BASF Japan strengthens offerings for health and medical industry in Japan

• “Industry Team Health & Medical ” to provide customers with integrated solutions to meet challenges of aging Japanese society
• Innovations based on chemistry to improve individual quality of life

Tokyo, Japan – April 13, 2015 – BASF is strengthening its offerings to Japan’s health and medical industries with a new specialized industry team. The “Industry Team Health & Medical” is a cross divisional team to better address changing industry needs.

With an aim to improve the overall well-being of individuals in Japan, the Industry Team Health & Medical will focus on offering innovative solutions for medical devices and nursing products. By 2025, 30% of the Japanese population is projected to be 65 or older, according to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The team will seek to leverage BASF’s wide range of innovative products which can contribute to help improve quality of life in Japan. These include plastics suitable for medical use (Ultrason^®, Ultraform^® Pro, Ultramid^®, Ellastolan^®), highly-reliable non-phthalate plasticizers used in medical tubes (Hexamoll^® DINCH^®), and PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) groups (Luvitec^®) commonly used in a variety of applications, such as membranes.

BASF serves customers from many different sectors with a broad portfolio of processes, technologies and products. The Industry Team Health & Medical is the newest addition to existing industry teams currently active across five fields in Japan – Automotive, Construction, Packaging, Pharmaceuticals, and Electronics & Electric.

Joerg-Christian Steck, Representative Director and President of BASF Japan, said, “ T he health and medical market in Japan is expected to grow in the future. By establishing the Industry Team Health & Medical, we hope to offer timely solutions that meet the needs of our customers, and contribute to the development of the health and medical industry of Japan. ”

Takeshi Otsu , Vice President, Chemicals & Crop Protection, BASF Japan , said, “At BASF, we exchange best practices utilizing our global network . W e believe that by helping our customers to become more successful and contributing to improve the quality of life here in Japan – where the elderly population is growing faster than anywhere else on the planet – we will also be able to make a difference in other countries in and outside the region.”

BASF Japan will be exhibiting at CPhI Japan 2015 (International Exhibition in Pharmaceutical Materials and Intermediates) at Big Sight Exhibition Center, Tokyo, Japan from April 22-24, 2015. At the exhibition, BASF Japan will be showcasing its pharmaceutical ingredients portfolio and services, and the Industry Team Health & Medical will be answering customers’ questions on-site.

 

About BASF Japan
BASF started doing business in Japan in 1888.  Activities cover four business segments including chemicals, performance products, functional materials & solutions and agricultural solutions. The main production sites are in Chigasaki (admixtures for concrete, construction materials), Kitatone (personal care ingredients), Isohara (plastic additives), Totsuka (coatings) and Yokkaichi (thermoplastic polyurethanes and polymer dispersions).  BASF maintains a strong research and development presence in Japan including the Yokohama Innovation Center (engineering plastics) and the Research and Development Laboratory and Application Technology Center for Battery Materials in Amagasaki. In 2014, BASF employed 1,138 employees in Japan, and achieved sales of 　 about €1.5 billion to customers in Japan.  For further information please visit:  www.japan.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.