After four years of renovation, the venerable Olympic Stadium Luzhniki comes back to life for the 2018 World Cup in Moscow. It has 81,000 seats, 2,000 VIP seats and 2,500 media seats. It was the setting for the opening match and competitions for the round of 16, further matches for the semi-finals and the final match will also take place here.

During the reconstruction phase, the arena received new grandstand roofing with multiwall sheets made of Makrolon® polycarbonate from Covestro. The idea was no coincidence: even the old roofing was made of this high-tech plastic. Even after years of use, the panels showed only barely visible scratches and slight loss of color. When the stadium was renovated for the World Cup from 2015, the positive experience led to the decision to use Covestro's high-tech product once again.

Large-area roofing
Around 36,000 square meters are covered with 25 millimeters thick, white-colored multiwall sheets. Some 30 trucks were needed to safely transport the panels with a width of 1.20 meters and a length of 9.80 meters to Moscow.

The X-structure of the Makrolon® multi-skin sheet ensures high stability in all kinds of weather and withstands even high snow loads of up to one ton per square meter. Thanks to new additives and a special UV coating, the polycarbonate sheets are guaranteed to be protected from weathering for 25 years. Another advantage are the very good fire classification.

A lightweight that saves costs
Cost savings of 40 to 45 percent are another advantage in comparison to a glass roof construction. Polycarbonate sheets have a lower weight, making it easier to transport and process with much less effort. The substructures, mostly made of metal or aluminum, can also be designed in a more sophisticated way.

Solid and multiwall sheets made of polycarbonate have already proven their worth in stadium construction and many other large-scale projects. In Germany, numerous new or renovated sports facilities bear impressive testimony to the abundant possibilities of Makrolon® sheets. Many other countries around the world, such as China, Poland, Brazil, Romania and Austria, also have examples of their application diversity.

Great history
The Luzhniki Stadium was opened in 1956. It was the venue for numerous Russian and international sports competitions, including the 1980 Olympic Games, as well as a stage for concerts by internationally renowned artists.

About Covestro:
With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main sectors served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports. These reports are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to make them conform to future events or developments.