Covestro inaugurated a new polyester resin production line at its Meppen site in Germany, strengthening its manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand across Europe. The multi-million-euro investment will improve product availability, enhance production flexibility and reinforce the company’s position in the European coatings and adhesives markets. The expansion comes as coatings manufacturers increasingly reformulate products to meet stricter regulatory requirements. At the same time, packaging and industrial customers seek consistent product quality, reliable supply and more efficient supply chains.
New Reactor Line Boosts Production Capacity
The expansion includes an additional reactor line, increasing production capacity by a double-digit number of kilotonnes. Built on Meppen’s established Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant infrastructure, the facility will support the production requirements of food-contact-related applications.
The reactor can process a wide range of chemistries, enabling Covestro to manufacture high-molecular-weight and standard polyester resins, alkyds and acrylic resins. These products serve several applications, including can coatings, coil coatings, industrial coatings and adhesives. The products are marketed under the brands Uralac®, Uradil™, Hybrane™ and NeoRez®. In addition, the new production line can manufacture intermediates for polyurethane dispersions.
Modernised Facilities Improve Operational Efficiency
Beyond expanding production capacity, Covestro has upgraded several existing facilities at the Meppen site. These improvements include a new truck-filling system, a fully automated drum-filling line and a heat-recovery installation. The heat-recovery system captures and reuses process heat, thereby improving energy efficiency and supporting more sustainable manufacturing operations.
Covestro Strengthens European Customer Supply
The increased production capacity will help Covestro improve the availability of polyester resins and strengthen its regional supply network. Dr Andrea Maier-Richter, Head of the Coatings & Adhesives business entity at Covestro, highlighted that the expansion will provide customers with more reliable supplies, consistent product quality and greater flexibility for demanding applications. Site Manager Dr André Rittermeier emphasised that the investment builds on Meppen’s manufacturing expertise while reinforcing the site’s long-term capabilities. As per the press release, through this investment, Covestro aims to strengthen the Meppen site’s role as a long-term European manufacturing hub for specialty polyester resins, while supporting customers across coatings, packaging and adhesive applications.
