BASF inaugurates Electronic Materials production plant in South Korea

• Produces chemical solutions used in semiconductor manufacturing processes
• Meets growing demand in Korea as well as other Asian markets
• Meets and exceeds key industry requirements: fast ramp-up from laboratory to mass production, reliable supply and consistent quality

Seoul, South Korea – November 27, 2017 – BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, today started operations at a new electronic materials production plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The new plant produces ultra-pure NH4OH (electronic-grade ammonia water) used in the semiconductor and display manufacturing processes. The facility is also now expanding its production of advanced mixtures for cleaning and etching solutions.

The new plant features an advanced analytics laboratory as well as the ultra-pure utilities that are designed to accommodate the future needs of leading electronics customers in the Korea market and abroad.

“Korea is a strategically important market for advanced electronic components, especially semiconductors and displays. The production facility ideally complements our local R&D presence in Korea, where we develop next-generation technologies in close partnership with our customers,” said Lothar Laupichler, Senior Vice President, BASF Electronic Materials.

Located on the southwest coast of Korea, the plant is equipped with BASF's unique, cutting-edge manufacturing facilities including best-in-class quality analysis and quality management systems. Products from Yeosu will primarily be used for next generation microchips designed in single-digit nodes with less than 10 nanometers.

“The investment addresses three core customer requirements: ensure fast-track ramp-up of chemical solutions from lab-scale to mass production, provide reliable supply, and deliver consistent product quality that meets and exceeds the ever-increasing purity requirements for next generation semiconductor and display technologies,” Laupichler added.

The production plant for electronic materials in Yeosu marks a key milestone in establishing an integrated hub to serve the electronics industry. This strategy includes the BASF Electronic Materials Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters in Seoul, set up in 2013, and establishing the Regional Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, the following year.

“BASF has been continuously investing in Korea for 60 years. We are now strengthening our domestic production capabilities through the establishment of a new BASF Electronic Materials production plant. We aim to help Korean companies enhance their competitiveness in the global market,” said Jason WooSung Shin, Managing Director, BASF Korea.

BASF is a leading supplier of electronic materials. It provides a wide range of products – from its portfolio of specialty chemicals that have been processed through high-purity, advanced processes, to its wide range of applications and customized solutions for the electronics industry.

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About BASF Electronic Materials Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters
From its regional headquarters located in Seoul, Korea, BASF Electronic Materials business unit serves the growing Asia Pacific market in the fields of semiconductor and display manufacturing, lighting, photovoltaics, and metal systems. This is further strengthened by the presence of the Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia located inside prestigious Sungkyunkwan University’s Natural Sciences Campus, where an international team of scientists are working with the world’s top companies and renowned academic institutions to bring tomorrow’s most advanced technologies to life. Dedicated to creating chemistry with customers to innovate the future of electronics for over 30 years, BASF Electronic Materials is embedded in the culture of delivering quality excellence, reliable services, and innovative solutions through its exceptional capabilities in R&D, production, logistics & supply management, and marketing intelligence.

About BASF in Korea
BASF has been a committed partner to Korea since 1954. As a leading foreign investor in the Korean chemical industry, BASF operates seven world-scale production sites in Korea. BASF maintains an R&D center in Suwon and four technical development centers in Korea. The Asia Pacific headquarters of BASF’s Electronic Materials business is located in Seoul. BASF posted sales to customers in Korea of approximately €1.1 billion in 2016, and employed 1,105 employees in Korea as at December 31, 2016. For further information, please visit: www.basf.com/kr.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.