Covestro is revolutionizing materials development with a new automated laboratory for coating and adhesive formulations. The facility, opening in 2025, will operate 24/7, running tens of thousands of tests annually to accelerate innovation. 

The automated lab, opening in 2025, will operate 24/7, running tens of thousands of tests annually to accelerate innovation. 

Today's manufacturers face intense pressure to optimize products quickly while meeting sustainability and performance demands. The key lies in advanced binders and crosslinkers – Covestro's new lab will streamline their development through digitalization and robotics. 

The lab will systematically test Covestro's binders and crosslinkers, which determine critical properties like hardness, adhesion, opacity, gloss, or durability. These advanced formulations typically blend 7-15 carefully selected components, with each unique combination producing different performance attributes.

While the vast number of potential combinations has traditionally limited researchers to testing standard formulations, the automated lab's computer-guided testing protocols and robotic systems now allow for exponentially more comprehensive experimentation.

"This allows us to focus our expertise and experience even more on customer-specific topics or try approaches we couldn't have implemented otherwise," explains Martin Merkens, Head of Sales & Market Development. "This will particularly help us in the area of circular economy: Alternative raw materials, for example bio-based or recycled materials, can be tested faster and evaluated for their properties in the final product." 

The new automated facility operates continuously, conducting tens of thousands of tests each year to establish new benchmarks in testing volume, diversity, accuracy, and efficiency. Beyond its impressive throughput, the laboratory generates vast amounts of structured data, accelerating the discovery of new formulation insights.

Advanced machine learning algorithms analyze this data alongside historical research to refine material compositions continuously. The system goes a step further by employing AI to propose new experimental designs based on target performance characteristics—allowing real-time validation in the lab and creating a truly self-improving research ecosystem. 

The laboratory's scope extends beyond developing water- and solvent-based 1K/2K systems to include rigorous testing of raw materials, intermediate formulations, and finished films. Its environmental chambers can simulate various climate conditions to assess real-world performance.

Covestro's integrated digital infrastructure allows seamless transfer of test samples to specialized facilities worldwide, enriching datasets with application-specific results. This makes it possible to supplement the datasets with market-specific test results and identify relevant dependencies more quickly.

Covestro will showcase the lab’s capabilities at the European Coatings Show (March 25-27, Nuremberg). Visit Hall 4A, Stand 438 to discuss how automated R&D can transform your product development.

The lab’s autonomous operation and AI-driven learning make formulation development far more efficient. "With our automated laboratory, we can work together with our customers on the future of coatings and adhesives," says Thomas Büsgen, lab head. “We can say: We are reaching a new level of modern research.”

Covestro is revolutionizing materials development with a new automated laboratory for coating and adhesive formulations. The facility, opening in 2025, will operate 24/7, running tens of thousands of tests annually to accelerate innovation. 

The automated lab, opening in 2025, will operate 24/7, running tens of thousands of tests annually to accelerate innovation. 

Today's manufacturers face intense pressure to optimize products quickly while meeting sustainability and performance demands. The key lies in advanced binders and crosslinkers – Covestro's new lab will streamline their development through digitalization and robotics. 

The lab will systematically test Covestro's binders and crosslinkers, which determine critical properties like hardness, adhesion, opacity, gloss, or durability. These advanced formulations typically blend 7-15 carefully selected components, with each unique combination producing different performance attributes.

While the vast number of potential combinations has traditionally limited researchers to testing standard formulations, the automated lab's computer-guided testing protocols and robotic systems now allow for exponentially more comprehensive experimentation.

"This allows us to focus our expertise and experience even more on customer-specific topics or try approaches we couldn't have implemented otherwise," explains Martin Merkens, Head of Sales & Market Development. "This will particularly help us in the area of circular economy: Alternative raw materials, for example bio-based or recycled materials, can be tested faster and evaluated for their properties in the final product." 

The new automated facility operates continuously, conducting tens of thousands of tests each year to establish new benchmarks in testing volume, diversity, accuracy, and efficiency. Beyond its impressive throughput, the laboratory generates vast amounts of structured data, accelerating the discovery of new formulation insights.

Advanced machine learning algorithms analyze this data alongside historical research to refine material compositions continuously. The system goes a step further by employing AI to propose new experimental designs based on target performance characteristics—allowing real-time validation in the lab and creating a truly self-improving research ecosystem. 

The laboratory's scope extends beyond developing water- and solvent-based 1K/2K systems to include rigorous testing of raw materials, intermediate formulations, and finished films. Its environmental chambers can simulate various climate conditions to assess real-world performance.

Covestro's integrated digital infrastructure allows seamless transfer of test samples to specialized facilities worldwide, enriching datasets with application-specific results. This makes it possible to supplement the datasets with market-specific test results and identify relevant dependencies more quickly.

Covestro will showcase the lab’s capabilities at the European Coatings Show (March 25-27, Nuremberg). Visit Hall 4A, Stand 438 to discuss how automated R&D can transform your product development.

The lab’s autonomous operation and AI-driven learning make formulation development far more efficient. "With our automated laboratory, we can work together with our customers on the future of coatings and adhesives," says Thomas Büsgen, lab head. “We can say: We are reaching a new level of modern research.”