CHANGHUA, Taiwan—Covestro inaugurated its expansion project in Taiwan on May 13, increasing the site's thermoplastic polyurethane capacity by 30 percent. The additional 5,000 metric tons of annual TPU capacity as the site brings the total annual capacity to 23,000 tons.
This is the third Covestro TPU expansion in 12 months. It follows a project in New Martinsville, W. Va., and a move to increase its stake in DIC, a Japan joint venture, to 80 percent.
"The Changhua site is Covestro's largest TPU production site in Asia," said Thomas Roemer, the company's global head of thermoplastic polyurethane. "With the capacity expansion, we will cater to the market's needs in APAC."
Uppers, shanks, insoles, midsoles, outsoles, heel cups and logos on shoes all can be made with TPU, Covestro said.
Meanwhile, the company also i sdeveloping a TPU fiber for advanced knitting technology. This can be used to produce stylish designs in a single knitting process, the company said.