Germany-based chemical maker BASF is investing more than 200 million euros (US$212 million) globally to increase its production network for plastic additives, an investment that includes building a new additives plant at its Caojing site in Shanghai, China.
The plant will have an annual capacity of 42,000 tonnes, and will produce antioxidants and associated forms and blends.
The plant is scheduled to be completed in 2019, with commercial production to start by early 2020.
“Asia, and particularly the Chinese market, offer significant growth opportunities, driven by diverse applications including packaging, construction, consumer goods, automotive and many more,” said Hermann Althoff, senior vice president of BASF’s Performance Chemicals unit in Asia Pacific. “The plant will be built to reach high environmental standards and have one of the most efficient production processes. Located within the Caojing complex, it will also benefit from its proximity to our regional application center in Shanghai that provides technical support to polymer producers and to the converting industry within the region.”
Antioxidants help to prevent thermal oxidation reactions when plastics are processed at high temperatures, and light-assisted oxidation when plastics are exposed to UV light, BASF said.
