BASF has started building a new chemical catalysts manufacturing plant at its existing site in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in China, in an effort to meet growing Chinese and Asian market demand.
The chemical company said on June 18 that the new plant will be its first process catalysts manufacturing facility in the Asia Pacific region. It will produce base metal catalysts, custom catalysts and adsorbents, which are used in the production of fatty alcohols, sulfuric acid and butanediol and for the removal of impurities from olefins.
The plant design is said to be highly automated and energy efficient. It offers the opportunity for future expansion and the flexibility to adapt to new customer production requirements in the years ahead.
Commenting at this week's groundbreaking ceremony, Detlef Ruff, BASF's senior vice president for Process Catalysts, said that the new facility in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park would strengthen the company's manufacturing footprint in Asia Pacific and improve its proximity to customers in the fastest growing region for its base metal and custom catalysts solutions.
"This new facility will be integrated into our global chemical catalysts manufacturing infrastructure allowing us to support strong regional demand growth while increasing our manufacturing capacity and overall production efficiencies," he explained.
Manufacturing activities at the new plant are planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2016.
