10. Mar 2026
Stahl launches PermUCell water-based PU coagulation technology
Specialty coatings supplier Stahl has launched PermUCell, a fully water-based coagulation technology designed to produce polyurethane (PU) substrates without the use of dimethylformamide (DMF).
The company said the technology is now available worldwide following industrial-scale adoption by manufacturing partners in Asia, a major production hub for footwear and synthetic materials.
PermUCell is intended as an alternative to conventional PU coagulation systems that rely on DMF as a solvent. According to Stahl, the new technology uses a 100% water-based process while remaining compatible with existing industrial coagulation lines, allowing manufacturers to transition without significant equipment changes.
The company says the system has already been implemented at industrial scale with partners in Asia and Europe, demonstrating its suitability for commercial production.
Stahl is targeting manufacturers of performance footwear and synthetic materials that are seeking to reduce the environmental impact of PU production. DMF has long been used in coagulation processes for producing synthetic leather and other PU substrates but is subject to increasingly stringent regulatory scrutiny due to its health and environmental profile.
PermUCell is based on an aliphatic polyurethane backbone, which the company says can deliver improved color stability compared with traditional aromatic-based coagulation processes. Stahl also reports that the material provides softness, breathability, flexibility, and durability suited to footwear and related applications.
In addition to the chemistry itself, Stahl said it will support adoption of the technology through its global network of technical specialists and application centers. These teams will provide assistance with production setup, parameter optimization, line integration, and scaling up the process for industrial manufacturing.
“Our goal is to enable a smooth and confident transition to cleaner coagulation technologies, supported by stable process control and consistent technical performance,” said Montse Pous, global technical manager for synthetics at Stahl.
Lidia Martínez, global market manager for synthetics at Stahl, added that the company aims to help manufacturers phase out DMF while maintaining product performance and production efficiency.
The launch reflects growing industry efforts to replace solvent-based processes in synthetic material production with lower-emission and water-based alternatives.
Netherlands-based Stahl is in the process of being acquired by Germany's Henkel, as we reported last month.