It is a long-time favorite and an innovative material for a sustainable future: 75 years ago to the month, in February 1950, Vulkollan was invented, a versatile evergreen among high-performance plastics. Thanks to its extreme mechanical resilience combined with maximum dynamic load-bearing capacity, the Vulkollan elastomers ensure that the wheels never stand still in logistics centers, manufacturing plants and on roads around the world. Vulkollan raw materials are now produced in Leverkusen and at other locations worldwide. Production capacities and innovative recycling technologies are being expanded step by step.
Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro, celebrated the anniversary at the birthplace of Vulkollan in the Leverkusen production site: “Vulkollan exemplifies Covestro’s commitment to innovation in our solutions and specialty segment. As the inventor of polyurethanes, we continue to develop cutting-edge solutions that drive value for our customers. We are also guiding Vulkollan and its outstanding performance on a journey towards circularity, ensuring it not only meets industry demands but also becomes an integral part of a more sustainable future.”
Made for the sustainable future
Generations of passionate chemists and engineers have driven this success and remain committed to taking Vulkollan to new heights. The dedication to innovation is matched by continuous investments in global production assets for Vulkollan raw materials. Recent examples include expansions in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, and Barcelona, Spain.
In 2024, Covestro took a significant step towards sustainability by announcing an investment in a pilot-plant for the chemical recycling of end-of-life Vulkollan parts located in Leverkusen. This initiative opens the door to a more sustainable future, reinforcing the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility while maintaining the material’s exceptional performance.
Enabler of extreme performance in logistics and production
Over the years, Covestro has continuously expanded Vulkollan’s applications to meet evolving customer needs. Today, this versatile material excels in a wide range of critical uses like heavy-duty wheels and rollers for material handling equipment including automated guided vehicles (AGVs), advanced technical components for industrial machinery, shock-absorbing bumper elements and automotive noise and vibration control systems.
The widespread adoption of Vulkollan in these demanding applications stands as a testament to its superior properties. Even under extreme stress, Vulkollan consistently delivers optimal performance, enabling our customers to push the boundaries of what’s possible in their respective fields.
Customer Partnerships: The Foundation of Success
“At Covestro, global supply security of quality raw materials for Vulkollan has top priority to allow our customers to grow with the Vulkollan technology,” says Thomas Braig, Head of the Business Entity Elastomers at Covestro. “This goes hand in hand with developing the performance further and innovating jointly with our customers worldwide.”
Customer cooperation is as integral to Vulkollan’s history as its exceptional performance. Strong and lasting partnerships have shaped Vulkollan into what it is today. Many of the customers celebrate 40, 50, or even more years of collaboration with Covestro through licensed cooperation, a testament to the trust and success Covestro and them have built together. Vulkollan has become the industry standard not just through innovation, but also through these deep-rooted relationships.
History of performance and versatility
The story of Vulkollan began in February 1950, with the publication of a groundbreaking article in a German leading chemical magazine “Angewandte Chemie”. Co-authored by Otto Bayer, the inventor of polyurethanes, this publication marked the birth of a material that would redefine performance in demanding applications across various industries.
Vulkollan quickly established itself as the premier material for industries demanding exceptional durability and performance, thanks to its outstanding properties such as high tensile strength, excellent tear resistance, low abrasion, and exceptional dynamic load-bearing capacity.
Innovation has always been at the heart of Vulkollan’s success. A major breakthrough came with the introduction of Vulkollan prepolymers, representing a significant process advancement for the customers. This innovation simplified the molding of Vulkollan parts, enhancing efficiency and reducing investment requirements for the partners working with this unique material.
The jubilee of Vulkollan is celebrated in all productions sites around the globe and can be followed on social media.
