Covestro and Nippon Paint Expand Strategic Collaboration in China at CIIE

China's automobile industry is transitioning from rapid expansion to structural optimisation and technological upgrading, while the broader industrial sector is intensifying its efforts to address climate challenges and advance green transformation. As an essential enabler for both sectors, the coatings industry is playing a pivotal role by providing low-carbon, safe, and durable solutions. In this context, materials manufacturer Covestro and Nippon Paint have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance collaboration in automotive and industrial coatings. Through this alliance, the two companies aim to jointly develop efficient, sustainable, and high-performance coating solutions that foster industry innovation and support downstream transformation.

Building on deep industry expertise, the two companies will focus their collaboration on automotive and industrial coatings, spanning applications such as automotive OEM coatings, components, refinish paints, coil steel, construction machinery, wind power, and photovoltaics. The partnership will focus on creating materials that produce less carbon, improving technology, using energy more efficiently, and reducing VOC emissions, all to encourage sustainable and high-quality growth in the industry by working together more closely in the supply chain.

The agreement, signed at Nippon Paint’s booth during the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), underscores Covestro and Nippon Paint’s shared commitment to exploring new avenues of collaboration.

Over the years, both companies have accumulated extensive experience in product development and material innovation. At the 2022 CIIE, Nippon Paint and Covestro jointly introduced a groundbreaking bio-based automotive coating solution that enables matte-finish gradient colours—a highly advanced technology that meets the automotive industry’s growing demand for superior performance, distinctive aesthetics, and sustainability. The new partnership expands their work together from just automotive coatings to include more industrial uses, aiming to create a complete low-carbon coating system—from the basic materials to the final products—by working more closely and sharing resources.

“CIIE serves not only as a showcase for global innovations but also as an important platform for fostering supply chain collaboration and building sustainable ecosystems. We’re delighted to leverage CIIE’s momentum once again, continuing our partnership with Covestro to explore innovative breakthroughs in low-carbon materials and green coating technologies. Through this open platform, Nippon Paint will continue deepening local innovation, partnering to bring more valuable and sustainable coating solutions to the Chinese market,” said Bai Yi, Vice President of Nippon Paint China Purchasing Headquarters.

“This strategic partnership will fully unlock the synergistic potential of both companies in technology development and resource integration. We look forward to working with Nippon Paint to advance cutting-edge technology development and implementation, drive green transformation across the industry through innovative material science and circular economy principles, and contribute our technological expertise to China’s dual carbon goals and industrial upgrading,” said Anand Khot, Head of Coatings and Adhesives Asia Pacific, Covestro.

Source: COVESTRO