BASF breaks ground on new production complex for thermoplastic polyurethane

The complex will comprise five buildings covering a total area of over 4,500 m² and reaching up to twenty metres in height. Alongside the production hall fitted with state-of-the-art production technology there will be storage areas, tanks and an office block. The company says the total investment will run into “tens of millions of euros”. In the medium term about 20 new jobs will be created. Completion of the new production complex and start of production is planned for the end of 2014. Details on the production capacity were not announced.

“This project will sustainably strengthen our position as market leader in the speciality plastic TPU and underlines the great importance and future direction of the Lemförde site”, explained the two Managing Directors Dr. Uwe Hartwig and Dr. René Lochtman on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony for the new buildings.

BASF Polyurethanes GmbH manufactures TPUs for the global market under the brand name Elastollan. The product is used in almost every industry from automotive to sports and leisure, as well as mechanical engineering, in foils and films, cable sheathing, shoes, furniture and instrument panels, says BASF.

Dr. Uwe Hartwig, Senior Vice President BASF Polyurethanes Europe and Managing Director of BASF Polyurethanes GmbH, declared: “This investment is part of a global BASF growth strategy and will contribute towards the further expansion of our leading market position. This way we are creating an ideal basis for the success of our customers in the growing market of thermoplastic polyurethane applications.”

“BASF Polyurethanes ranks among the 20 companies with the highest net sales in Lower Saxony and is one of the market leaders in the field of polyurethane”, stressed Dr. René Lochtman, Spokesperson of the Management Board. “With this investment a distinctive building complex will be created on our site which will be a visible sign for our long-term expansion strategy and the consolidating of the site. A positive signal for the region, our customers and, above all, for our employees.”

The production complex will follow other on-going expansion projects at the BASF site which include the development of a further stretch of land on which the construction of a pilot plant building with a test plant for the development of novel rigid foam polyurethane applications has just been completed. The extending of the research building will continue until at least the latter part of the autumn. Earlier in the year the perimeter fence was moved to enlarge the site from 11 ha to approximately 25 ha.