Covestro unveils the Maestro to showcase materials advancing healthcare devices
- Demonstrates innovation in point-of-care diagnostics by highlighting the convergence of healthcare and electronics industries
- Combines multiple design elements into one innovative demonstrative device including electronics integration, cleanability and chemical resistance
- Developed with more sustainable practices in mind, featuring materials with attributed renewable content and designed for easier disassembly
PITTSBURGH, January 26, 2026 — The diagnostics market is rapidly evolving, driven by demand for early disease detection and the rise of point-of-care (POC) testing. Breakthroughs in microfluidics, non-invasive technologies, and digitally connected devices are reshaping how and where care is delivered. With the ability to deliver results in minutes, at bedside, in community settings or at home, POC diagnostics are emerging as essential tools in addressing the healthcare needs of aging populations and the rise in chronic conditions.
In response to these trends, Covestro developed the Maestro, a demonstrative device that provides simulated, non-invasive measurements and improved molecular diagnostic testing. The device is a breakthrough in material innovation, showcasing how Covestro’s advanced materials enable smarter, potentially more resource-efficient solutions at the intersection of healthcare and electronics, helping to shape the future of connected care.
More specifically, the device marries IMSE® (In-Mold Structural Electronics) technology with Makrolon® polycarbonate and other high-performance materials from Covestro. IMSE parts offer numerous advantages over traditional electro-mechanical assemblies. By embedding electronics and structure in a single part, IMSE maximizes resource efficiency, design flexibility, and reliability. This allows for intuitive and illuminated seamless smart surfaces for various human to machine interface (HMI) controls.
“The Maestro combines advanced functionality with more sustainable design and electronic integration, making it ideal for today’s clinical and home healthcare applications,” said Eric Saks, Electronics & Electrical Market Manager, Americas-Engineering Plastics, Covestro LLC. “It shows how material science drives smarter, more connected healthcare solutions.”
The Maestro offers a range of material-driven advantages:
- Seamless design aesthetic: Supports next-generation sleek, modern form factors that are easy to clean and maintain enabled by laser welding joining technology
- Electronics integration: Enables a better user experience with seamless smart surfaces, capacitive touch, touchscreen functionality and embedded connectivity
- Low fluorescence transparency: Makrolon® Dx polycarbonate provides optical clarity that helps deliver improved molecular diagnostics
- Enhanced chemical resistance: Built to withstand a variety of disinfectants used in hospitals, labs, and homes
- Next generation flame retardant: Provides flame-retardant protection in response to evolving regulatory requirements
Exploring ways to lower the environmental impact
Enhancing sustainability, an integral part of Covestro’s strategy, was top-of-mind in designing the Maestro. Covestro’s healthcare RE portfolio, which features materials with an attributed lower carbon footprint, helps reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance¹. Maestro’s thoughtful design makes it easy to take apart with its design-for-disassembly approach with laser un-welding, simplifying recycling and component separation.
Collaborative innovation
To be at the forefront of innovation, it is critical to collaborate with industry leaders. Covestro worked with several industry leaders across design, electronics and manufacturing to develop Maestro:
- Bally Design was responsible for industrial design and user interface development, creating the form factor and visual assets.
- Dukane provided laser welding technology, which supports seamless aesthetics and enables design for disassembly.
- Hellbender developed and assembled the hardware and software, enabling the device’s electronic functionality.
- Parallel Fluidics produced the microfluidic chips that enable Maestro’s diagnostic capabilities.
- TactoTek contributed the IMSE technology used in the design of the top cover assembly, enabling smart surface design with high performance materials.
“Through close collaboration, we delivered an innovative solution that not only meets the rigorous demands of modern diagnostics but also is thoughtfully designed with real patients and providers in mind,” said Emily Shaffer, Healthcare Market Manager, Americas-Engineering Plastics, Covestro LLC.
Visit Covestro at MD&M West 2026, Booth #2439 to learn more about how its materials are pushing boundaries in healthcare innovation.
