BASF opens new Research & Development facility in Ansan, Korea

• Brings together the enhanced R&D capabilities and expertise of Solvay with BASF‘s in Korea under one roof for greater efficiency and synergy
• Consumer Electronics Competency Center (CECC) will provide holistic support for the CE market
• Strengthens R&D capabilities in Korea for Ultraform^®

Seoul, Korea – November 2, 2021 – BASF today opened a new Research & Development (R&D) facility at Ansan, Korea’s Engineering Plastics Innovation Center (EPIC). The new facility houses the combined R&D team and competencies from its recent acquisition of Solvay’s polyamide business, other new competencies, as well as a Consumer Electronics Competency Center (CECC).

“The new facility is a clear signal of our commitment to support our customers in developing innovative solutions. Pursuing innovation in new products and applications is our goal. We will leverage the extensive know-how of the combined business to develop advanced customer-oriented material solutions, as well as to drive more projects with our customers,” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President of Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.

Greater efficiency and synergy with combined R&D team & competencies under one roof

Through the recent acquisition of the Solvay polyamide business, BASF enhanced its R&D capabilities in Asia Pacific.  Its R&D capabilities in Korea include new technologies, technical expertise, and upgraded material and part testing services. More material tests can be done in Korea, and covering a wide range of polymers, including polyamide (PA), Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyoxymethylene (POM). New test methods can be designed to better support customer projects. Product development capabilities for flame retardant and color grades have been upgraded to meet rigorous industry regulations and market demand driven by eMobility and E&E segments. With the reinforced Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation expertise, BASF can now support more projects linked to efficient cooling systems or reduction of overheating. As such, the enhanced technical skills and R&D capabilities expand BASF’s innovation competencies.

Housing the combined R&D team, competencies, and a new material evaluation team under one roof translate to greater efficiency & synergy – which better enables BASF to speed up and capitalize on the combined business when developing advanced customer-oriented products and applications. The synergy between new R&D team in Korea and R&D team in Shanghai will serve the markets around the Asia more efficiently.

First-of-its-kind competence center providing one-stop advanced manufacturing ecosystem

The Consumer Electronics Competency Center is the first-of-its-kind competence center that combines product development, state-of-the-art quality control, testing, and Mixed Reality Experience – creating a one-stop advanced manufacturing ecosystem that helps Consumer Electronics brands and OEMs identify the right material solutions for their next innovation. The CECC is where companies can experience hands-on exposure to an advanced end-to-end material solution production supported by the CECCs ecosystem of partners and technology machines. It fills the gap between material solution R&D and commercialization by letting companies carry out prototyping supported by on-site experts.

R&D activities for Ultraform strengthened

BASF has also strengthened R&D capabilities for Ultraform POM. This includes a dedicated extruder for new product development also improves sampling time efficiency, and the set-up of a new research lab for upstream process and reinforced equipment for faster testing with better testing quality.

Ultraform is primarily used in consumer electronics, automotive, and medical devices, where many key players are located within APAC. It is highly rigid with good resilience properties, excellent chemical resistance, and sliding friction properties, making it ideal for tough applications.

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials’ know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors – transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2020, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €5.63 bn. More information online: www.plastics.basf.com.

About BASF

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.