BASF to invest in Chattanooga, Tennessee plant

CHARLOTTE, NC, November 19, 2012 -- BASF today announced plans to expand production capabilities at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant to strengthen the company’s position as a supplier of emulsion polymers for the paper, paperboard and carpet industries in North America. 

The plant, which currently produces styrene butadiene (SB) emulsion polymers, will incorporate swing capacity enabling the additional production of styrene acrylic (SA) emulsion polymers. Design and modification of existing equipment for the project is currently underway and the new capacity is expected to be fully operational in early 2014. 

“The investment at the Chattanooga site supports our growth strategy for the BASF Paper Chemicals division in North America and globally, and enhances our position as the leading chemical supplier to the paper and paperboard industry,” said Chuck Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Paper Chemicals, for BASF in North America. “This also demonstrates our commitment to support our customers in these industries.”

The expansion of the Chattanooga site strengthens BASF’s expanded network of flexible manufacturing locations supported by a backward integration of acrylic-based raw materials and monomers. 

“This investment highlights BASF’s focus on the carpet industry and our commitment to provide flexible, cost effective solutions for our customers,” said Derek Fairclough, Senior Vice President, Dispersions & Pigments, for BASF in North America. “By adding acrylic capabilities to the Chattanooga plant, our customers will be able to strengthen both their supply and competitive positions.”

BASF supports North American paper, paperboard and carpet customers with emulsion polymers from plants in Monaca, Pennsylvania; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Altamira, Mexico. 

To learn more about BASF’s Dispersions & Pigments business, please visit:  www.basf.us/dpsolutions.

To learn more about BASF’s Paper Chemicals business, please visit:  www.basf.com/paper.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

 

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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