Materials manufacturer Covestro has completed a major expansion of its laboratory for coating and adhesive formulations in Shanghai. The expansion strengthens Covestro’s ability to deliver faster, tailored solutions to customers across Asia Pacific.

The lab, which is part of Covestro’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Center, now spans over 3,000 square meters — an increase of about 20%. It features cutting-edge equipment such as a new synthesis unit for waterborne polyurethane dispersions. The unit enhances efficiency in scale-up simulations, troubleshooting, and customer sampling.

Covestro reports that the facility now supports a broader portfolio of raw materials including polyurethanes, acrylics, polyesters, and sustainable alternatives. It enables faster formulation, testing, and adaptation to customer requirements across multiple industries — from automotive and renewable energy to construction, printing and packaging, and beyond.

The lab has integrated AI-driven formulation tools, simulation, and robotics to automate and digitize development processes. These enhancements boost speed, precision, and consistency while reducing material waste and carbon footprint — further accelerating the development of new products and formulations for customers in the region.

“This expansion is a significant step forward in strengthening our formulation capabilities and supporting our customers’ innovation needs more closely and quickly. It reinforces our strategy of investing in high-growth markets and sustainable solutions,” said Anand Khot, head of Coatings and Adhesives Asia Pacific, Covestro.

“The lab also enhances cross-functional collaboration within our regional innovation center, leveraging shared technical and digital infrastructure to drive innovation efficiency. It’s a key milestone in delivering local-for-local solutions with global impact,” said Dr. André Rittermeier, head of group innovation and sustainability, Asia Pacific, at Covestro. Rittermeier also leads the Asia-Pacific Innovation Center.

Learn more about Covestro at www.covestro.com.