BASF breaks ground on new, world-scale chemical catalysts manufacturing plant in Caojing, Shanghai
- Strengthens global manufacturing footprint and customer proximity in Asia
- Production of base metal catalysts, custom catalysts and adsorbents to meet growing regional demand
- Manufacturing start up planned for Q4 2016
Iselin, New Jersey, USA and Shanghai, China – June 18, 2015 – BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, broke ground today on a new, world-scale chemical catalysts production facility at the company’s existing site in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Caojing, Shanghai, China.
The new plant – BASF’s first process catalysts manufacturing facility in Asia Pacific – will produce base metal catalysts, custom catalysts and adsorbents to meet growing Chinese and Asian market demand. These catalysts are used in the production of fatty alcohols, sulfuric acid and butanediol and for the removal of impurities from olefins.
“Today’s groundbreaking event is a significant milestone in our effort to strengthen our manufacturing footprint in Asia Pacific and improve our proximity to customers in the fastest growing region for our base metal and custom catalysts solutions,” said Detlef Ruff, BASF’s Senior Vice President, Process Catalysts. “This new facility will be integrated into our global chemical catalysts manufacturing infrastructure allowing us to support strong regional demand growth while increasing our manufacturing capacity and overall production efficiencies.”
The launch of manufacturing activities at the Caojing plant is planned for the fourth quarter of 2016. Once operating at full capacity, the plant will create 75 new jobs.
The Caojing plant is designed in a highly automated and energy efficient manner, offering the opportunity for future expansion and the flexibility to adapt to new customer production requirements in the years ahead.
About BASF’s Catalysts Division
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging our industry-leading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, BASF’s Catalysts division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success. Further information on BASF’s Catalysts division is available on the Internet at www.catalysts.basf.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 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.