Covestro has inaugurated its new technical centre for high viscosity technology at the Chempark Leverkusen. In future, it will support the plastics manufacturer in improving plastic products, developing new processes and optimising production processes.

Covestro opens modern technical centre in Leverkusen for the further development of plastics and process technologies. Source: Covestro

In a new technical centre at Chempark Leverkusen, Covestro’s plastics experts now have 1400 square metres and state-of-the-art equipment at their disposal to develop new and sustainable processes. The high-viscosity technical centre focuses in particular on issues relating to very viscous liquids, such as polycarbonate melts. Covestro has invested a total of around EUR 20 million in the new building in the B block of the Chempark since construction began in October 2021.

Among other things, the new technical centre provides researchers with a seven-metre-high laboratory area, a filigree “station” for technical gases with 60 pipelines and a laser room for flow experiments that can be completely darkened. The soundproofed technology and control centre provides an overview of all research facilities – some have already been installed and the entire expansion is due to be completed by mid-2024. The high-viscosity technology centre should then really take off.

Innovation and research

Dr Daniel Koch, Head of Covestro’s NRW sites, also points out the importance of the investment for production: “The High Viscosity Pilot Plant in Leverkusen strengthens the site as a centre for process technology and continues to drive innovation. It will help us to optimise existing production processes and develop new process technologies. The High Viscosity Pilot Plant will thus create the conditions that will benefit production at Covestro in the future.”

With its extraordinary size and space, the high viscosity pilot plant creates excellent conditions for continuously optimising existing production processes, according to the company. Among other things, this should help to further advance innovative technologies such as the chemical recycling of polycarbonate in the future. If, for example, it is possible to develop new manufacturing processes that manage with lower process temperatures and correspondingly lower energy consumption, resources such as raw materials, energy and land consumption can be saved in future and waste volumes reduced. This not only reduces the ecological footprint of certain plastic products, but also saves costs and strengthens the manufacturer’s competitiveness.