Covestro Begins Local Medical-Grade TPU Production in Taiwan

26 Jun 2025 CW Team

This is Covestro’s second global site after New Martinsville, North America, to manufacture medical-grade TPU. The move reflects rising demand driven by improved healthcare standards and an ageing global population.

Meeting Global Standards, Serving Regional Needs

Manufactured in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, Desmopan® Rx grades meet international medical standards including ISO 10993 and China’s YY/T 1557, ensuring biocompatibility and minimised contamination risks. Free from added plasticisers, the TPU grades offer low extractables and are compatible with multiple sterilisation methods.

Dr Frank Yang, Head of Asia-Pacific Innovation TPU at Covestro, stated: “Our Desmopan® Rx grades meet established medical industry standards. This production shift ensures product safety, compliance, and timely delivery for regulated Asian markets.”

Designed for Advanced Medical Use

Desmopan® Rx TPUs are tailored for a wide range of medical devices, including tubing, catheters, connectors, housings, endoscopes, and wearable devices. Their use spans surgical procedures, drug delivery, dialysis, wound care, and more.

The material’s benefits include:

Biocompatibility for patient-contact use
High clarity for medical observation
Kink resistance for uninterrupted fluid flow
Excellent chemical and abrasion resistance
Superior flexibility and dimensional stability

Additionally, Desmopan® Rx is suitable for melt-blown medical nonwovens used in drapes, gowns, sterile packaging, and PPE, offering strong performance while complying with medical waste regulations.

Strengthening Regional Infrastructure

The Changhua facility complements Covestro’s Zhuhai production base and its new application development centre in Guangzhou, enhancing local innovation and delivery capabilities. Kevin Ho, Head of Sales and Market Development TPU Asia Pacific, noted, “With Changhua online, we can now shorten lead times and improve supply reliability for the region.”

Covestro is showcasing the Desmopan® Rx range at Booth N5E24 during CPHI & PMEC China, running through 26 June at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

Covestro has launched localised production of medical-grade Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) at its Changhua site in Taiwan, marking its first such facility in the Asia Pacific region. The site, now qualified for medical-grade TPU manufacturing, will produce Desmopan® Rx grades, enabling faster and more secure regional supply for high-performance medical applications.This is Covestro’s second global site after New Martinsville, North America, to manufacture medical-grade TPU. The move reflects rising demand driven by improved healthcare standards and an ageing global population.Meeting Global Standards, Serving Regional NeedsManufactured in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, Desmopan® Rx grades meet international medical standards including ISO 10993 and China’s YY/T 1557, ensuring biocompatibility and minimised contamination risks. Free from added plasticisers, the TPU grades offer low extractables and are compatible with multiple sterilisation methods.Dr Frank Yang, Head of Asia-Pacific Innovation TPU at Covestro, stated: “Our Desmopan® Rx grades meet established medical industry standards. This production shift ensures product safety, compliance, and timely delivery for regulated Asian markets.”Designed for Advanced Medical UseDesmopan® Rx TPUs are tailored for a wide range of medical devices, including tubing, catheters, connectors, housings, endoscopes, and wearable devices. Their use spans surgical procedures, drug delivery, dialysis, wound care, and more.The material’s benefits include:Biocompatibility for patient-contact useHigh clarity for medical observationKink resistance for uninterrupted fluid flowExcellent chemical and abrasion resistanceSuperior flexibility and dimensional stabilityAdditionally, Desmopan® Rx is suitable for melt-blown medical nonwovens used in drapes, gowns, sterile packaging, and PPE, offering strong performance while complying with medical waste regulations.Strengthening Regional InfrastructureThe Changhua facility complements Covestro’s Zhuhai production base and its new application development centre in Guangzhou, enhancing local innovation and delivery capabilities. Kevin Ho, Head of Sales and Market Development TPU Asia Pacific, noted, “With Changhua online, we can now shorten lead times and improve supply reliability for the region.”Covestro is showcasing the Desmopan® Rx range at Booth N5E24 during CPHI & PMEC China, running through 26 June at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..