BASF to set up Euro150m chemicals site in India
2 Apr 2012
Mumbai, India - BASF is investing Euro150 million to set up a new chemical production site, in Gujarat on the west coast of India.
The new site, within the Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region, will be an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing and will also house production facilities for care chemicals and polymer dispersions for coatings and paper.
With this new production site, BASF said aims to ensure local supply for growing markets and industries such as appliances, footwear, automotive, construction, adhesives, architectural coatings, paper and personal care. The start of production is planned for 2014.
The site will employ more than 250 people at full capacity, primarily in operations. With shared infrastructure and state-of-the-art production systems, the site will also provide BASF technologies for the conservation of energy and water. The site’s will employ technologies from group facilities around the world to ensure safe and responsible operations, added BASF.
The integrated polyurethane facility will produce thermoplastic polyurethane, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) parts and polyurethane systems. The operation will be supported by new production facilities for precursors, comprising polyetherols and polyesterols plants as well as a plant for processing crude MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate).
A care chemicals facility at the new Dahej site will produce surfactants largely for home and personal care. These surfactants will also add value to formulation technology applications including agrochemicals, textiles and emulsion polymerisation.
A polymer dispersions facility at the site will produce ingredients for architectural coatings, adhesives, and construction, for paper coating and for sizing. BASF currently produces dispersions at an existing plant in Mangalore.
“With its robust local industries, India is set to become a pillar of growth in Asia Pacific. The country’s changing demographic profile and the resulting need for improved quality of life are driving increasing market demand,” said Dr. Martin Brudermueller, BASF vice chairman, responsible for Asia Pacific.
