastic terrazzo system from the Swiss installation company TEXOLIT AG. It is also particularly low in emissions and complies with AgBB regulations for indoor air emissions. It is also suitable for environmental certification under the LEED Gold Standard (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).

In total, an area of 1,800 square meters was equipped with the terrazzo floor. The coating comes from coatings manufacturer KLB Kötztal Lacke + Beschichtungen GmbH and is based on an aqueous polyacrylate dispersion from ����AV´s Bayhydrol® range and a polyisocyanate crosslinker from the Bayhydur® series.

"With these investments, we are preparing for the continued growth in demand for these products and expanding our leading global position," says Michael Friede, Global Head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at ����AV. "In the future, customers will continue to rely on replacing solvent-based products with more sustainable waterborne systems with equally good properties. Thanks to our versatile production, we are at the same time flexible and can satisfy many different requirements."

����AV develops tailor-made PUDs for a wide range of industries, thereby creating new growth opportunities. The company is a leader in research and development of products and process technologies and supports customers around the globe with technical service.

Wide range of applications

The areas of application for polyurethane dispersions are highly diversified. For instance, ����AV raw materials from the Bayhydrol® UH, U and UV series and Bayhytherm® are used in basecoats for automotive primary and refinish coatings, as well as in wood and furniture coatings and robust floor coatings. Adhesives formulated with Dispercoll® U are used in furniture and shoe manufacturing as well as in the automotive industry.

The low-solvent components also play an important role in the production of coated textiles and fiber-reinforced plastics.

The logo consists of the two letters N and L of the country code, each one meter high. The main frame of the figures is made of polycarbonate, which contains recycled materials from waste sources such as used water bottles. It has been 3D printed using innovative large format technology. This finished part is strong and durable and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. ����AV is already working with Chinese partners in the value chain to transform used polycarbonate water bottles into high-performance recycled plastics for the electronics, household appliances and automotive industries.

The facade of the logo is made from recycled Maezio^® composite sheets, which are made from processing waste. This material is not only light, strong and durable, but also corrosion resistant to meet the demanding requirements of outdoor installations. Its thermoplastic matrix makes it possible to completely recycle the material from both industrial waste and end-of-life products.

With open innovation to recycling management

"Circular economy must become the new guiding principle and that’s why we are working with the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Guangzhou and partners in the value chain to design and produce this creative logo," said Holly Lei, President of ����AV China. "Through open innovation, we are striving to integrate the industrial chain and involve the end users to achieve a fully circular economy."

Michiel Bierkens, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Guangzhou, said: "We are happy to be working with ����AV to enhance our new logo, as such cooperation will underscore our joint efforts to create a circular and sustainable world. We expect to promote this concept locally and globally by using it in our events so that more people can see this initiative and contribute their own efforts."

����AV is on the way to fully aligning its entire production and product range, and in the long term all areas, to a new circular concept. The initiative to anchor circularity in a holistic approach focuses on four priorities: an increased use of alternative raw materials, innovative recycling processes, renewable energies and joint solutions.

"The partnership with NANOxARCH and the Dutch Consulate for the new logo is just another concrete example of how our open-innovation collaborations in China can drive solid progress towards the future, especially in a circular economy," said Dr. Michael Schmidt, ����AV's Head of Innovation for Asia Pacific. "For us, this is just the beginning, as we and our partners are working on numerous concrete measures and projects along the value chain for improved recycling and reusing plastics."

The ����AV products used in the logo include an aqueous polyurethane dispersion for adhesives that bond the main frame and facade securely, easily and efficiently, and raw materials for aqueous polyurethane coatings that offer good adhesion to the recycled polycarbonates, flexible surface design, anti-stain and durability. Both waterborne systems are also characterized by very low VOC emissions.

“In particular, a high-quality and individual design has considerable influence on consumers' buying decisions while providing car manufacturers opportunities for brand differentiation,” explained Jochen Hardt, Global Marketing Mobility in the Polycarbonates segment at ����AV, in a live webcast to journalists. “Here, the focus is on the design of surfaces using colors, optics and haptics, with light effects and functions. Products from ����AV open up almost unlimited possibilities.”

Jack of all trades polycarbonate

Plastics such as the polycarbonate Makrolon^® and the polycarbonate blends Bayblend^® and Makroblend^® are lightweight and robust and ensure good thermal and electrical insulation. They can be used to implement a wide range of design solutions, with glass-like surfaces, many colors and options for integrating displays, sensors and cameras.

Wafer-thin layers of natural materials such as wood and marble will play a vital role in the car interior of the future. On the surface of injection-molded components made of the polycarbonate Makrolon^® Ai (derived from "Automotive interior"), they are ideal for creating a feel-good ambience.

Good mood with lighting effects

With lighting, the effects can be enhanced even further. One example is the floor in the prototype car interior concept: Here, light from a polycarbonate part shines through a wafer-thin layer of marble. This effect could also be created by coating it with a digitally printed film.

But the high transparency of polycarbonate itself can also be used to create lighting effects, for example by illuminating the background or edges. The light can be dynamic and communicative, but also atmospheric, relaxing and cozy. ����AV anticipates growing demand for increasingly personalized lighting experiences and functions.

Polycarbonate also forms the basis for continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites called Maezio®. The unidirectional arrangement of the fibers lends the surface a special aesthetic effect. In addition, the seat shells made from it and a new space-saving table are very light and exceptionally robust.

More sustainable coatings

The use of paints and coatings in car interiors is also multifaceted. Many colors as well as optical and haptic effects are possible here. ����AV was a pioneer in the development of water-based coatings with a very low content of volatile organic compounds (VOC). In the interior concept, the waterborne floor topcoat is based on the polyurethane (PU) raw materials Bayhydrol^® and Bayhydur^®, which give it durability and individuality. The aqueous INSQIN^® PU technology for textile coating is used in the headrests, instrument panel and seats.

����AV is also a pioneer in the use of predominantly organic-based PU raw materials such as the coating hardeners Desmodur^® eco N 7300 and Bayhydur^® eco 701-90 and the urethane acrylate dispersion Bayhydrol^® eco 2877.

Advantage of polyurethane

The floor of the interior has been completely redesigned with PU materials to create a pleasant and homelike setting. Baypreg^® is a two-component polyurethane system that is lighter than steel, providing significant advantages. The combination of Baypreg^® and glass fiber mats with core materials such as paper honeycomb or foamed polycarbonate enables a significant reduction in weight while providing high mechanical strength.

The Baynat^® PU system provides effective sound absorption. It makes self-supporting components possible and has long been used in vehicle headliners, but it is likely to play a particularly important role in the quiet electric car of the future when it comes to absorbing the noise of other passengers and the world outside. The soft Bayfit^® polyurethane system is recommended for even greater damping of noise and vehicle vibrations. It is usually foamed in cavities for this purpose.

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