Covestro expanded its Specialty Films Technical Competence Center (TCC) in Shanghai, reinforcing its ability to support customers across the Asia-Pacific region. With this move, the company is positioning itself as a key innovation partner for advanced applications such as smart automotive surfaces, humanoid robots, and secure identification solutions. As industries face increasing pressure to innovate faster, Covestro aims to deliver more localized, agile, and collaborative product development support.
From Material Supplier to Development Partner
Dr. Caroline Wolff, Head of Specialty Films for Asia Pacific, emphasized the strategic importance of the expansion. She noted that shrinking product cycles demand faster innovation, and the upgraded Shanghai TCC enables Covestro to go beyond material supply and actively partner in product development.
By enhancing local prototyping and simulation capabilities, the company can now accelerate development timelines while offering more responsive, region-specific support. As a result, customers can bring next-generation applications—such as intelligent automotive interiors and advanced robotics—closer to commercialization.
Advanced Film Insert Molding (FIM) Capabilities
To begin with, the facility has significantly upgraded its Film Insert Molding (FIM) technology. This advanced process allows manufacturers to produce plastic components with integrated decorative or functional surfaces in a single step. The installation of a larger screen printer—capable of handling nearly double the previous film size—marks a major improvement. This enables the prototyping of larger components, including automotive front grilles that seamlessly integrate sensors and display technologies.
End-to-End Prototyping and Simulation Support
Flexible tooling systems further reduce prototyping costs while shortening development cycles. At the same time, design feasibility simulations allow engineers to validate concepts early, minimizing risks before full-scale production. Beyond automotive applications, the expansion also focuses on Flexible Printed Electronics (FPE), a rapidly growing field. These circuits are printed on flexible substrates such as TPU films and are increasingly used in wearable devices and robotics.
To support this, Covestro has installed specialized equipment, including:
High-precision screen printers for conductive inks
Advanced thermal forming machines for 3D shaping
Importantly, maintaining electrical performance during complex forming processes remains a critical challenge. However, the upgraded facility enables in-depth testing and optimization, helping customers overcome these barriers. As a result, the TCC is well-equipped to support cutting-edge applications like tactile sensors in robotic hands and electronic skin for humanoid robots. Additionally, Covestro provides expert guidance on circuit design and processing conditions, ensuring better performance and reliability.
Driving Collaboration Through the Asia-Pacific Innovation Center
The Specialty Films TCC operates within Covestro’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Center, a collaborative hub that integrates R&D capabilities across business units. This shared ecosystem combines technical expertise with digital infrastructure, enabling faster cross-functional innovation.
Dr. Guo Ruijing, Head of Group Innovation and Sustainability Asia Pacific, highlighted that the expansion reflects Covestro’s commitment to building world-class innovation capabilities closer to its customers. Furthermore, it strengthens collaboration across different business segments, accelerating the development of advanced material solutions.
A Strategic Step Toward Future-Ready Applications
The expansion of the Shanghai TCC marks a significant step in Covestro’s regional growth strategy. As per the press release, by combining advanced manufacturing technologies, flexible electronics expertise, and integrated development support, the company is enabling faster innovation across industries. Ultimately, this move not only enhances customer collaboration but also positions Covestro at the forefront of smart surface technologies and next-generation robotics.
