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September 16, 2019

Infrastructure for tomorrow: BASF’s innovative polyurethane solutions secure 5G telecommunication towers in China

  • Robust and lightweight Elastolit® polyurethane (PU) material solutions enable towers to stand firm against strong winds and heavy snow

Shanghai, China – September 16, 2019 – BASF’s innovative Elastolit® polyurethane (PU) materials solutions are supporting China’s rollout of 5G networks. Anhui Huike Hengyuan Composite Material Company Limited (Huike), produced 60 telecommunication towers made with Elastolit, across Beijing, Suzhou, Heilongjiang and Jiangxi cities in China.

“With peak data rates up to 100 times faster than what current 4G networks are providing, 5G will form the backbone for the development of smarter cities and advanced technologies, such as autonomous driving and industrial automation in China,” said Dong Qiaonan, President, Huike. “To ensure 5G networks function fast and reliably, robust infrastructure including telecommunication towers is essential,” he added.

Compared to conventional concrete or steel base materials, telecommunication towers produced with Elastolit are more lightweight, faster to install even in remote areas, and can stand firm in severe weather conditions, including heavy snow and strong wind.

“5G base stations, housing transmission equipment, and antennas need to stay robust in harsh weather conditions. Produced with BASF’s PU composite, a 35-meter tower which weighs between 1,500 - 1,800 kilograms has a breaking strength that is ten times greater than its weight,” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.

Telecommunication towers constructed with Elastolit are also more cost-effective compared to traditional steel towers. As Elastolit is resistant to rust and corrosion, it requires less maintenance. It is also covered in a specially formulated UV-resistant topcoat which extends its service life. It is fire-resistant and can self-extinguish quickly.

Apart from telecommunication towers, Elastolit is also being used to produce utility poles. In 2018, Huike successfully helped snow-hit Anhui province in Central China to restore electricity within 20 hours with the installation of 40 ultralight utility poles.

 

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 2018, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €7.65 bn. More information online: www.plastics.basf.com

 

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 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. Our portfolio is organized into 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) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

Beverley Tan
Beverley Tan
Performance Materials Asia Pacific
Singapore
sdr
November 23, 2021
Robust and lightweight Elastolit® polyurethane (PU) material solutions enable towers to stand firm against strong winds and heavy snow.
Last Update September 16, 2019