Polymer manufacturer Covestro has become a new premium partner of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (the German Ice Hockey League, or DEL) for an initial period of four years, starting with the upcoming 2016-2017 season. Under the agreement, the Covestro logo will be displayed under the ice in all DEL arenas and on the referees’ helmets. Other elements of the partnership include branding on backdrops for TV broadcasts and for sports news coverage, as well as branding on the official puck from the 2017-2018 season on.

The DEL is the central organization for all professional German ice hockey clubs playing in the first division. Founded in 1994, the DEL manages all first division games, organizes marketing activities, and promotes young talent.

“The DEL’s commitment and our high-performance materials are the perfect combination to ensure fans will enjoy games that are thrilling, but also safe,” said Frank H. Lutz, Chief Financial Officer of Covestro. “This is what we want to make visible and build upon together in the future,” Lutz says. “We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with the German Ice Hockey League.”

DEL General Manager Gernot Tripcke also sees clear benefits in the new partnership. “We are delighted to have such a strong partner in Covestro. The company shares our love of ice hockey and can support us with its know-how.”

Ice hockey is a fast-paced, collision sport in which players require equipment that provides adequate impact protection. With its advanced, high-tech materials, Covestro makes it possible to develop gear that maximizes performance and agility, while keeping the players safe. While the goalie, in particular, must be protected from head to toe, all players wear a helmet that can be made of impact-resistant polycarbonate blends, with visors of transparent polycarbonate. Shock-absorbent chest protectors are made of a flexible elastomer with special microspheres. Arm and leg protectors can be padded with flexible polyurethane foam.

Covestro products also give the hockey sticks the strength they need. These can be manufactured in a special process using polyurethane resin and reinforcing fibers, for example. Elastomers in the stick’s outer envelope cushion shocks and prevent damage to the stick from abrasion or breaks. Even the puck can be made of Covestro elastomers, which give it the necessary solidity and elasticity.

Additionally, the “glass” surrounding the hockey rink must meet very demanding requirements. It has to provide not only full protection for the spectators, but also a safe and reliable support for the players when things get rough on the ice. On the other hand, the fans want a clear view of the rink at all times to feel close to the action. Solid polycarbonate sheets made of Makrolon GP are ideally suited for this purpose. They provide extreme impact resistance, even at temperatures as low as minus 100 degrees Celsius, keeping spectators and players safe at all times. The sheets are six millimeters thick and also highly transparent, providing an unobstructed view of the rink.