On November 3, Covestro inaugurated a new production line for polyester resins at its Meppen site. This multi-year investment project adds another reactor line to the site and creates additional capacity in the double-digit kiloton range. This move is driven by rising demand for high-performance polyester resins in Europe. Coatings manufacturers are adapting their formulations to meet stricter regulatory requirements, while customers in the packaging and industrial sectors are demanding consistent quality, reliable availability, and simplified supply chains.
The new line builds on the site’s GMP-compliant production infrastructure. GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice and encompasses defined processes and documentation to ensure consistently high product quality. As a result, the facility meets the requirements for applications involving food contact.
Broad Product Range
The new reactor is designed for a wide range of products. It can produce high-molecular-weight and standard polyester grades, alkyds, and acrylic resins. These product lines serve the can, coil, industrial coatings, and adhesives sectors and are marketed under the brand names Uralac, Uradil, Hybrane, and NeoRez. The new line can also be used to produce intermediates for polyurethane dispersions.
The investment also includes the modernization of existing facilities. The site now features a new truck-filling system, a fully automated drum-filling system, and a heat recovery system that reuses process heat. Total investments amount to several million euros.
Additional Jobs at the Site
Alongside the modernization and capacity expansion, the team in Meppen is also growing. Due to increased demand for the products manufactured there, several additional positions in production, filling, and shipping are being filled.
Dr. Andrea Maier-Richter, Head of the Coatings & Adhesives business unit at Covestro, says: “Our customers rely on reliable delivery and consistent quality. With the new line in Meppen, we are increasing the availability of our polyester resins and strengthening supply from Europe.” Site Manager Dr. André Rittermeier adds: “Meppen is a site with extensive expertise and a long track record of success.”
The Meppen plant has been part of Covestro since 2021. The site was acquired as part of the purchase of Royal DSM’s “Resins & Functional Materials” business unit. The production site has been in operation since 1956. More than 100 employees, including apprentices, produce polyester, alkyds, acrylates, and polyurethane dispersions there for customers in the paint, coatings, and packaging industries.