Wuhan gym used as hospital reopens with help from Covestro

As a practitioner of circular economy in the chemical industry, global materials manufacturer Covestro has completed the refurbishment of the gymnasium at Hubei University by using two-component waterborne polyurethane as an innovative coating solution, according to the company.

To fight the COVID-19 epidemic earlier this year, the gymnasium at Hubei University was converted into a mobile cabin hospital and a place for the storage of anti-epidemic materials.

Now, the gymnasium is back to its normal use in a short time thanks to Covestro's efforts in renovating the polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, floor.

Started on Aug 27, the project was conducted by Covestro and the project contractor Jiede Chemical&Technology.

They completed the construction of the old PVC base in only 24 hours.

The project uses Covestro's ultralow volatile organic compounds, or VOC, and low-odor two-component waterborne polyurethane recoating technology, with fast curing speed, easy operation and high construction efficiency.

It can save renovation time and extend the service life of PVC floors.

The refurbished floor is easier to clean without frequent waxing maintenance, which can reduce the maintenance cost and increase the usage of the site.

In addition, because the project does not need to repave PVC, it does not generate a lot of construction waste.

"This renovation project is a concrete example that we use our expertise in technology and materials to solve the problem of floor renovation through innovative solutions. The solution can realize the reuse of resources and promote recycling," said Zhong Xiaobin, senior vice-president for the business unit coatings, adhesives and specialties in Asia Pacific, Covestro.

As China continues to expand urbanization and boost sustainable development, the market's demand for high-quality materials is increasing, Zhong said.

Covestro is helping to achieve sustainable development in various fields through innovation in products, research and development and services.

"As students return to school, providing a healthy and safe environment is our top priority," said a director at the university.

"To quickly renovate the venue, we chose a better-performing and more environmentally friendly water-based paint recoating solution provided by Covestro. It could be delivered the next day after the construction was completed."

Covestro is one of the world's largest polymer producers, with sales of $14.73 billion in 2019. Its business scope is mainly concentrated on the production of high-tech polymer materials and the R&D of innovative solutions for many areas of daily life.

The main service areas cover the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, electrical and electronic industries. Other areas include sports and leisure, cosmetics, medical treatment and the chemical industry itself.

As of the end of 2019, Covestro had 30 production sites and approximately 17,200 employees worldwide.