BASF’s innovative solution for engine covers offers quiet and comfort for vehicles made in China

• Two Chinese auto component manufacturers adopt BASF’s Elastofoam^® integral skin engine covers to reduce noise and vibration
  
• New solution also enables cost-efficient one-step production process
• Lightweight material helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions

Shanghai, China – January 8, 2019 – Two major Chinese auto component manufacturers, Hefei Kaijie and Shanghai Feili, have for the first time adopted BASF’s Elastofoam^® polyurethane (PU) integral foam for use in engine covers, bringing better cabin comfort to the latest vehicles manufactured in China. Owing to its excellent performance against noise, vibration, and harshness, this high-performance material solution helps to make cars quieter and provide riders with a better experience inside the vehicle’s cabin.

The new solution also provides manufacturing efficiencies: unlike conventional engine covers, engine covers made with Elastofoam PU are produced with a simple, one-step process, reducing time and resources used in manufacturing.

The lightweight material solution contributes to weight reduction of the vehicle, supporting the growing need trend to lower fuel consumption and emissions for sustainable mobility. Elastofoam also provides greater protection against impact to the hood owing to its open-cell foam structure.

“With the introduction of this innovative material solution in China, we are meeting the industry’s needs for innovative and cost-efficient material solutions that improve the driving experience, as well as the vehicle’s performance, energy efficiency, design, and passenger safety,” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific.

About BASF in Greater China

BASF has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885. With major investments in Shanghai, Nanjing and Chongqing, BASF is the largest foreign investor in China’s chemical industry, and maintains the Innovation Campus Shanghai as a global and regional research and development hub.  BASF posted sales of €7.3 billion in 2017 to customers in Greater China, and employed 8,982 people as of the end of that year. For further information, please visit www.basf.com/cn.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of more than €60 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.