By: Theodore Lowen
April 16, 2009
Iselin, NJ, April 16, 2009 - BASF Catalysts has completed a significant debottlenecking and
expansion project to meet the growing global demand for its current
and new polypropylene catalysts. The increased capacity is
specifically targeted for producing the company’s breakthrough
LYNX® polypropylene catalyst at its production facility in
Pasadena, Texas.
“Although current economic conditions are challenging and
have impacted polyolefins demand, our long-term outlook for global
polyolefin catalysts growth remains strong,” said George Vann, BASF
Polyolefin Catalysts Global Business Director. “Completion of
this project further enables BASF to be a strong, reliable partner
to the market now and in the future.”
BASF’s LYNX® polypropylene catalyst technologies are utilized
commercially in most major polypropylene process technologies,
including slurry, bulk loop, stirred gas, fluid gas, and stirred
bulk. The catalyst technology’s characteristic consistent particle
morphology and narrow particle size distribution provide the
ability to realize the full capability of each process. LYNX
catalysts have gained widespread market acceptance due to their
high efficiency, high activity and control of crystallinity, and
stiffness to desired levels.
The Pasadena site manufactures and distributes polyolefin
catalysts for the chemical industry, and is also engaged in the
development of new catalyst manufacturing processes and the
production of developmental quantities of new catalysts.
BASF’s polyolefin catalysts are used to make polypropylene and
polyethylene. Polypropylene is the primary material in most plastic
food containers and is used in carpeting and many other textile
products. Polyethylene is used to make a wide array of products,
including plastic milk bottles, detergent bottles, plastic bags and
toys.
The new capacity will help BASF better service customers around
the world, and strengthen the company’s ability to help customers
be more successful in their own businesses. “No matter where a
customer is in the world, we’re making sure that BASF polyolefins
catalysts will be available,” said Vann.
The project was completed as projected, on time in the fourth
quarter 2008, and is already on line and in use to serve
customers.
About BASF Catalysts
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of
environmental and process catalysts. The group offers
exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that
protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world
and ensure efficient production of a wide BASF’s variety of
chemicals, plastics, adsorbents and other products.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical
Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and
performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as
well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers
in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its
high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an
important role in finding answers to global challenges such as
climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF
posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had
approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF
shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London
(BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on
the Internet at www.basf.com.