BASF starts up plant for functionalizing foils at the Münster site
- BASF enters new work area with this technology, tapping into new market segments
- Münster site, headquarters of BASF’s Coatings division, to be strengthened by investment
- New technology developed at BASF within a very short time
In the presence of the Minister of Economics, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Professor Andreas Pinkwart, and Münster’s Lord Mayor Markus Lewe, a plant for coating foils was started up on the BASF company premises in Münster. Innovative materials applied layer by layer in an ultra-thin coat give foils additional properties, thus “functionalizing” them. BASF developed the innovative coating technology and the first product – a barrier foil – within a very short time. These barrier foils protect items such as thin-film photovoltaics from harmful environmental stresses. “For these foils, we have joined forces with international partners to develop new applications and are also considering functions beyond barriers,” explained Jörg Lenz, head of the “Beyond Paint” business unit.
Professor Pinkwart said, “The chemical industry is a driver of innovations. It lays crucial foundations and is indispensable for coping with the responsibilities we face. Whether it’s climate change and the energy transition, food for the world’s population or mobility, chemistry’s innovations make progress possible. BASF’s new coatings technology is a good example of this, since the foils extend the service life of photovoltaic units.”
With this technology, BASF’s Coatings division is entering a new business area and is tapping into additional market segments. “This investment will strengthen the Münster site as the headquarters of the Coatings division and will help it position itself strategically for the future. At the same time, Münster’s significance as an industrial and technical location will increase,” said Münster’s Lord Mayor Lewe, visibly pleased.
Other areas of application for the foils include OLED displays and thin-film batteries.
About BASF’s Coatings division
The Coatings division of BASF is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. The portfolio is completed by the “Beyond Paint” program, which aims at developing new markets and businesses. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners’ needs all over the world. BASF shares skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2018, the Coatings division achieved global sales of about €3.86 billion.
Solutions beyond your imagination – Coatings by BASF: For more information about the Coatings division of BASF and its products, visit www.basf-coatings.com.
About BASF
Creating chemistry for a sustainable future is what BASF stands for. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 122,000 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. We present our portfolio in six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) as well as in the United States, as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY). For more information, visit www.basf.com.
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