The color matrix RAL Colour Feeling 2021+ is the color standard specialist’s guide to the trends seen as determining the product, industrial and architectural design of the future. In cooperation with RAL, materials specialist Covestro has introduced 15 colors from the new matrix in its polycarbonate plastics range. This is the first time the versatile plastic has been colored using an RAL color fan. Covestro notes that the project is the latest example of a commitment to researching new solutions for CMF design (color, material, finish).
RAL was founded in 1925 and introduced the first industrial color standard, which became widely accepted as an accurate color reference. As a provider of color matching services, the company today offers comprehensive color tools and solutions for a wide range of industries and sectors.
“As an internationally recognized color matching system, RAL offers professional color cards for industrial design applications that require the highest level of color accuracy,” said Dr Christopher Stillings, vice president and global head of color and design in the polycarbonates segment of Covestro. “As one of the leading polycarbonate suppliers, Covestro is not only a pioneer in the research and development of material technologies, but also has strong color and design teams worldwide. Our collaboration with RAL underlines the precision that our polycarbonate materials provide for color matching.”
The company points out that even the same colors in different materials lead to subtle changes in the visual experience. To ensure accurate and fast color matching, Covestro says its color and design centers in Italy, Thailand, India and China worked with RAL on solutions and completed the matching of the 15 trend colors within just one month. In September this year, Covestro used the RAL color codes for the first time in the company’s two CMF trend reports for the automotive, electronics and appliance industries.
Going forward, as part of its Open Innovation initiative, Covestro plans to explore opportunities to collaborate with global color standards providers to provide additional CMF design and implementation solutions for polycarbonate materials.
