BASF to invest Euro 200 mn to increase global plastic additives capacity

BASF plans to invest globally more than Euro 200 million in its plastic additives business, approximately half of which in Asia, in the next five years for capacity expansions and operational excellence.

Plastic additives improve product properties such as scratch resistance or light stability, and optimise plastics manufacturing processes. As the leading global supplier of plastic additives with manufacturing assets in all regions, BASF is a major partner to the plastics industry.

“BASF will strengthen its plastic additives business with investments in additional capacities to meet increasing global demand for antioxidants, as well as light stabilisers. Moreover, we will invest in digital processes and technology to support our customers as a reliable supplier in all regions,” said Dr Christian Fischer, president, BASF Performance Chemicals division.

The planned set of measures focuses on capacity expansions at sites in North America and Europe as well as investments in automation, digital technologies and modelling. In addition, BASF plans to strengthen its plastic additives production footprint in Asia.

Meanwhile, the company has announced plans to invest in its plastic additives operations in Kaisten (Switzerland) by focus on automation, digital technologies and modelling, thus significantly increasing the capacity of the plant. Kaisten will also be the global competence center and the European technical center for BASF’s plastic additives.

In addition to the Kaisten plant, BASF’s plastic additives unit has manufacturing sites in the USA, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Bahrain, China and Singapore.

BASF’s comprehensive and innovative product portfolio of plastic additives includes stabilisers which provide ease in processing, heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including moulded articles, films, fibres, sheets and extruded profiles.