BASF expands electrocoating manufacturing plant in India

BASF's coatings division has announced the expansion of its electrocoat production facility at its Mangalore plant. This strategic expansion is driven by growing demand for e-coating solutions from local automotive OEM customers in India as well as from customers in South Asia and ASEAN markets.

Electrophoretic paint, also known as electrophoretic or cathodic dip coating, is designed to protect the surfaces, edges and cavities of car bodies from corrosion. In addition, it effectively smoothes the roughness of pre-treated metal surfaces, creating an ideal base for subsequent layers of paint.

With the expansion of its electrocoat production facility in Mangalore, BASF will be able to produce the latest generation of electrocoat products such as CathoGuard 800 RE. The product offers lower consumption, higher efficiency and greater responsivity for electric vehicles.

"The automotive market in India is booming and full of opportunities. With its mix of international and local automotive brands and changing consumer behaviour, India holds huge potential for BASF." said Patrick Zhu, Senior Vice President Global Automotive OEM Coatings, BASF.

"I am extremely proud of our strong growth in India and the region, driven by our successful collaboration with customers and partners. But beyond the numbers, I’m even more proud of our ability to use our innovation, passion for color and sustainability experience to serve local markets."

BASF's Mangalore plant has been operational since 1996 and is currently BASF's largest production facility in South Asia. In 2022, the Coatings Division expanded its Automotive Coatings Application Center and has since been leveraging global resources to bring advanced expertise and methods to the market.