Covestro plans to open a fully automated laboratory for coatings and adhesives formulations in 2025. The facility will test tens of thousands of formulations annually, accelerate research and strengthen the circular economy.
Covestro is planning to commission a highly automated laboratory to better support manufacturers of coatings and adhesives in the development of sustainable and high-performance products. The new facility will be able to test tens of thousands of formulations per year at the Leverkusen site from 2025 and will represent a significant advance in data-based research and development, according to a statement.
The coatings and adhesives industry is under increasing pressure: market shares must be defended, products must be developed efficiently and sustainably and regulatory requirements must be met at the same time. Binders and crosslinkers in particular are crucial components for properties such as hardness, gloss, adhesion and durability. In order to meet these requirements, Covestro wants to use the new laboratory to drive forward the development of these components systematically and more quickly.
Technological progress through automation and AI
The new laboratory will focus on automated formulation development for water- and solvent-based systems. Robot-assisted technology and AI-supported algorithms could be used to precisely plan and carry out test series. The system will work around the clock, analysing tens of thousands of formulations every year. By using machine learning, correlations between formulation parameters and product properties can be recognised more efficiently, it is said. The aim is a self-learning system that not only predicts new formulations, but also tests them immediately. Covestro supplies specialised raw materials for adhesives, elastomers and much more for packaging and printing applications.
Cross-segment benefits and flexibility
The laboratory will cover both standard formulations and customised solutions. The spectrum ranges from 1K and 2K systems to applications under variable climatic conditions. Thanks to the complete digitalisation of the laboratory, further analyses can also be integrated into specialised testing facilities. This means that alternative raw materials - such as bio-based or recycled materials - can also be tested for their suitability more quickly.
Application and outlook
A particular focus is on the circular economy. The automated evaluation of large amounts of data is intended to optimise recyclable and sustainable solutions in a targeted manner.
Source: Covestro
