Displaying items by tag: BASF

BASF is participating with $30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and existing investors.

 

The technology company Renmatix has developed the Plantrose™ platform. With this patented process, industrial sugar can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass (wood, cane trash or straw). This technology makes it possible for the first time to produce industrial sugar in large quantities and at competitive cost from non-edible plant mass. “The Plantrose technology could allow us in the future to broaden our use of renewable raw materials while improving the cost effectiveness of our value chains even further. In the partnership with Renmatix, BASF is pursuing a new direction while simultaneously underlining its corporate strategy of offering even more sustainable solutions,” said Dr. Josef R. Wünsch, Senior Vice President Modelling, Formulation Research and Technology Incubation at BASF.

 

In the Plantrose technology, biomass is split into cellulose and sugar in supercritical water at high temperature and pressure in a two-step process. Since the Plantrose technology utilizes non-edible biomass as feedstock, it is not in competition with feed and food production. “Thanks to the partnership with BASF we can now develop and commercialize our technology more efficient. We have already demonstrated the functionality of the Plantrose process in a pilot plant. In cooperation with BASF, we will be moving it to the industrial scale,” said Mike Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer at Renmatix.

 

Industrial sugars are important renewable resources for the chemical industry and can be used, for example, to produce biofuels or basic chemical products and intermediates by fermentative processes. The availability of industrial sugars in sufficient quantities and at favorable cost is therefore important for the competitiveness of the products.

Published in North American News
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BASF is increasing its presence in the growing African markets. Today, December 7, 2011, the company will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya, to serve customers in East Africa and Sub-Sahara .

 

“Africa is a huge continent with a wealth of raw materials and a growing population. At the same time, the dynamically growing economy has enormous potential for BASF. Through establishing a stronger local presence we will be able to even further support our customers and to enhance BASF's market position,” said Jacques Delmoitiez, President, responsible for BASF's business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

 

The company’s target is to more than double sales in Africa by 2020. Its sales, excluding oil and gas, were around €1 billion in 2010.

 

The sale of innovative construction chemicals for the booming construction industry in the urban areas of East Africa is one of the main focuses of activity, as is the distribution of crop protection products that increase crop yields. At the same time, BASF is expanding its business in the consumer sector with products such as ingredients for personal care products and laundry detergents as well as pharmaceuticalingredients. Here, the company is profiting from a growing middle class with rising consumer aspirations.

 

BASF is also developing solutions to the pressing challenges that affect large parts of Africa. For the private housing sector, BASF supplies insulating materials such as Neopor®. Another key project is the fight against vitamin A deficiency. Too little vitamin A can cause blindness and makes people more prone to infections. Staple foods, such as cooking oil and flour, are therefore fortified with vitamin A with the help of BASF.

 

Supporting important social projects

“Our engagement in East Africa ensures that everyone benefits – our customers, the local population and BASF. We want to be good neighbors at all our sites worldwide. This is why we are supporting important social projects in Kenya,” said Peter van den Hoek, head of newly established unit Market Development Africa. Furthermore, van der Hoek will be Managing Director of the Nairobi-based subsidiary BASF East Africa Ltd.

 

In Kibera, Nairobi, BASF is supporting a project in cooperation with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) and local partners. The Kibera Soweto East Resource Centre provides physiotherapy and occupational therapy for handicapped children and medical care for babies and infants. There is a counseling center which offers HIV tests to patients. The staff of the center also provides training for handicapped children and young adults. BASF wants to use its engagement to improve the prospects of the people living in Kibera.

 

To alleviate the immediate suffering caused by the drought in East Africa, BASF has supplied emergency aid to the refugee camp in Dadaab via the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Also, this year’s Christmas collection by the BASF Social Foundation will be used to support the population in Kenya affected by the drought. A joint project with UN HABITAT and the Kenyan government aims to improve the water supply through the Daua River in order to cope better with the drought in future. BASF employees in Germany are encouraged to donate to this project during the month of December. BASF has already forwarded an advance of €100,000.

 

source: BASF

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BASF will consolidate the production of PAM beads into its Bradford facility, Great Britain, where the company operates a backward integrated production plant with worldwide supply capability Significant investment will be made to increase and upgrade the bead capacity at the Bradford site, and this will ensure a consistent supply of PAM beads to BASF’s customers globally.

 

PAM products are a state-of-the-art product range for use in solid-liquid separation processes. They are available as powders and beads or in liquid form (inverse emulsions) and are extensively used in the global growth markets for Water Treatment, Oilfield and Mining as well as Paper Chemicals.

As a result of the consolidation, BASF intends to close down its PAM bead production unit at its Suffolk site, Virginia, effective January 2012. Other production activities are not affected by the shift in production. The production unit was considered too small to support the strong growth path for BASF’s Water Treatment and Oilfield and Mining Chemicals businesses in North America. About 50 BASF employees will be affected. From January 2012, North American customers will be supplied with PAM beads from Bradford, Great Britain, which already supplies the North American market with other PAM products.

 

The consolidation of PAM bead production complements other strategic measures and investments geared towards profitable growth in BASF’s key markets Water Treatment, Oilfield, Mining as well as Paper Chemicals. These measures include investing in world-scale backward integrated production plants for Water Treatment and Paper Chemicals in Nanjing, China, with capacities of 40,000 tons of quaternized cationic monomers and 20,000 tons of cationic Polyacrylamides per year, as well as significant capacity expansions for cationic monomers in West Memphis, Arkansas, and for inverse emulsions in Suffolk, Virginia.

 

“BASF is well positioned to meet the growing customer demand in the water treatment industry due to our excellent position in the value chain”, explains Dr. Matthias Halusa, head of BASF’s Water Solutions business. “ The consolidation of PAM bead production is strengthening our business and, together with our focused investment at our West Memphis and Suffolk sites, it will also support BASF’s profitable growth strategy for North America. We will continue to serve our valued customers in this important region by supplying them with our high-quality and innovative PAM products and services. North America plays a central role in our global Water Solutions strategy.”

 

Denise M. Joost, head of BASF’s Oilfield and Mining Chemicals business in North America adds: “For the Oilfield and Mining Chemicals businesses, the shift of the bead production from Suffolk to Bradford is another step in our strategy to optimize our production assets globally so that we ensure competitive bead supply to our customers in North America, which will remain a key region for the growing oilfield and mining industries.”

Application of Polyacrylamide (PAM)

Due to their outstanding properties PAM products play a key role in BASF’s portfolio for the growth markets for Water Treatment, Oilfield and Mining as well as Paper Chemicals:

  • *In the water treatment industry, PAM is mainly used for various solid-liquid separation applications in drinking water and sludge dewatering processes.
  • *In the mining industry, PAM beads are primarily used for mineral extraction processes and water recovery with main application in binders and specialty flocculants.
  • *In the oilfield industry specialty PAM beads are primarily used in drilling.
  • *In the paper industry, the PAM product range is used for retention and drainage in paper and paperboard machines as well as in the paper mill effluent treatment process.
Published in European News
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Wednesday, 13 July 2011 14:00

BASF launches new specialty monomer HPCA

BASF is launching the high-performance product hydroxypropyl carbamate acrylate (HPCA), a crosslinking acrylate monomer. The new specialty monomer shortens the processing time for the manufacture of carbamate based polymers. Compared with currently existing processes, HPCA enables crosslinkable carbamate units to be incorporated into the polymer in just one step. The usual two-step procedure is no longer necessary. In addition to the shorter manufacturing process, HPCA also offers positive features for applications.

 

Successfully used in clearcoat systems

HPCA has already proven itself in clearcoat systems for the automotive industry. One-component coatings with HPCA achieve a comparable performance level to two-component coatings, for example with regard to weather and scratch resistance. In contrast to two-component coatings, one-component coatings are easier to use in applications and are more cost efficient.

 

Potential for a wide range of applications

What’s especially interesting for developers: “Due to its special chemical structure with the free carbamate group, HPCA offers additional potential for a broad range of applications in the future. With our expertise and decades of experience, we are offering to work in partnership with our customers to develop new areas of application”, says Dr. Boris Breitscheidel, Business Manager Specialty Monomers. One area would be adhesives, for example. These can be hardened either thermally or using UV light. Here the free carbamate group can have a positive impact on both adhesion and cohesion, in this way making it possible to improve adhesive properties.

 

Industrial implementation of a white biotechnology process for manufacturing new specialty monomers

BASF researchers have successfully manufactured the specific chemical structure of HPCA on a commercial scale with the help of white biotechnology. In the biocatalytic procedure, the specialty monomer is synthesized by applying an enzyme. From HPCA the carbamate-based polyacrylate can be produced then in one step. BASF has used this procedure in industrial production for the first time.

 

BASF Specialty Monomers

BASF’s specialty monomers product area develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of acrylates and methacrylates used in automotive coatings, decorative paints, industrial coatings and adhesives as well as paper production, water treatment and personal care. Specialty Monomers are part of the Petrochemicals division. www.specialty-monomers.basf.com

Published in Featured Products
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BASF will invest in a dispersions plant in Durban, South Africa. The new plant will produce acrylic dispersions mainly for the coatings and construction industry. The facility will benefit from local availability of raw materials and proximity to key customers who serve South Africa’s and Sub Saharan Africa’s fast-growing markets. Production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2012.

 

South Africa is the largest market for dispersions in Sub-Saharan Africa. “With this new facility, we are well positioned to support our customers’ growth in South Africa and its neighboring countries providing BASF’s quality, service and reliable supply” said Christoph Hansen, Senior Vice President Dispersions for Adhesives and Construction Europe. With its portfolio of specialties, BASF can help customers move towards more environmentally friendly technologies such as reduced Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and products free of alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APEO). This investment reflects BASF’s focus on participating in the strong growth markets in emerging Africa.

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BASF will invest in a dispersions plant in Durban, South Africa. The new plant will produce acrylic dispersions mainly for the coatings and construction industry. The facility will benefit from local availability of raw materials and proximity to key customers who serve South Africa’s and Sub Saharan Africa’s fast-growing markets. Production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2012.

 

South Africa is the largest market for dispersions in Sub-Saharan Africa. “With this new facility, we are well positioned to support our customers’ growth in South Africa and its neighboring countries providing BASF’s quality, service and reliable supply” said Christoph Hansen, Senior Vice President Dispersions for Adhesives and Construction Europe. With its portfolio of specialties, BASF can help customers move towards more environmentally friendly technologies such as reduced Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and products free of alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APEO). This investment reflects BASF’s focus on participating in the strong growth markets in emerging Africa.

Published in Asian News
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Employees of BASF worldwide have donated more than €780.000 to the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. BASF fully matched each donation contributed by the employees one-to-one. Including these funds and the initial contribution by BASF, donations therefore total over €2 million.

 

Dr.  Martin Brudermüller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and responsible for the Asia Pacific region, said, “Following the devastating incidents in Japan, our local colleagues have shown enormous strength and perseverance, as well as commitment to sustaining BASF's business. During the past weeks I have been very happy to see how BASF employees around the world have joined in expressing their sincere support to Japan with their personal donations.”

 

The aid money from the employee donation campaign in Germany initially went to the BASF Social Foundation. This institution, in close cooperation with BASF Japan, will now identify suitable partner organizations and projects in Japan for the use of the matching funds. Employees of BASF group companies outside Germany donated to their local Red Cross and Save the Children organizations, among others.

 

Immediately after the earthquake, the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE decided to contribute €500,000 to the Central Community Chest of Japan as immediate aid to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. This donation has already been provided by the BASF Social Foundation.

 

BASF has 35 operations sites (including 27 production sites and eight R&D and technical centers) and 49 sales offices in Japan. Most BASF production sites in Japan are up and running normally now, and the Tokyo office is now operational.

Published in Asian News
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BASF announced it is establishing a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Transportation Logistics (CTL). The company has become a Strategic Partner in the Center’s Supply Chain Exchange. The Supply Chain Exchange is an active community of companies that share a common goal to leverage cutting-edge research and knowledge to achieve supply chain-centric competitive advantages.

 

“The MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics is one of the foremost sources of supply chain innovation,” said Dr. Robert Blackburn, Senior Vice President Supply Chain & Process Innovation at BASF. “Joining the Supply Chain Exchange provides a great opportunity for BASF to continue our demonstrated track record of developing sustainable innovations throughout our supply chain as well as better aligning our global supply chain with our corporate business strategy to the benefit of all our stakeholders.”

 

“BASF with its innovative supply chain is paving the way for sustainable business practices,” said Prof. Yossi Sheffi, Director for the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics. “We are confident our partnership with BASF will provide further insight into how they can continue to achieve profitable growth while considering the environmental impact. We are also convinced that this collaboration will provide value not only to MIT, but also to our other partners in the strategic partnerships program.”

 

The Supply Chain Exchange provides networking and educational opportunities within MIT and CTL’s corporate partner community, which includes representatives of some of the leading manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and transportation and logistics service providers. Additionally, BASF will directly benefit from interaction with MIT researchers on current industry issues and privileged access to CTL's symposia series, student recruiting and communications programs.

 

As part of the Engineering Systems Division at MIT, CTL is widely recognized as an international leader in the field of transportation and logistics. CTL coordinates extensive research on the understanding of transportation system planning, operations and management. The organization has made significant contributions to logistics modeling and supply chain management for shippers; to technology and policy analysis for government; and to management, planning and operations for motor, railroad, air and ocean carriers.

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Effective April 15, 2011, or as contracts allow, BASF will increase prices in Europe, Africa and Western Asia for polymer dispersions as well as additives by 110 Euro per metric ton and acrylic resins and redispersible powders by 180 Euro per metric ton. The price adjustments are necessary due to significantly increased raw material costs.

 

The products affected by the price increase are used as polymers for adhesives, fiberbonding, architectural coatings and construction chemicals.

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BASF and PETRONAS will commence a feasibility study for a new plant for superabsorbent polymers. The companies have also decided to look into the expansion of the existing production capacities of their joint venture BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn Bhd.

 

“Our joint venture BASF PETRONAS Chemicals plays an important role for us in achieving our Asia Pacific Strategy for 2020. With this investment in high-growth specialty chemicals, we will position ourselves even better to serve our customers in Asia,” said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific. “With this capacity expansion and extension into superabsorbent polymers we extract further potential of our acrylics value chain in BASF PETRONAS Chemicals.”

 

Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, Executive Vice President of Downstream Business, PETRONAS said, “The future of petrochemical industry will be shaped by changes in global mega-trends such as growing health awareness resulting in strong growth in demand for specialty chemicals including superabsorbent polymers for personal hygiene application. The success of our joint venture with BASF has provided us the confidence to look for further collaboration opportunities into higher value adding portfolio and position PETRONAS to be a key player in petrochemicals in the region.”

 

The new investment will be part of BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn Bhd, founded by BASF and PETRONAS in 1997. The company currently operates an integrated complex situated at the Gebeng Industrial Zone, Pahang. The company’s share of capital is 60% held by BASF and 40% by PETRONAS with a total investment of about RM3.4 billion for production facilities for acrylic monomers, oxo products and butanediol.

 

Superabsorbent polymers are materials with the ability to absorb and retain large volumes of water and aqueous solutions. They are made from partially neutralised, lightly cross-linked poly acrylic acid and are the key ingredients in disposable diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products. They are also used in cable insulation, potting soils and professional compost mixes, food packaging, and medical waste disposal.

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