BASF strengthening global network for pigment production
- More production capacities for high-performance pigments in Nanjing, China
- Expansion of capacities for the production of alpha blue pigments in Ludwigshafen
BASF is strengthening its global production network for pigments with two new investments. At the site in Nanjing, China, the company has increased its production capacities for high-performance diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments (DPP). In Ludwigshafen, BASF is going to expand its capacities for the production of versatile alpha blue pigments, which are particularly characterized by their excellent fastness properties, by the fall of 2016.
The color-intensive and extremely lightfast and weatherproof DPP pigments, which are marketed by BASF under the product name Irgazin®, are – among other applications – used for automotive, industrial and powder coatings, paints and inks as well as for plastic applications. By expanding its capacities in Nanjing, BASF has responded to the ever-increasing demand for high-performance pigments, particularly in Asia-Pacific.
BASF helping customers to offer more sustainable solutions
“DPP pigments are a high-quality alternative to lead-chromate-based pigments that are increasingly being regulated all over the world. With these innovative products, we help our customers develop more sustainable solutions,“ explains Jeff Knight, Senior Vice President of the business unit Dispersions & Pigments Asia-Pacific.
In its plant in Nanjing, which commenced operation in 2013, BASF has, in the meantime, started producing various DPP pigments, above all for the Asian market. With its comprehensive production network for DPP pigments, which includes sites in all regions, the company is in a position to rapidly and reliably supply high quality pigments all over the world that comply with standardized specifications.
Increased capacities for alpha blue pigments in Ludwigshafen
On its Ludwigshafen site, BASF is going to expand the capacities for the production of alpha blue pigments which will be available from fall 2016 onwards. The reddish copper phthalocyanine pigments which – in addition to other blue and green pigments that are based on the same chemistry – are sold by BASF under the Heliogen® brand, are characterized by their excellent fastness properties. In addition, alpha blue pigments stand out due to their versatile applicability that includes plastic coloring, printing applications as well as industrial and automotive coatings and paints.
“While this capacity expansion is our response to the growing demand in the market, it also increases our delivery reliability,” says Dr. Alexander Haunschild, Senior Vice President of the business unit Pigments & Resins Europe. “Taking into account the latest trends in color, we expect that customer demand for alpha blue pigments is going to continue to increase significantly.”
About BASF‘s Dispersions & Pigments division
The Dispersions & Pigments division of BASF develops, produces and markets a range of high-quality pigments, resins, additives and polymer dispersions worldwide. These raw materials are used in formulations for coatings and paints, printing and packaging products, construction chemicals, adhesives, fiber bondings, plastics, paper as well as for electronic applications such as displays. With its comprehensive product portfolio and its extensive knowledge of the industry, the Dispersions & Pigments division offers its customers innovative and sustainable solutions and helps them advance their formulations. For further information about the Dispersions & Pigments division, please visit www.dispersions-pigments.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.
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