Bayer MaterialScience: 50 years of HDI production in Leverkusen

Bayer MaterialScience, which now operates under the new name Covestro since September 1, is celebrating a major anniversary: 50 years of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) production in Leverkusen. Today, the site is home to the world’s largest production facility for this coating raw material and the company’s other coating polyisocyanates. HDI from Leverkusen is used primarily for high-quality automotive and industrial coatings. They protect car bodywork and the cars of Germany’s ICE high-speed trains and can withstand even the harsh climate conditions to which aircraft are subjected.

"As mobility increases, this calls for high-performance and durable coatings that are also environmentally friendly,” said Daniel Meyer, Head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties Business Unit at Bayer MaterialScience and Covestro. "Polyurethane coatings fulfil these requirements precisely and have established a firm place, particularly in glossy topcoats.”

"In line with market development, we have repeatedly expanded production in Leverkusen and have invested more than E80M in new capacities over the past 12 years alone,” Meyer explained.
The new company Covestro will continue this pioneering line of work with ongoing further development of HDI derivatives to meet changing market requirements in the coatings field and by tapping into new applications. Covestro will also be working on an expanded isocyanate portfolio incorporating PDI and XDI.