BASF invests in new R&D center in Japan for seamless development and production
- Strengthen and shorten innovation cycle from new product initiative to production
- Enhance customer centricity by reducing interfaces and enabling faster response
- Leverage global R&D expertise and apply local R&D flexibility to provide best-fit solutions
Tokyo, Japan – June 2, 2021 – BASF is enhancing its innovation efficiency in Japan by moving the Dispersions and Resins Applications R&D Center from Amagasaki to Yokkaichi. The new R&D center is adjacent to BASF’s dispersions and resins production plant where the commercial and supply chain management teams are based. Under this new setup, cross-functional collaboration will be further strengthened.
“I am very excited about this new move which creates seamless product development process, from R&D initiatives including scoping new R&D projects to on-premise scale-up production and supply chain management. It eases cross-functional team communications and therefore, shorten project lead time. In the end, our customers enjoy better services,” said Masashi Sugitoh, Business Director of Dispersions & Resins of BASF Japan. “Our customers prefer BASF products because of our product reliability, quality and sustainability features. Our durable Acronal® architectural coatings which reduce building maintenance burden is a good example — the blue exterior wall of our new R&D center is applied with high weather resistant paint with our Acronal® coatings in formulation from Kikusui Chemical Industries, one of our key customers of joint branding portfolio. Packaging coating supported by our Joncryl® resin for biomass inks is another popular product provided by BASF Japan. We leverage our global R&D platform to provide localized modifications of the Joncryl® brand to meet customer demand.”
The Amagasaki R&D Center has been operated by BASF since 2010 following the integration of Ciba, a Swiss specialty chemical producer. Located right next to the Rokuromi production plant that celebrated its 50th anniversary with zero lost-time injury in August 2020, the new Rokuromi R&D Center will start operating in June 2021.
BASF’s Dispersions & Pigments division
The Dispersions & Pigments division of BASF develops, produces and markets a range of high-quality pigments, resins, additives and polymer dispersions worldwide. These raw materials are used in formulations for a number of industries, including coatings, construction, adhesives, printing and packaging, electronics and paper. With its comprehensive product portfolio and its extensive knowledge of the industry, the Dispersions & Pigments division offers its customers innovative and sustainable solutions and helps them advance their formulations. For further information about the Dispersions & Pigments division, please visit www.dispersions-pigments.basf.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.
