Home
Trade News  |  August 1, 2023
Media

BASF increases production capacity for medium-molecular weight polyisobutenes in Ludwigshafen, Germany

  • Capacity to increase by 25% in response to rising global demand
  • Expansion will further strengthen BASF’s supply reliability
  • Key performance components for solutions in a broad range of applications

BASF will increase the production capacity for its medium-molecular weight polyisobutenes, marketed under the tradename OPPANOL® B, at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, by 25%. The investment comes in response to the rising global demand for high-quality medium-molecular weight polyisobutenes.

“With this step we are further strengthening BASF’s position as a reliable supplier that strongly supports growth and the demanding requirements of customers in various industries,” says Lena Adam, Senior Vice President, Fuel and Lubricant Solutions, BASF SE.

Medium-molecular weight polyisobutenes are essential performance components for products in a variety of industries including the automotive, construction, electronics as well as the food & packaging industry. Applications, for example, may include surface protective films, window sealants, binder material for batteries and food packaging solutions.

“The additional production capacity for our medium-molecular weight OPPANOL® B polyisobutenes will enable our customers to grow with innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable development, for example, in energy-efficient housing. Building on our backward integration into key raw materials we will be leveraging the full strength of BASF as a global leader in polyisobutene,” explains Dr. Tanja Rost, Vice President, Global Marketing and Product Development, Fuel and Lubricant Solutions, BASF SE.

The capacity expansion is expected to reach full completion by the first half of 2025.

Further information about OPPANOL® polyisobutenes at: https://www.basf.com/oppanol.

 

About Fuel and Lubricant Solutions

The global business unit Fuel and Lubricant Solutions is a leading supplier to the transportation and oil industries worldwide and part of BASF's Performance Chemicals division. Offerings cover fuel performance packages, polyisobutenes, engine coolants (Glysantin® brand) and brake fluids as well as lubricant additives, finished lubricants, synthetic base stocks and components for metalworking fluids. The business unit has its main facilities in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Cincinnati and Florham Park in the USA, Nanjing and Shanghai in China, as well as Sao Paulo, Brazil. Research and development is mainly driven out of Ludwigshafen, Germany, Tarrytown, USA and Shanghai, China. Further information is available on the Internet at www.basf.com/fuel-lubricant-solutions.


About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

 

P-23-277

Last Update August 1, 2023