BASF today announced that it will be investing to expand its polyurethane (PU) systems and specialties business in Brazil. The production facilities for PU systems, polyols, TPU and Cellasto® will be enlarged and established at BASF’s Verbund site in Guaratinguetá. Also, a new development and technical service center will be opened at BASF’s Demarchi site in order to create a world class facility to support the company's customer and market development activities. Due to spacial restrictions these expansions cannot be realized at the Mauá site.
“With this investment, BASF will secure the long term future of our Polyurethane business in South America. It also underlines our leading position in the global polyurethanes market”, says Wayne T. Smith, President of BASF’s polyurethanes division. “We will be in the position to better serve our customers in the polyurethanes market in Brazil and to help make them more successful.”
Anton Traunfellner, BASF’s Managing Director for Polyurethanes in South America, adds: “We want to grow our business profitably in South America and will utilize in both the Guaratinguetá and Demarchi sites the existing structure of BASF with excellent Verbund benefits and logistics. As a consequence we can offer optimal development services and best quality products to our customers.” The Brazilian polyurethanes market is mainly driven by industries in the furniture, footwear, appliances and transportation segments.
Under the Cellasto® brand, BASF develops, produces and distributes components from microcellular polyurethane elastomers that enhance automotive driving comfort in the form of spring aids, coil spring isolators, and top mounts. BASF is the world leader in the supply of microcellular PU components. Cellasto® is inside every second car manufactured in the world. Nine out of ten carmakers use BASF spring aids.
TPU is marketed under the BASF brand Elastollan®, a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer with outstanding potential for innovation. Constantly developed and adapted to the requirements of the market, Elastollan® has established itself successfully as a multi-talented material in virtually every branch of industry.
