Displaying items by tag: BASF

Effective immediately, BASF increases prices in Europe for resins and additives for the coatings, printing and packaging industries by 5 - 12 % as existing contracts allow. The price increase affects, but is not limited to, the following product ranges: Laromer®, Joncryl®, Basonat®, Luwipal®, Luhydran® and Acronal®.

The price adjustments are necessary mainly due to further significantly increased costs of key raw materials.

Pigments & Resins
The product range of BASF’s Pigments & Resins business unit includes pigments, effect pigments, pigment preparations and dyes, resins, light stabilizers, photoinitiators and additives as well as specific masterbatches in Europe. Our products are manufactured and marketed worldwide. We are one of the world’s leading suppliers in these fields. Further information on our products may be found at www.basf.com/resins.

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Epotal Eco contributes to the development of biodegradable packaging materials
As producer of Epotal ® Eco, BASF shall forthwith be able to offer the first compostable water-based adhesive certified by the German Technical Inspection Agency TÜV. “Biologically degradable adhesives will play a decisive role in the future when it comes to developing compostable packaging materials,” says Cornelis Beyers from Marketing Industrial Adhesives. Epotal Eco is particularly suitable for the production of multi-layer films for flexible packaging materials based on biodegradable plastics. Possible applications are bags for potato chips or chocolate bar wrappings.

Trend towards biodegradable packaging
There is growing demand for efficient and at the same time sustainable raw materials in the packaging industry. “In the past, we received, again and again, inquiries for biodegradable adhesives but were unable to satisfy them,” confirms Merle Dardat, Product Manager at DIN Certco, a certification company of the TÜV Rhineland Group and of the German Standard Institute (Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. / DIN). DIN Certco has now issued the registration notice for Epotal P100 Eco certifying the product as a biodegradable additive.

Feed for microorganisms
According to the European EN 13432 standard, substances are considered as fully biodegradable if at least 90 percent of the organic carbon contained in them is converted into CO2 within a testing period of no more than 180 days. The rotting test in composted earth showed that after 70 days only, 90 percent of Epotal Eco is broken down. The molecule structure of the product resembles the one of naturally occurring polymers. Microorganisms are able to convert them into carbon dioxide, water and biomass with the help of enzymes. The best results are achieved in industrial composting facilities since they offer ideal conditions for microorganisms. After the decomposition process, Epotal Eco leaves no toxic residuals und shows no negative impact on the environment.

Water-based adhesives – environmentally friendly and efficient Apart from its compostability, Epotal Eco offers all benefits of water-based adhesives, which are an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to solvent-based and solvent-free products. They are free from toxic components and are suitable for food packaging. In addition, multi-layer films, which are produced with the help of water-based plastics, can be processed immediately. This helps the packaging industry to save time and money.

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Effective Jan.15, 2011, or as contract terms allow, BASF will increase its prices of sizing chemicals, colorants, and polymers for strength, fixation, and water management, for wet end paper chemicals sold into the North American paper market. The price increases range from five to 15 percent, depending upon the product. This action is necessary to offset raw material cost increases.


About BASF’s Paper Chemicals division

BASF’s Paper Chemicals division offers process chemicals to optimize costs and increase machine efficiency, functional chemicals to lend specific properties to paper, and finishing chemicals to improve the appearance and performance characteristics of printed paper and board. With this comprehensive portfolio, BASF is the leading supplier of paper chemicals worldwide. BASF established Paper Chemicals as a separate division when it acquired Ciba in April 2009. The ISO 9001:2000-certified Paper Chemicals division operates sites in Europe, Asia and the Americas. For more information, go to www.paper-chemicals.basf.com

BASF - The Chemical Company.
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $13 billion in 2009. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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BASF and PETRONAS today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to undertake a joint feasibility study to produce specialty chemicals in Malaysia, a move that would extend the two parties’ existing business collaboration in the country. T he partners are considering a potential joint investment sum of approximately MYR 4.0 billion / € 1.0 billion.

Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will evaluate the technical, commercial and economic viability of jointly owning and operating world-scale facilities for the production of specialty chemicals including non-ionic surfactants, methanesulfonic acid, iso-nonanol as well as other C4-based specialty chemical products. The final scope of the investments will be determined following the outcome of the joint feasibility study which is targeted to be completed in 2011.

The MoU was signed at the PETRONAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.  Signing on behalf of PETRONAS were Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, Executive Vice President of Downstream Business, and Encik Kamaruddin Zakaria, Vice President of Downstream Operations. Dr. Martin Brudermüller, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific, and Ms. Saori Dubourg, President, Asia Pacific, BASF, signed on behalf of BASF.

Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said, “The development of a new specialty chemical products portfolio is an important component of PETRONAS' plan to further grow the downstream petrochemical business as part of its integrated plan to be a key player in the region as well as to spur domestic investment in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.”

Dr. Martin Brudermüller said, "With the rapid growth of chemical markets in Asia Pacific, we are further expanding our specialty chemical business. Our joint venture with PETRONAS, based on a long-standing and successful partnership, is an excellent, well-established and competitive production platform in Asia. By expanding our local production base in Malaysia, we can further improve our ability to supply our customers in Asia, from Asia." According to its Asia Pacific Strategy 2020, BASF intends to produce 70% of Asia Pacific sales in the region, with investments of € 2.0 billion between 2009 and 2013.

The proposed move by PETRONAS and BASF will build on their successful strategic partnership in the country, established in 1997. The partnership, via BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn Bhd (of which BASF owns 60% shares) , currently own and operate an integrated complex in Gebeng, Pahang, Kuantan that produces acrylic monomers, oxo products and butanediol. As for the subsequent phase of the collaboration, PETRONAS Chemicals Group and BASF will jointly evaluate the outcome of the joint feasibility study and will adopt it as part of their strategic growth plans, if technically and commercially viable.

About PETRONAS

PETRONAS is a Global Fortune 500 company wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, principally involved in all spectrum of integrated oil, gas and petrochemical industries. For the year ended 31 March 2010, PETRONAS recorded a group revenue of US$62.5 billion. More information on PETRONAS is available on www.petronas.com.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Media Contacts:     
BASF SE     
Jennifer Moore-Braun     
Phone :  +(49) 621 60-9 9123     
Fax:        +(49) 621 60-9 2693     
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Genevieve Hilton     
Phone:  +(852) 2731 0197
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PETRONAS
Azman Ibrahim
Phone:  +(603) 2331 2140
Mobile:   +(6019) 223 0199
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Thursday, 25 November 2010 12:00

New site agreement for Ludwigshafen site

BASF SE management and employee representatives today signed a new site agreement for the company’s Ludwigshafen site. The agreement, titled “Safeguarding the future through flexibility and operational partnership,” applies to the approximately 33,000 BASF SE employees at the site for the period from the beginning of 2011 to end of 2015. It replaces the site agreement from end of 2004 which expires at the end of this year.

A no-redundancy pledge is a key element of the agreement. Another is the company's promise to spend €9 to 10 billion on measures to safeguard the site’s future through to the end of 2015. Approximately two-thirds of the amount will be used on investment, modernization and maintenance to keep the Ludwigshafen site performing at its best in terms of technology and organization and thus strengthening core operations. The investment thus remains at the high level of the past years. Research and development expenditure will also be at the level of previous years and will account for more than one-third of the total amount. Ludwigshafen will remain the central platform for global research and development at BASF.

In a bid to meet the challenges posed by increasingly unpredictable fluctuations in market demand, management and employee representatives have agreed on a package of measures to enhance the flexibility of HR systems in the site agreement.

Close and trusting relationship in the economic crisis

“The recent economic crisis highlighted the importance of close and trusting cooperation between the works council and management, which enabled us to avoid short-time work at the Ludwigshafen site for a long time and minimize its impact at a later stage. This was possible because both sides were willing to show flexibility on human resources issues. The new site agreement captures this spirit and ensures that the site is equipped to weather future storms,” said Dr. Harald Schwager, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Industrial Relations Director of BASF SE.

“We consciously invested a lot of time in these talks and engaged intensely with management in order to achieve workable models. The negotiations were very tough but the shared background of experience in coping with the crisis had a positive impact on the atmosphere of the negotiations. The new site agreement sends out important signals with regards to employment, while at the same time mapping out an effective plan to keep the Ludwigshafen site competitive on an international scale now and in the future,” said Robert Oswald, Chairman of the Works Council of BASF SE.

The Site Agreement highlights continuation of “flexible personnel deployment” as a key flexibilization element. During the economic crisis up to 600 employees from plants with low capacity utilization were deployed for a temporary period in other plants where there was more work to be done. Fluctuations in production capacity utilization could thus be better offset. Both sides have also agreed to a possible increase in the proportion of temporary staff to enhance flexibility even further.

Securing employment on a long-term basis

Another key element of the site agreement is a joint commitment toward safeguarding employment through training, personnel development and qualification, and the Generations@Work program to address demographic change. “ We wholeheartedly are committed to vocational training and intend to maintain the existing high level of vocational training at BASF SE and in the BASF Training Verbund with partner companies. Through this commitment we avoid any risk of a shortage of skilled labor and at the same time meet our responsibilities toward the young people in our region,” said Hans-Carsten Hansen, President Human Resources at BASF SE.

“Longer working lives are posing new challenges in terms of the working capacity of our employees. The agreed expansion of company health management will offer employees more opportunities to stay healthy and increase their fitness for work throughout the later stages of their working lives,” said Rainer Nachtrab, Chair of the Executive Representative Committee of BASF SE.

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With a view to future growth markets for paper chemicals and dyestuffs in China, Indonesia and India, BASF's Paper Chemicals division will reorganize its global business structures. The business in optical brighteners for paper is to be exited in Europe, and it is planned to close the corresponding production operations at the site in Grenzach, Germany.

In addition, BASF intends to relocate paper dye production from Grenzach to Ankleshwar , India . In the course of the relocation, the paper dye product range is to be reduced. Dr. Fred Baumgartner, head of BASF's Paper Chemicals division, commented: "Currently, paper chemicals are a difficult business to be in. Paper manufacturing is increasingly concentrated in Asia’s emerging markets, which is where future growth in the paper industry will originate. Our measures are a further important step toward adjusting production structures to changing market conditions and thus toward ensuring the profitability of our paper chemicals business in the long term." 

BASF plans to focus the Grenzach site squarely on the production of ingredients for the cosmetics and personal care industry in the future. Pigments for the electronics and coatings industries will continue to be produced in Grenzach as well. "We want to keep the production of UV filters and antiseptic products in Grenzach unchanged,” said Gabriel Tanbourgi, head of the Care Chemicals division. Alongside production activities, Grenzach is also the global development and technical services hub for these two Care Chemicals product groups.

The planned restructuring is expected to affect about 300 full-time jobs in Grenzach and would be implemented in the period from 2011 to 2013. About 180 jobs are to remain at the site in the future. “This will mean profound changes for many employees and for the site overall in the coming years,” said BASF’s, President Human Resources Hans-Carsten Hansen. “We are well aware of our special responsibility in this regard. We see good chances to offer alternative employment to many employees affected by the restructuring at other sites in the BASF Group, especially in Ludwigshafen, Kaisten, Schweizerhalle, Hüningen and other BASF Group companies.”

BASF Grenzach has been in deliberations with the responsible labor representatives regarding the planned structural changes and potential alternatives as well as the respective consequences for employees and for the site. Once these deliberations are concluded, the employers and works councils will enter any discussions required to agree on a reconciliation of interests and a social plan.

 

About BASF’s Paper Chemicals

BASF’s Paper Chemicals division offers process chemicals to optimize costs and increase machine efficiency, functional chemicals to lend specific properties to paper, and finishing chemicals to improve the appearance and performance characteristics of printed paper and board. With this comprehensive portfolio, BASF is the leading supplier of paper chemicals worldwide. BASF established Paper Chemicals as a separate division when it acquired Ciba in April 2009. The ISO 9001-certified Paper Chemicals division operates sites in Europe, Asia and the Americas. For more information, go to www.paper-chemicals.basf.com.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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Wednesday, 20 October 2010 08:46

BASF expects record year in 2010

BASF today announced first figures for the third quarter of 2010 and raised its outlook for the full year. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, third-quarter sales increased 23% to €15.8 billion, EBIT before special items rose 77% to €2.2 billion and EBIT increased 122% to €2.15 billion. The figures are at the same high level of the second quarter of 2010.

Sales in the first nine months of 2010 rose 27% to €47.5 billion, EBIT before special item increased 89% to €6.4 billion and EBIT by 127% to €6.1 billion.

For the fourth quarter, the company expects the good business development to continue and has raised its outlook for the current year. For 2010, BASF expects sales of around €63 billion and EBIT before special items of over €8 billion. This exceeds the peak levels of the years 2007 and 2008.
 
BASF will publish its third-quarter report on October 28, 2010.

Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE said, “The record figures reflect the dynamics in our businesses, our improved portfolio and operational excellence, which have been able to show their full impact in the current favorable economic environment. This is the result of our efforts over the past years to implement our strategy for profitable growth. Our strength is also reflected in the very high level of our nine-month operating cash flow of €5.3 billion.”

In spite of the current good results, Hambrecht sees a number of uncertainties in the long-term economic outlook. He said, “The positive economic development of the past months will not necessarily continue at the same pace in 2011. Risks also remain which could jeopardize a sustainable recovery. The high debt level of many countries threatens the stability of the financial and banking systems. The necessary reduction in government spending and the winding down of national stimulus programs could dampen overall demand.” Risks are also associated with volatile raw material and foreign currency markets, overcapacities, growing geopolitical tensions and protectionism through new trade barriers.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements based on current experience, estimates and projections of BASF management and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BASF to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied by such statements. BASF does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

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Thursday, 14 October 2010 12:30

BASF donates €785,000 for Pakistan flood victims

BASF and its employees in more than 20 countries have together donated about €785,000 for the flood victims in Pakistan.

“I was impressed by the willingness of BASF employees to make donations. Through their contributions some of the misery can be relieved by helping to supply the people in Pakistan with essential goods,” said Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.

The aid money will be distributed among various UN organizations on the ground in the affected areas of Pakistan and the Red Cross. The employee and company donations from Germany go to CERF, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. CERF uses the money exclusively to support projects run by UN organizations active in Pakistan. For example the World Health Organization uses the money to be able to provide basic medical care or UN-HABITAT for providing potable water.

In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, BASF Group companies in Pakistan and local employees provided local assistance, for example an internal aid committee prepared relief packages containing food, medicines and other emergency goods and organized aid distribution points near BASF sites in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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Thursday, 30 September 2010 09:00

BASF joins a BMBF nanomaterial safety research program

BASF is a participant in a research project called NanoGEM (Nanostructured materials – Health, Exposure and Material Properties).  The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) initiated project is taking place with the involvement of 19 research institutions and companies. The project will receive approximately €4.9 million in BMBF funding over the next three years, with industry to contribute around another €1.5 million. The project is headed by the Duisburg-based Institute for Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA).

NanoGEM will investigate absorption and distribution of nanoparticles in the human body as a function of their size, structure and surface properties. The project is the first of its kind to evaluate industrially relevant nanoparticles and nanomaterials in processed products. NanoGEM is intended in this manner to make an important contribution to the systematic assessment of risk in association with nanomaterial use.

NanoGEM is just one example of BASF's commitment to safety research. Last year alone, BASF took part in approximately 20 projects, cooperations and partnerships.

Another example of BASF's commitment is the EU project CellNanoTox (Cellular Interaction and Toxicology with Engineered Nanoparticles) which came to a successful conclusion in 2010. Again, the project took place with the collaboration of a number of research institutions and companies. The main question CellNanoTox set out to answer was: What happens when nanoparticles meet cells? Are they absorbed, distributed, stored, or expelled? And what effects do they produce in cells? Dr. Robert Landsiedel, head of nanotoxicology research at BASF, commented: "The results show that every nanomaterial works differently. Just because a substance contains small particles doesn't automatically make it toxic. While some nanomaterials produced inflammatory responses even at low doses, others have no harmful effects." The project also used a method to investigate toxicity to the lungs. The method is now being refined by BASF research scientists. A new BMBF-funded project to be launched to that end. The aim is to  establish whether the method is suitable for standard practice. 

Detailed knowledge of the behavior and effects of nanomaterials is enormously important in the risk assessment process for new products. "Safety research is basically about finding out which methods are genuinely suitable for assessing the potential risks of nanomaterials," Landsiedel stated. The goal is to develop intelligent test strategies for nanomaterials. BASF publishes all the results of its safety research on the company's home page and makes the data available to other project and research partners. Hence, it can serve as a repository of information for further research or as a basis for designing a regulatory framework for handling nanomaterials.

BASF sees nanotechnology as one of the most important technologies for the future. For that reason, BASF has devoted one of five research clusters to nanotechnology. "Nanotechnology is an interface technology and innovation driver for sustainable growth, especially in key markets such as the automotive industry, construction, electronics and health care," said Dr. Christian Fischer, head of polymer research and responsible for the nanotechnology growth cluster. Nanotechnology can be used to develop products with clear benefits for customers and end users, many of which can help to serve energy and in that way make an important contribution toward climate protection. "We recognized at an early stage that our responsibility for our products begins with safety research. That is the reason for our involvement in this area," Fischer said.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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2011 02 01 091658Effective October 1, 2010 or as contracts allow, BASF will increase prices in Europe, Africa and Western Asia for polymer dispersions as well as additives by 100 Euro per metric ton, resins and redispersible powders by 170 Euro per metric ton. The price adjustments are necessary due to further significantly increased raw material costs. The products affected by the price increase are used as polymers for adhesives, fiberbonding, architectural coatings and construction chemicals.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com

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