Stahl launches PermaQure® EPU coating solution for enhanced embossing at K 2025
Waalwijk, the Netherlands, 8 October 2025 – Stahl, the global leader in speciality coatings for flexible materials, has introduced a long-lasting Embossable Polyurethane (EPU) solution for synthetic leather and PU-coated textiles.
Want to learn more about our innovative coating solutions? Visit us at K2025 from 8–15 October - we will be there and would be delighted to show you what’s new. You will find us in Hall 7A, Booth B15.
PermaQure® EPU is engineered to elevate synthetics across garments, upholstery, footwear and more. Built on Stahl’s PermaQure® high-solids PU platform, EPU delivers a robust embossing window and consistent, long-lasting grain quality, giving manufacturers the confidence to create intricate textures that endure while ensuring seamless compatibility with existing PVC embossing lines.
Where durability, performance and sustainability come together
When finishing synthetic materials for garments, upholstery, shoes or other everyday use, post-embossing techniques add the article’s final design, look and feel. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is commonly viewed as easy to use in industrial embossing processes, but it may contain harmful substances such as chlorine and plasticizers, leading to regulatory and customer demands for an alternative option. Stahl’s long track record in innovative surface solutions makes it well-placed to develop a solution that combines durability, performance and sustainability.
More design freedom in just one coat
PermaQure® EPU is the first embossable 100% solids polyurethane (PU) resin, marking a breakthrough in synthetic leather production. Traditional transfer coating relies on pre-embossed paper to create surface grains, limiting the depth and variety of achievable designs. With PermaQure® EPU, coatings can be applied to flat paper before a post-embossing step adds the desired texture, significantly reducing costs. This flexible and cost-effective process gives manufacturers greater creative freedom, improved design protection and enhanced production process efficiency.
Leave a lasting impression on textiles, not on the environment
Stahl’s polyurethane-based high-solids resins offer textile manufacturers endless capabilities. Acting as a white canvas for texture design, PermaQure® EPU empowers manufacturers to explore creative surface effects that last.
With its 100% solids content, our EPU solutions improve grain definition and retention time when embossing synthetic materials, delivering improved aesthetic performance. And thanks to their chlorine-free base, they offer enhanced environmental credentials compared to traditional PVC embossing.
With PermaQure® EPU, Stahl once again sets the benchmark for sustainable surface innovation in synthetics production.
Want to learn more about our innovative coating solutions? Visit us at K2025 from 8-15 October!