BASF and Heraeus Joint Venture in China Goes into Operation

On January 17, BASF Heraeus Metal Resource (BHMR), a joint venture between BASF and Heraeus, was officially put into operation in Pinghu City, Zhejiang Province. The company will focus on recovering platinum group metals from used automobile exhaust catalysts to help China's circular economy.

BASF Heraeus Metal Resource (BHMR) is 50% invested by BASF and Heraeus each. The project took 16 months to be completed and put into production. The new company covers an area of 32,000 square meters, has more than 100 employees, and has an annual waste exhaust catalyst processing capacity of approximately 10,000 tons.

Tim Ingle, Senior Vice President, Precious Metal Services and Recycling, ECMS, said: "BASF Heraeus Metal Resource (BHMR) will leverage BASF Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions’ pyrometallurgical recycling technology to provide customers with advanced precious metal recycling technology. China is an important market for BASF's environmental catalysts and metal solutions. The new joint venture will promote the recycling and reuse of precious metals in China and support and help our customers reduce their carbon footprint. "

Marius Vigener, Senior Vice President Business Line Chemicals at Heraeus Precious Metals, said: "The investment in the joint venture is part of Heraeus Precious Metals' strategic plan to invest an additional 300 million euros globally to expand its recycling capacity in China, Germany, the United States and elsewhere. The joint venture will meet the growing customer demand for low-carbon products and will benefit not only the two companies, but also the platinum group metals recycling industry as well as downstream industries."