Since last season already, the colorful Covestro logo has been displayed at the arenas of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (German ice hockey league), including advertising below the ice and on the referees’ helmets. The partnership between the DEL and the manufacturer of high-quality plastics is now entering its next phase: beginning in the 2017/2018 season, the kick plate will be branded with the Covestro colors and the company logo at all 14 DEL locations. It is located between the boards and the ice, and is usually yellow – that will now change. Work will begin at the arenas of the DEL in the coming weeks to ensure that the kick plates are finished in time for the season opener on September 8.

As a premium partner to the DEL, Covestro regards this collaboration as a victory: “We bring color to the game – not just with our logo, but also with our products,” says Dr. Markus Steilemann, Covestro Board of management member responsible for Innovation, Marketing and Distribution. “In sports particularly, plastics producers ensure value-added, safety and continuous improvement with their materials. That’s why the partnership with the DEL is a perfect match for us in terms of enabling people to experience the unique performance of these materials.”

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to expand our partnership because it has a direct impact on the performance of our sport, and we see this a sign that the collaboration has been satisfactory so far. In the future this will be much more visible on the ice,” explained DEL Managing Director Gernot Tripcke.

Adds Oliver Watermann, Executive Director of the DEL marketing company Lagardere Sports: “The expansion of the premium partnership between Covestro and the DEL testifies to the fact that interest in ice hockey in Germany is constantly increasing and that the DEL has developed into an attractive communication platform.”

The sponsorship agreement is scheduled to run for an initial period of four years (through the 2019/2020 season); in addition to the kick plate, the Covestro logo can also be seen on the official game puck starting this season.

As a manufacturer of high-performance plastics, Covestro represents its industry in the game of ice hockey. One example here are the helmet visors, which are made of the material polycarbonate. This season for the first time, the referees will wear helmet visors made of the impact-resistant material, which offers special protection in the event that the visor is struck by a puck. Plastics are generally contained in all ice hockey equipment, such as breast plates or leg guards. Through its partnership with the DEL, Covestro can help to make the game of ice hockey safer with its products.

In extreme situations like these, Covestro materials exhibit their special strength. This is evident in a current cooperation project with RWTH Aachen University: the solar-powered “suncar” developed by students will take part in what is probably the world’s toughest solar vehicle race – 3,000 kilometers across Australia. With materials and technical service, the manufacturer will support the development of solar-powered electric cars and will test various materials under harsh conditions along the race course.

“We’re proud to represent the chemical and plastics industry as a partner to the DEL and the sport of ice hockey in Germany,” says Matthias Poth, head of Communications at Covestro. The fact that the kick plate will be in color for the first time is also an expression of the company’s values: curiosity, courage and diversity. “We stand for innovative solutions and demonstrate how plastics can constantly push boundaries.”