Covestro has unveiled its latest high-performance, sustainable TPU material solutions at COMPUTEX 2026 in Taipei, positioning advanced polymers at the center of the rapidly evolving AI hardware revolution.

 

Under the theme “The Material Effect,” the company is highlighting how its materials are enabling breakthroughs in AI computing, embodied intelligence, robotics, and next-generation consumer electronics. 

 

“Taiwan is a critical hub for the global electronics and electrical industry and an innovation base for forward looking applications such as AI robotics,” said Alec Yang, Head of Sales and Market Development TPU Taiwan of Covestro. 

 

“With our TPU APAC R&D center and manufacturing site in Changhua, we can directly support local customers for material development and scale up for critical applications including consumer electronics and artificial intelligence. 

 

"This enables an efficient transition from R&D and application validation to localized mass production, addressing the diverse demand for high-performance and sustainable materials across the regional value chain.”

 

As AI rapidly transforms robotics from single-function machines into adaptive systems operating in complex real-world environments, material performance has become a critical bottleneck.

 

Covestro emphasized that robot performance depends not only on algorithms and mechanics but also on the durability and stability of key components under constant high-frequency use. With strong abrasion resistance, flexibility, and mechanical strength, TPU is emerging as a foundational enabler of robotic motion systems.

 

In cleaning robots, AI-driven perception systems are expanding operational complexity, demanding higher material resilience across components like seals, wheels, rollers, and brushes. 

 

Covestro’s Desmopan IT series TPUs are designed to maintain stable performance under continuous dynamic loads while enabling low-noise operation across varied floor conditions. In moisture-heavy environments such as pool and garden cleaning robots, the material also offers hydrolysis resistance and antimicrobial properties to extend device lifespan.

 

In embodied intelligence and biomimetic robotics, TPU is being used to replicate human-like softness while maintaining structural integrity under repeated stress. Foams such as Desmopan FLY support cushioning and rebound in robotic foot systems, while Desmopan AIR enables multi-layer cushioning structures for prototyping and design validation.

 

TPU is also playing a growing role in tactile sensing and electronic skin systems. Flexible TPU films improve responsiveness in robotic hands and skin-like interfaces. In high-motion robotic arms, TPU cable jacketing ensures long-term stability in signal transmission and power delivery, while meeting flame-retardant and safety requirements for industrial environments.

 

“Combining rubber-like elasticity with the strength of engineering plastics, TPU also offers excellent processability and recyclability,” the company noted, highlighting its suitability for injection molding and extrusion from prototyping to mass production.

 

Covestro is also targeting the fast-growing AI-enabled electronics market, where performance, thermal management, and sustainability requirements are intensifying.

 

As AI workloads become embedded in everyday computing, laptops now require lighter materials, improved heat resistance, and higher mechanical durability. TPU components such as foot pads and thermal elements help reduce weight while improving recyclability through overmolding processes.

 

Covestro’s Desmopan XHR series TPU delivers strong heat and wear resistance, making it suitable for high-performance devices such as gaming laptops and servers operating under sustained thermal stress.

 

Meanwhile, the Desmopan CQ series uses bio-based feedstocks and mass balance approaches to achieve more than 80% sustainable content while maintaining performance parity with fossil-based materials, helping brands reduce lifecycle emissions.

 

In connected devices such as speakers and gateways, Desmopan IT series TPU enables vibration damping, soft-touch surfaces, and design flexibility. In wearables—including smart bands, watches, and earbuds—the material provides skin-friendly comfort, antimicrobial properties, and durability for long-term daily use.

 

“Material innovation in the AI era is not only about boosting performance, but also about enabling more efficient product development and more reliable mass production,” said Kevin Ho, Head of Sales and Market Development TPU APAC of Covestro. 

 

“Focused on ongoing innovation in high-performance TPU materials and related technologies, we continue to expand what’s possible in cutting-edge applications, supporting customers in visionary project development and accelerating the transition from validation to scale. 

 

"Our TPU Application Development Center, opened this May in Guangzhou, works in synergy with the Taiwan R&D Center to strengthen technical support across Asia Pacific as a global manufacturing hub. Combined with our regional production and supply chain network, Covestro will keep driving performance leaps and sustainable progress in electronics and electrical applications for the AI era.”