BASF commissions pilot plant for the production of novel PU-aerogel insulating panels
- Production of the first sample quantities of the new high-performance insulating material at the Lemförde location
- SLENTITE® for customized climate management
In April, BASF commissioned the pilot plant for the manufacturing of SLENTITE®, its new high-performance product. The large-sized insulating panels will initially serve the optimization of the performance profile and will subsequently be supplied to selected cooperation partners. This high-performance insulating material based on a polyurethane aerogel is thus the first to be available in the form of a heavy-duty panel. SLENTITE® combines all the key properties of a forward-looking insulating material for both new construction projects and renovation.
Successful commissioning of the pilot plant after 18 months for construction
As announced, the new plant at the Lemförde location went into operation after 18 months of planning and construction. Numerous firms from the local area were involved in the project. The plant was installed by plant engineering specialists working to specific instructions from BASF engineers. "We're very pleased to have been able to execute such a complex and novel project on time with our competent and enthusiastic team," says Dr. Hermann Bergmann, Group Leader Polyurethane Research. "Now it's a question of fine-tuning the production process." Dr. René Lochtman, Managing Director BASF Polyurethanes GmbH, also stressed the positive impact of development from the laboratory to the pilot stage: "By investing in new technologies like the SLENTITE® pilot plant, we have succeeded in building on our very good position on the insulating materials market and strengthening the Lemförde location."
SLENTITE®: The insulating panel for customized climate management
Architects, designers and building owners are constantly on the lookout for new materials for efficient building insulation that also offer plenty of design freedom. With its new high-performance insulating material, BASF is offering a glimpse of the future of insulation. Dr. Marc Fricke, SLENTITE® project manager, stresses the special features of the newly developed product: "SLENTITE® is unique. With the pilot plant up and running, we have achieved an important goal and can soon start supplying samples to selected partners. What's more, we are now in a position to develop an industrial-scale production process." The first polyurethane-based aerogel in the form of a heavy-duty panel delivers efficient and extremely slim insulation that is also exceptionally space-saving. With a lambda value of 17 mW/m•K, SLENTITE® achieves the best-possible insulation for a mechanically strong panel. The high-performance product is suitable above all for interiors and offers architects ample design freedom. It also scores with its minimal space requirements and excellent moisture regulation which adds to a pleasant room-climate. The panel can be handled dust-free and processed just like conventional construction products.
Knut Hoffmann, Head of Marketing Construction and responsible for SLENTITE's market launch, sums up the achievement. "With its blend of properties, SLENTITE® contributes to customized climate management and opens new opportunities in the construction sector for meeting the challenges of the future. The commissioning of the
pilot plant is an important milestone on the way to market launch in the coming years."
On the Web: www.slentite.com
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About BASF’s Performance Materials Division
BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors - transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with a deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2014, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of € 6.5 bn.
More information online: www.performance-materials.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.
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