BASF to set up plastic additives plant in Shanghai

The plant, with a capacity of 42,000 tonnes per annum, will produce antioxidants

BASF to invest Euro 200 mn to increase global plastic additives capacity

Last Updated : Mar 16 2017 | 3:36 PM IST

As part of its strategy (announced in November 2016) to invest more than € 200 million globally to increase its plastic additives production, BASF will build a new plastic additives plant at its Caojing site in Shanghai, China. The plant, with an annual capacity of 42,000 tonnes, will produce antioxidants and associated forms and blends. It is expected to be completed in 2019, with commercial production to start by early 2020.

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“Asia, and particularly the Chinese market, offer significant growth opportunities, driven by diverse applications including packaging, construction, consumer goods, automotive and many more. The plant will be built to reach high environmental standards and have one of the most efficient production processes. Located within the Caojing complex, it will also benefit from its proximity to our regional application centre in Shanghai that provides technical support to polymer producers and to the converting industry within the region,” said Hermann Althoff, senior vice president of BASF’s performance chemicals unit in Asia Pacific.

Antioxidants help prevent thermal oxidation reactions when plastics are processed at high temperatures, and light-assisted oxidation when plastics are exposed to UV light. Oxidation can cause loss of impact strength, elongation, surface cracks and discoloration of the material. Almost all polymer materials undergo oxidative degradation reactions at one or all of the manufacturing, processing and end-use stages.

BASF runs a global production network and is the only supplier of plastic additives having production sites in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. BASF’s plastic additives product portfolio includes stabilisers which provide ease in processing, heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including moulded articles, films, fibres, sheets and extruded profiles.