Since inventing polyurethanes and polycarbonates decades ago, Covestro has continued to be driven by innovation, delivering new technologies and solutions that help make a positive impact on people’s lives every day. While this strategic focus on materials has remained constant, over the years, the company’s businesses – and names – have changed.

The origins of the company can be traced to 1863, when Friedrich Bayer and Johann Friedrich Weskott manufactured and sold synthetic dyestuffs in a small German town today called Wuppertal. By the turn of the century, Bayer® Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) had been introduced to the world and was quickly hailed as the “drug of the century.”

In 1954, a joint venture named Mobay Chemical Company was formed to manufacture and market polyurethanes in North America. After a series of name changes, mergers, acquisitions and reorganization initiatives, Bayer MaterialScience, a subgroup of Bayer, was formed in 2003. This evolution continues: On September 1, 2015, the organization redefined itself in a new light as Covestro – an independent company. Covestro LLC is the legal entity for the company’s U.S. business operations.

Covestro has a bold new vision for the future – to make the world a brighter place by creating material solutions that push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability. Interested in learning more? Check out this illustrated timeline of milestones in the company’s history.