Manufacturer of high-quality polymer materials such as polyurethanes and polycarbonates with a focus on the circular economy
Covestro AG
Leverkusen · Dormagen · Uerdingen (Krefeld) · Brunsbüttel · Meppen · Bomlitz · BuxtehudeNew on Amplifa
About Covestro
Covestro is a world-leading manufacturer of high-quality polymer materials and their precursors. The portfolio includes polyurethanes, polycarbonates, thermoplastic polyurethanes, elastomers, foams, films, composites, adhesives as well as coatings, paints and printing inks. Core processes are the proprietary process technologies AdiP (MDI), Gas Phase Technology (TDI), ODC technology for chlorine and nitric acid production with N₂O pyrolysis. With the CQ label, Covestro offers products containing at least 25 percent alternative raw materials and operates chemical recycling (Evocycle CQ) for polyurethane foams, polycarbonates and high-performance elastomers. Customer industries include, among others, automotive/mobility, construction & architecture, electronics and household appliances, energy, healthcare, sports & leisure, packaging as well as aviation and shipping. The company, headquartered in Leverkusen, was spun off from Bayer AG in 2015 and operates 46 production and 13 R&D sites in the EMLA, North America and APAC regions; there are seven sites in Germany.
- Site
- Leverkusen
- Processes
- Production of polymer materials (polyurethanes, polycarbonates), MDI production (AdiP Technology), TDI production (Gas Phase Technology / gas-phase phosgenation), Chlorine production (ODC Technology, oxygen-depolarized cathode in NaCl electrolysis), Nitric acid production with N₂O pyrolysis (NAUCI), Chemical recycling of polyurethane foams (Evocycle® CQ Mattress), Chemical recycling of polycarbonate (pilot scale), Chemical recycling of high-performance elastomers (pilot plant Leverkusen)
- Materials
- Polyurethane, Polycarbonate, MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate), TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate), Chlorine, Polychloroprene Rubber (Baypren®), Thermoplastic Polyurethanes, Elastomers
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, ISCC PLUS, ISO 17020, ISO 17025, EfbV, Kosher, TISAX, Other (ISCC PLUS, TISAX, ISO 17025)
- Founded
- 2015
- Employees
- approx. 17,600 (FTE,
- Industries
- Automotive/Mobility, Construction & Architecture, Wood Processing & Furniture, Electronics, Household Appliances & Telecommunications, Energy, Healthcare
- 01
Basic chemicals (including chlorine, nitric acid)
- 02
Precursors (MDI, TDI, polyols)
- 03
Polymer production (polyurethanes, polycarbonates, TPU, elastomers)
- 04
Application development & technical support
- 05
Chemical recycling (Evocycle CQ)
Materials & Processes
Polyurethane
Core product since its discovery by Otto Bayer in 1937, used among other things for foams, elastomers and coatings.
Polycarbonate
High-performance plastic used, among other things, in automotive, electronics and large-area glazing; chemical recycling at pilot scale.
MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate)
Precursor for polyurethanes, produced with the energy-efficient AdiP technology; climate-neutral variants available.
TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate)
Precursor for flexible foams, also offered as renewable TDI via a mass-balance approach.
Thermoplastic Polyurethanes
For flexible, durable applications in, among other fields, mobility and electronics.
Polychloroprene Rubber (Baypren®)
Synthetic rubber produced with ISCC PLUS-certified chlorine from renewable electricity.
Chlorine
Basic chemical produced with energy-saving ODC technology; also available ISCC PLUS-certified.
CQ Materials (at least 25% alternative raw materials)
Products based on biomass, recyclates and green hydrogen according to ISCC PLUS mass balance.
Elastomers
High-performance elastomers; chemical recycling in a pilot plant in Leverkusen.
Films
Thin polymer films, e.g. for identity documents and electronics applications.
Composites
Lightweight materials as an alternative to glass and metal.
Sites
Leverkusen
DEHeadquarters, Production & R&D
- Materials
- Polyurethanes, Polycarbonates, Elastomers
- Pilot plant for chemical recycling of high-performance elastomers
Dormagen
DEProduction
Uerdingen (Krefeld)
DEProduction
Brunsbüttel
DEProduction
Meppen
DEProduction
Bomlitz
DEProduction
Buxtehude
DEProduction
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production of polymer materials (polyurethanes, polycarbonates)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Polyurethane, Polycarbonate, Thermoplastic Polyurethanes, Elastomers, Foams, Films |
| MDI production (AdiP Technology)Plastics | – | – | – | – | MDI |
| TDI production (Gas Phase Technology / gas-phase phosgenation)Plastics | – | – | – | – | TDI |
| Chlorine production (ODC Technology, oxygen-depolarized cathode in NaCl electrolysis)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Chlorine, Basic chemicals |
| Nitric acid production with N₂O pyrolysis (NAUCI)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Nitric acid |
| Chemical recycling of polyurethane foams (Evocycle® CQ Mattress)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Flexible polyurethane foam |
| Chemical recycling of polycarbonate (pilot scale)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Polycarbonate |
| Chemical recycling of high-performance elastomers (pilot plant Leverkusen)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Elastomers |
| Textile coating with waterborne polyurethane (INSQIN®)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Polyurethane, Textiles |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot plant for chemical recycling of elastomers | Covestro | 1 | – | – | Leverkusen |
| MDI plant (planned world-scale plant) | Covestro | – | – | – | China |
| Production sites (46 production and 13 R&D sites worldwide) | Covestro | 46 | – | – | EMLA, NA, APAC |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certifications
Covestro operates with an integrated management system according to ISO 9001, 14001, 50001 and 45001; in addition, specific certifications such as ISCC PLUS (all major sites), TISAX, ISO 17025 and ISO 17020 are in place. Independent certification bodies audit the sites worldwide.
| Evidence | Leverkusen | Dormagen | Uerdingen (Krefeld) | Brunsbüttel | Meppen | Bomlitz | Buxtehude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |||||||
| ISO 14001 | |||||||
| ISO 50001 | |||||||
| ISO 45001 | |||||||
| Other (ISCC PLUS, TISAX, ISO 17025) |
History
- 1937
Otto Bayer discovers polyurethanes
- 2015
Founded as a spin-off from Bayer AG; 10th anniversary follows in 2025
- 2018
Markus Steilemann becomes CEO
- 2020
Launch of the "Sustainable Future" strategy
- 2022
Introduction of the CQ label (at least 25% alternative raw materials) and of Evocycle CQ; renewable TDI and climate-neutral MDI introduced
- 2023
Completion of the EU research project PUReSmart with Recticel; all major sites ISCC PLUS certified
- 2024
Investment in BioBTX; publication of Scope 3 climate targets
- 2025
Start of the strategic partnership with XRG; acquisition of Pontacol; approx. 17,600 employees, 46 production sites, revenue of EUR 12.9 billion
- 2026
MoU with BYD on a strategic partnership; opening of the pilot plant for chemical recycling of elastomers in Leverkusen; cooperation with ARLANXEO on ISCC PLUS-certified chlorine; planned new world-scale MDI plant in China and UAE feasibility study