Covestro Introduces New Adhesive Solutions For Automotive And Footwear Industries

• Solutions unveiled at annual China adhesive industry conference
• Advancing localization to support coatings and adhesives customers in Asia Pacific
• Digital R&D enhancing innovation efficiency

In response to evolving trends in industries such as automotive and footwear, Covestro has developed several innovative adhesive solutions that prioritize performance, efficiency and sustainability. Unveiled at the 27th China Adhesive and Tape Annual Conference, which opened September 5 in Hefei, these locally developed solutions, branded Dispercoll U and Dispercoll U PLUS, support iterative upgrades in downstream industries through raw material innovations.

In line with trends toward lightweight and customized designs in the athletic shoe market, Covestro has launched the Dispercoll U high-performance waterborne polyurethane adhesive solution. It is specifically engineered for bonding-challenging special shoe materials and can enhance manufacturing efficiency while supporting energy savings and carbon reduction. With exceptional initial tack performance, the solution can bond lightweight, temperature-sensitive substrates and accommodate innovative shoe designs, resulting in smoother handling and increased productivity. Additionally, its activation temperature can be reduced from 55°C to 35°C, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions during the thermal activation process.

Furthermore, Covestro has developed the Dispercoll U PLUS waterborne footwear adhesive solution in response to the footwear industry’s growing interest in one-component solutions that simplify the bonding process. This solution streamlines shoe manufacturing, conserves equipment and labor, reduces material waste, and is also suitable for automated bonding processes. With proven hydrolysis resistance and bonding strength, this solution effectively reduces the risk of debonding in high-performance athletic shoes, thereby extending their lifespan.

Addressing the design trends in the automotive interior segment, Covestro has launched the Dispercoll U bonding solution for automotive interior lamination, featuring enhanced heat resistance. By balancing good initial bonding strength with exceptional initial heat resistance, the solution effectively meets the stringent requirements for bonding complex, three-dimensional trim parts under high tensile strength, making the lamination process more efficient. This makes it particularly suitable for applications in 3D-shaped interior trim parts, such as armrests with novel designs and large curved seat back covers. Compared with the majority of marketed solutions, Dispercoll U demonstrates superior performance in both green and final heat resistance, better meeting production and application needs by reducing risks such as rebound and bulging.

Covestro has also introduced an upgraded version of Dispercoll U PLUS waterborne polyurethane adhesive solution for automotive interiors. It significantly improves heat and climate resistance, addressing the challenges of aging in automotive interiors due to extreme heat and ensuring long-term stability in adhesive bonding performance. It also offers improved storage stability.

Enhancing localization to serve the coatings and adhesives industry
These innovative adhesive solutions were developed at Covestro’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Center in Shanghai. Furthermore, to better serve regional customers, the company now locally produces about 75 percent of its products sold in the coatings and adhesives industry across Asia Pacific.

“Over time, Covestro has expanded our localized R&D and production capacity in Asia Pacific, building an efficient regional innovation and supply network with consistent high quality. This has effectively supported our coatings and adhesives customers in operating and expanding in their respective markets,” said Li Jinqi, Vice President of Coatings and Adhesives Greater China at Covestro. “We’re also pushing forward with our digitalization strategy throughout product development to significantly improve the efficiency of product innovation.”

For example, at the Asia-Pacific Innovation Center, Covestro has developed new digital testing equipment and solutions for assessing initial bonding strength in footwear, replacing traditional subjective manual methods. This digital tool ensures objective, scientific and accurate test results through micromechanical analysis of the adhesion process, helping to shorten the product development cycle and meet customers’ needs for rapid development and launch of high-quality products.