Coatings
BASF’s Coatings division offers innovative and ecologically viable solutions for the automotive industry, including both the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and refinish markets, as well as surface treatment solutions for a variety of markets. BASF also develops and markets decorative paints in Brazil for interior and exterior use in residential and commercial buildings. We combine protection and aesthetics with eco-efficiency in tailor-made customer products and processes.
Sales by region 2020 (location of customer)
Sales by direct customer industry 2020
Automotive OEM coatings solutions
BASF provides complete automotive coatings solutions, including a product portfolio of:
- E-coats
- Primers
- Basecoats
- Clearcoats
In addition to offering extensive technical support, BASF is a valued innovation and design partner for nearly all leading automobile manufacturers worldwide.
Automotive refinish coatings solutions
For the refinishing of passenger cars and trucks, BASF offers topand undercoat materials sold under the global premium brands Glasurit® and R-M® as well as the value-for-money brands baslac®, LIMCO®, Norbin® and Yinfan®, which are sold to paint distributors and automotive repair shops. BASF is a leader in the fields of waterborne coatings and high-solid systems, enhanced by value- added services and tools for end users.
Surface treatment solutions
BASF is a globally leading solution provider for applied surface treatment. Under our Chemetall brand, we offer customized technology and system solutions to protect metals from corrosion, facilitate forming and machining, allow parts to be optimally prepared for the painting process and ensure proper coating adhesion. These products are used in a wide range of industries and markets, such as automotive, aerospace, aluminum finishing and metal forming.
Decorative paints
For interior and exterior use in buildings, BASF offers decorative paints, marketed, for example, under the premium brand Suvinil®, which is one of Brazil’s best-known brands. With constant innovation launches, such as super-concentrated premium interior and exterior paint, Suvinil® continues to strengthen its role as a pioneer in the area of innovative paints.
Automotive is the most important customer industry for BASF’s coatings business. The number of cars and light commercial vehicles produced globally is expected to grow in the medium term. The main growth driver is Asia – in particular China – where BASF is well-positioned to participate in the growth opportunities.
- Automotive OEM coatings: No. 2 globally
- Automotive refinish coatings: No. 3 globally
- Surface treatment: No. 2 globally
- Decorative paints: No. 1 in Brazil
- Automotive OEM coatings: PPG, Axalta, Kansai Paint, Nippon Paint
- Automotive refinish coatings: Axalta, PPG, AkzoNobel, Sherwin Williams
- Surface treatment: Henkel, PPG, Nihon Parkerizing, Nippon Paint
- Decorative paints South America: AkzoNobel, Sherwin Williams
Our innovation efforts for the automotive industry are focused on close partnerships with our customers in order to formulate, for instance, new coatings solutions for integrated processes, unique eco-efficient coatings and clearcoats with extremely improved durability by using the latest crosslinking technologies. Additional research topics include improved products for new technology markets, such as functional films, and environmentally friendly applications.
(from 2018 onward)
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Automotive OEM | Waterborne capacity expansion in Tultitlán, Mexico | 2019 |
| Construction of automotive application center in Shanghai, China | 2019 | |
| Resin capacity expansion in Caojing, China | 2020 | |
| Expansion of e-coat production in Greenville, Ohio | 2020 | |
| Spraybooth capacity upgrade in Windsor, Canada | 2020 | |
| Upgrade of e-coat application center in Münster, Germany | 2021 | |
| Application center upgrade in Guadalajara, Spain | 2022 | |
| Refinish | Acquisition of UBench BV, Turnhout, Belgium | 2019 |
| New laboratory facility in Münster, Germany | 2021 | |
| Capacity expansion in Jiangmen, China | 2022 | |
| Surface treatment | Capacity increase for Naftoseal® aircraft sealant production in Langelsheim, Germany | 2019 |
| New surface treatment site in Pinghu, China | 2021 | |
| New business development | New production for functional films in Münster, Germany
|
2020 |
BASF Coatings manufactures its products at more than 70 sites worldwide. Our most important sites are listed below.
| Product group | Site |
| Automotive OEM | Münster, Germany; Guadalajara, Spain; Shanghai, China; Greenville, Ohio; Tultitlán, Mexico |
| Refinish | Münster, Germany; Clermont de l’Oise, France; Windsor, Canada; Jiangmen, China |
| Surface treatment | Langelsheim, Germany; Sens, France; Guissano, Italy; Boksburg, South Africa; Shanghai, China; Blackman Township, Michigan |
| Decorative paints | Demarchi and Jaboatão, Brazil |
Sustainable cleaners for plastics recycling
Chemetall offers a range of products to improve the sustainability, quality, productivity and safety of PET recycling processes. The integrated cleaning solutions Gardoclean®, Gardobond® additives, Gardo® Pure and Gardofloc® cover the entire washing and wastewater treatment process for PET recycling and comply with the strictest quality regulations, thus supporting customers to close material cycles and reduce CO2 emissions. Compatible with food-industry standards, these cost-effective technologies are also suitable for LDPE and HDPE multilayer packaging films and can thoroughly remove all types of adhesives. Chemetall supports its customers to increase the quality of PET flake output and reduce energy and resource consumption.