BASF deepens investments in segments

BASF recently announced that its subsidiaries continue to deepen their investment in China. On November 15, BASF HTE High Throughput Experiment signed a memorandum of understanding with Sichuan Energy Investment Co., Ltd. On November 22, BASF's Chemetall production site in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province officially started production.

Regarding the cooperation between HTE and Sichuan Energy Investment, BASF said that the company aims to achieve faster and more cost-effective catalyst technology research and development for Sichuan Energy Investment through win-win cooperation, and help Sichuan Energy Investment to build a first-class new energy and chemical group in western China and a leading new energy and chemical industry in China with efficient innovation. Sichuan Energy Investment is an important state-owned backbone and leading enterprise in Sichuan Province, and an important carrier for Sichuan Province to promote the construction of energy and chemical infrastructure. As a leading global supplier of high-throughput technologies and services in the field of catalysis R&D, HTE will provide support and services for Sichuan Energy Investment in the development of its own intellectual property rights of key core technologies in the construction of the whole industry chain of green chemical and battery materials.

BASF said that HTE has advanced experimental technology development and experimental equipment design and manufacturing capabilities, and operates the world's leading high-throughput laboratory for catalysis technology in Heidelberg, Germany, with more than 50 sets of high-throughput experimental equipment, which can help customers achieve cost-effective innovative research, provide complete end-to-end solutions, and excellent high-quality experimental data, thereby shortening the time for customers to enter the market for new products.

Wei Han, Vice President of BASF Innovation Campus Shanghai, said: "The cooperation between Sichuan Energy Investment and BASF in the field of catalytic technology research and development, and the new cooperation model established by HTE High-Throughput Experimental Company, demonstrates the determination of both parties to focus on innovation and contribute to sustainable development. "The technical cooperation between the two parties takes hydrogen as the core and serves the key catalytic technologies required for the green energy transition, including chemical hydrogen storage, hydrogen release technology, hydrogen fuel cell and green hydrogen production. Other areas of cooperation include green and efficient use of carbon dioxide, renewable raw materials to chemicals, degradable materials, new catalysts, methane catalytic hydrogen production and naphtha catalytic cracking and other new chemical technologies.

A week later, BASF Group's largest, most advanced and environmentally friendly production site for surface treatment materials was put into operation in Pinghu. BASF said that the site is BASF's first production site in the Dushan Port Economic Development Zone and covers an area of 60,000 square meters. Designed as a smart factory, the new site will enable a wide range of digital applications and factory automation, with a high degree of process automation and end-to-end digitalization in operations to improve the efficiency of product manufacturing and site logistics.

Uta Holzenkamp, President of BASF's Coatings division, said: "In July this year, we just increased our production capacity for automotive refinish coatings at our Jiangmen site in Guangdong Province. Today, we are celebrating the commissioning of our new surface treatment site in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province. Our goal is to be a growing leader in surface technology, providing sustainable solutions, services, expertise and innovative solutions to our customers in China. ”

Jianfeng Lou, Chairman and President of BASF Greater China, said: "BASF is committed to continuing to cultivate China, the world's largest chemical market. Our strategy is to produce in areas close to our customers' markets. The Pinghu production site provides us with a great example of how to focus on our customers by strengthening our local technology and market position. ”