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10 years ago
Chinaplas 2015: Lightweight Car Seat Features China's First All-Plastic Backrest Frame And Seat Pan
By Stephen Moore Published: May 18th, 2015
Click For plasticstoday.com Link
Guangzhou, China—A next generation lightweight concept car seat developed by China's largest automaker SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (SAIC), Tier I Shanghai Yanfeng Johnson Controls Seating Co., Ltd. (YFJC) and materials supplier BASF will be showcased for the first time at Chinaplas 2015, which kicks off May 20 at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou. Designed based on one of SAIC's recent car models, the lightweight, slim front concept seat demonstrates a breakthrough in all plastic backrest frame and seat pan technologies.
New lightweight concept car seat was developed in China.
BASF's Ultracom-a thermoplastic composite system using continuous fiber reinforced plastics-is used to replace metal in the lightweight car seat. As a result, the front seats are up to 20% lighter, and provide 2.5 cm more knee space for second row passengers compared with conventional design. In addition to passenger comfort and weight reduction (and subsequent fuel consumption), BASF's Ultracom also reportedly offers excellent strength, rigidity and toughness that meet stringent regulatory requirements.
An important part of the Ultracom system is the Ultramid overmolding compound. The high scratch resistance and surface quality of this BASF polyamide enable cosmetic application of the seat structure, making it an important design element. Injection molding of the all-plastic backrest frame enables freedom in seat design and comfort with the ergonomic shape, providing more possibilities for personalized seats and interiors. Furthermore, the particular Ultramid grade is especially low in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
Furthermore, with a number of investments, BASF has significantly strengthened its R&D capabilities and production footprint in China in the last decade - and will continue to do so. "This is the only joint development project on seating for BASF with an OEM and an automotive supplier in China. It signifies our commitment and competencies to support the indigenous innovation of SAIC with our strong R&D force," said Albert Heuser, President, Functions Asia Pacific, President and Chairman Greater China, BASF.
"We will continue to expand our automotive R&D and manufacturing investment in China. In the future, the global headquarters of our Advanced Materials & Systems Research will also be located in Shanghai to fully support the innovation cooperation with our Chinese automotive partners and help boost the innovation as well as the sustainable development of China's automotive industry."
Blessings to All
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10 years ago
Basf Se Rating Lowered To Hold At Bankhaus Lampe (BASFY)
Posted by Hossein Forouzandeh on Apr 19th, 2015
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Basf Se (OTCMKTS:BASFY) was downgraded by stock analysts at Bankhaus Lampe to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Friday.
Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Analysts at Commerzbank AG downgraded shares of Basf Se to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Analysts at Berenberg Bank downgraded shares of Basf Se to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd.
Finally, analysts at Nomura downgraded shares of Basf Se to a “reduce” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Basf Se has a consensus rating of “Hold”.
Shares of Basf Se (OTCMKTS:BASFY) opened at 96.60 on Friday. Basf Se has a 52-week low of $79.00 and a 52-week high of $119.71. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $98. and its 200-day moving average is $90..
Basf Se (OTCMKTS:BASFY) last released its earnings data on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.08.
Analysts expect that Basf Se will post $5.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.
BASF SE is a Germany-based chemical company. It diversifies its activities into five businesssegments: Chemicals, providing basic products and specialties including nitric acid and methanol, among others; Performance Products, providing products for the coatings and paints industry, cosmetics, detergents, products for the paper industry and performance chemicals, among others; Functional Materials & Solutions that develops coating products, catalysts and construction chemicals, among others; Agricultural Solutions, providing active ingredients and formulations for the improvement of crop health and yields, and Oil & Gas segment (OTCMKTS:BASFY).
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10 years ago
BASF Acquires Nanowire Technology From Seashell
Posted on April 10, 2015
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BASF Corporation and Seashell Technology, a leading nanotechnology company based in San Diego, have announced that BASF has acquired Seashell's technology, patents and know-how for silver nanowires.
The acquisition extends BASF's portfolio of solutions offered to the display industry through the company's growing Electronic Materials unit. "Seashell is an early pioneer in silver nanowire technology and has enabled development of multiple application areas and uses for these unique materials," explained David Schultz, CEO of Seashell.
"Seashell is excited to transfer the technology to BASF, which has the expertise and infrastructure to meet the growing demand for silver nano wires." "Seashell's nanotechnology has long been regarded as best-in-class, and we are very excited to bring this technology platform to BASF," said Lothar Laupichler, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Electronic Materials at BASF.
"We will build on this platform and develop innovative, efficient next generation silver nanowires tailored to the needs of our customers in the display industry and strengthen our recognition as a leader in the electronic materials industry."
With unique properties such as higher conductivity and flexibility, silver nanowires are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for transparent conductive layers. Transparent conductors are widely used in today's touch displays in consumer electronics such as mobile phones, tablets or all-in-one PCs.
About Seashell Technology LLC: Seashell Technology LLC, based in San Diego, California, established in 1996, has over fifteen years of nanomaterial expertise. Seashell is engaged in the development and production of specialty materials and coatings that incorporate micro- and nanoscale features.
These materials are supplied to academic and corporate research and development projects and for industrial processes.
About BASF BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20.6 billion in 2014. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us .
At BASF, we create chemistry - and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world's leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility.
Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose:
We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com .
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10 years ago
Discover the caprolactam market that is projected to reach $18,659.2 million, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% by 2019
Published on Monday, 16 February 2015 02:31 Submitted by Rohan Salgarkar
The caprolactam market is majorly used as an intermediate of polyamide 6. The Caprolactam have different characteristics as per their manufacturing and application requirement in the end products.
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate this market with its growing demand for caprolactam in the polyamide 6 for different applications, especially the automotive, film & coating, and electrical & electronics segments. The Asia-Pacific and North America markets are estimated to show a rising growth in the next five years with the allied industries expected to stabilize the overall business need in the respective regions.
R&D is a key part of this market. The manufacturing companies, associations, and end-product manufacturers infuse high investments for future advancements and technology modifications of caprolactam as precursor to replace metals and match the new demands coming from various end-user industries.
Polyamide 6 is dominant among all the competitive polyamides available, in terms of consumption and value, reasoned by its optimal cost to performance factor.
The Asia-Pacific is the largest region, both in terms of volume and value, followed by Europe and North America. China, Japan, U.S., Germany, India, Brazil, and Russia are expected to persist as successful caprolactam markets.
The key players in the global caprolactam market are BASF SE (Germany), Royal DSM N.V. (The Netherlands), SINOPEC (China), UBE Industries (Japan), Honeywell International (U.S.), and others.
The Eastern and Central European nations and the emerging South-East Asian and Latin American nations are hosting global events such as Olympics & Fifa World Cup would supplement the growth of caprolactam industry. An increase in auto sales, proposals for improvement of infrastructure, and rising housing market in emerging economies will drive the polyamide 6 market, eventually driving the caprolactam market.
The caprolactam demand, in terms of value and volume, depicts the current and future projections according to the parallel economic and industrial outlook. This analysis covers important developments, expansions, agreements, and mergers & acquisitions of the leading global companies.
The estimated market value of caprolactam in 2012 was $14,951.0 million, and is projected to reach $18,659.2 million by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 3.9%, from 2014 to 2019. The high demand across the industries, such as packaging, electrical & electronics, consumer goods & appliances, and automotive will increase the overall caprolactam consumption in the polyamide 6 industry.
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10 years ago
BASF Develops Simple 3D Sensor
Peter Clarke
12/31/2014 01:00 AM EST
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LONDON — Chemicals giant BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany) has developed a single-lens passive optical sensor that can measure distance to an object and thereby 3D position detection and 3D imaging.
Prototype 2:0 cameras
for position and color detection.
Source: BASF
The company hopes to develop the sensor for a broad range of applications from consumer electronics such as cameras and smartphones to automotive, transportation, medical and machine vision and security and surveillance.
The sensor is based on a "new physical effect" enabled by the use of specially developed dye-sensitized organic light sensitive chemicals. The effect is complex and described in patent WO 2012110924 A1.
It appears to hinge on methods to measure the amount of light falling on a sensor surface and the direction from which it is falling while the light is chopped at two different modulation frequencies and with specific knowledge of the focal depth of lens. One key statement in the patent is that "The sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination, in particular on a beam cross section of the illumination on the sensor area."
However, it is a novel method that could be simpler than established methods. These are two or multi-lens triangulation to determine 3D position, which is computationally intensive, and time-of-flight measurements of light, which depends on a modulated optical source, typically infrared, and is therefore not suitable for long range measurements where the transmitted beam can be blocked or dissipated by atmospheric effects.
The combination of chemistry, materials science and physics has produced a system capable of tracking and imaging objects in three dimensions at about twice the speed of the human eye and brain, BASF claims.
The system is able to detect and image over distances ranging from microns to kilometres dictated only by the lens. The sensor works passively and only needs ambient light. In darker surroundings the sensor can be operated with active visible or infrared light sources.
The sensor size is comparable to CMOS image sensor chips and so the BASF 3D sensor can be integrated into consumer or professional cameras, mobile phones, tablet computers and could be integrated with a conventional 2D image sensor. With the addition of appropriate software the sensor can be used for purposes beyond imaging, such as autofocus, object, gesture, facial and body expression recognition.
TRUISM
10 years ago
BASF celebrates 150th anniversary with an interactive program
-- Global co-creation program with scientists, customers, partners and employees
-- Focus topics: energy, food and urban living
-- Official anniversary event on April 23, 2015, in Ludwigshafen; additional celebrations worldwide
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FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BASF turns 150 in 2015. The company announced its anniversary program in an international press conference held today in Ludwigshafen. In addition to celebrations and a historical retrospective, BASF has prepared a global co-creation program with partners on the topics of energy, food and urban living. As part of this program, called Creator Space™, BASF is taking a new approach in accordance with its "We create chemistry" strategy.
"We want to initiate something new with our anniversary and try out new ways of working together over the next year – both within BASF and with people outside the company. We see the Creator Space program as a great opportunity to bring BASF closer to our target groups," said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of BASF's Board of Executive Directors.
BASF's official anniversary event with invited guests will take place on April 23, 2015, in Ludwigshafen. A special highlight will be the premiere of the anniversary musical composition, "Sounds for 150," for which employees worldwide recorded more than 1,200 typical BASF sounds. The composer is Michael Nyman.
BASF sites around the world are celebrating the 150th anniversary, each in a different way, according to their respective size and culture.
From Ludwigshafen into the world
BASF's history started in 1865 with dyes. Ammonia production followed a few years later in order to make fertilizer. Then, plastics came along. Since then the company's portfolio has continuously developed and today it ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection to oil and gas. BASF supplies customers in nearly every industry with products and solutions and supports them with research and innovations. "Being successful for so many years speaks for the creativity and determination of BASF's employees – past and present," said Bock.
BASF has operated internationally since its beginnings. Shortly after it was founded, BASF was selling its dyes worldwide. In 1885, BASF sent a manager to China with the aim of seeking opportunities for the company. "At the time, China was a new market on a largely unknown continent. There was real pioneer work to be done. Today, we are the largest foreign chemical investor in China," said Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Vice Chairman of BASF's Board of Executive Directors.
BASF's history in China has been compiled for its anniversary in a book titled "Breaking New Ground." The book was written by Michael Grabicki, the longtime head of BASF's media relations team, and will be published in English, German and Chinese.
Creator Space™ program is a key element of the anniversary
In 2050, the world's population will reach nine billion, and 70 percent of the people will live in cities. A company that works on a global scale has to look at issues from the perspectives of different markets and understand local requirements. What will the cities of the future look like? Where will the energy that is needed come from? How can there be enough healthy food for everyone? The answers to these questions will be quite different from region to region.
The Creator Space program unlocks numerous opportunities to think about challenges related to the focus topics energy, food and urban living and to work towards solutions, both virtually and in person.
"We are convinced that when we add the expertise from chemistry and other industries to these ideas, we will be closer to finding answers for the challenges of today and tomorrow. For society, these are solutions. For BASF, these are business opportunities. The better we understand market needs, the better our innovations will be – regardless of whether we're talking about products, entire systems or new business models," said Bock.
The website Creator Space online went live in Sept. 2014. More than 2,000 participants are currently exchanging ideas in real-time on the three anniversary topics: urban living, energy, and food. The ideas and solutions from Creator Space online will be fed into other anniversary activities such as the Creator Space tour. Brudermuller: "The tour is about personal exchange in an environment that motivates creativity and an urge to design the future. Employees, customers, scientists, politicians and NGO representatives will all have the opportunity to get involved with the anniversary topics."
The 2015 tour will stop for one week each in six cities: in January in Mumbai, and then in Shanghai, New York, Sao Paulo, Barcelona and Ludwigshafen. It provides space for workshops, conferences, idea competitions and cultural events. Each stop concentrates on one challenge that is particularly important for that city or country.
As part of the Creator Space program, BASF is also planning three high-level science symposia – in Ludwigshafen, Chicago and Shanghai. Renowned scientists from various disciplines will meet at each event. Among them are Nobel prize winners including the physicist and energy politician Steven Chu, the chemist Jean-Marie Lehn, and Frances Arnold, the pioneer of evolution in a test tube. In total, discussions with more than 1,500 guests from science, politics and industry will take place.
A documentary film spanning the entire anniversary year will be produced to capture some of the most interesting, beautiful and emotional moments. The prize-winning director, Thomas Grube, will accompany the anniversary activities. The film will be available in April 2016. Before that, clips can be viewed on www.creator-space.basf.com.
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10 years ago
BASF Delays Closing Washington Plant As Work Continues On New Louisiana Facility
By Edward Sieger | The Express-Times on November 15, 2014 at 11:15 AM, updated November 15, 2014 at 1:53 PM
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BASF has delayed closing its Washington plant until some time next year while it completes construction on its new plant in Louisiana.
The company announced in 2011 that the roughly 15-acre property on Pleasant View Avenue was scheduled to close at the end of this year. BASF spokeswoman Maureen Paukert said in an email that the company is scheduled to transition production from Warren County to its new facility in Geismar, Louisiana, by mid-2015.
She said the closure process is a "fluid" one and based on production start-up at the new Louisiana plant and customer requirements. The transition is expected to take a few months, after which BASF will begin closing the plant, according to Paukert. The company employs about 65 people in Washington.
Plant managers have previously said employees were given opportunities to relocate to Louisiana and some were also eligible for retirement. BASF first announced the move in 2011 and at the time estimated the Washington plant closure date would be in late 2014.
"This process involves decommissioning equipment, evaluating the need for any remediation and preparing the property to be sold," she said. "It's not possible to estimate more exact timing at this point."
BASF closed its Belvidere facility in December 2010 and demolished the building in fall 2013. It's unclear whether the building in Washington will be razed.
But as borough officials work to attract an investor for the property, the head of the business district said it might be easier to market an empty parcel of land.
Sandi Cerami, executive director of the Washington Business Improvement District, said she has been searching for tenants or uses for the property once BASF does leave. The borough would lose a tremendous ratable if BASF demolishes the building, but a chemical plant is a very specific use for a very specific tenant, she said.
"And the reality is a chemical plant does not want to operate in a residential neighborhood," Cerami said.
The delayed move gives the business district more time to search for alternatives to fill the financial gap left by BASF, Cerami said. She said some developers have shown interest in the property but said it's premature to discuss prospective uses.
"We have been exploring a variety of uses, some commercial some residential," Cerami said.
Mayor Scott McDonald said the delay gives the borough a little more time to plan for BASF's departure. Officials are expecting to take a major hit with the closure, but the delay would likely now push the impact back until the 2016 budget, he said.
Along with the loss of property taxes, the borough will lose sewer revenue, McDonald said. On the flip side, that's less sewage coming into the borough system and fewer overall services necessary for the property, he said.
A residential development would bring tax revenue to the borough and also bring a demand for services and, potentially, students to the school district, McDonald said. Everyone is looking for another industrial use for the property, he said.
"But there's not a lot of medium-size businesses that can go in there right now," McDonald said.
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10 years ago
BASF to Reorganize $1.8 Billion Paper Chemicals Operation
By Andrew Noel Sep 24, 2014 9:22 AM ET
Click For bloomberg.com Link
BASF SE, the world’s largest chemical company, will reorganize its paper-chemical operations to improve efficiency.
The current Basel, Switzerland headquarters for the paper-coatings and additives operation will be closed and the division dissolved, to be largely absorbed into the Performance Products segment, the Ludwigshafen, Germany-based company said today. It expects the measures to result in 50 job cuts.
Chief Executive Officer Kurt Bock is working piecemeal through BASF’s underperforming businesses to improve profitability and the returns from acquisitions made years ago. The company will evaluate strategic options for a paper hydrous kaolin business, it said today.
“Integrating the paper chemicals business along existing value chains will allow BASF to optimally steer plant capacity and leverage the advantages of the BASF Verbund,” board member Michael Heinz, who oversees the Performance Products segment, said in the release.
BASF competes with Kemira Oyj of Finland in the market for additives and coatings used to treat and protect weather.
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10 years ago
BASF Must Face Asbestos Coverup Fraud Claims, Court Says
By Jef Feeley and Sophia Pearson Sep 4, 2014 6:35 PM ET
Click For bloomberg.com Link
BASF SE (BAS), the world’s biggest chemical maker, was ordered to face claims it fraudulently hid evidence that its talc products contained asbestos as it sought to scuttle thousands of personal-injury lawsuits.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia yesterday revived a suit alleging a unit of BASF, based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and law firm Cahill, Gordon & Reindel LLP systematically concealed damaging evidence and manufactured documents to defeat claims that its talc contained cancer-causing asbestos. The unit mined talc, a mineral used in products ranging from wallboard to balloons.
The decision comes as BASF is predicting it will hit profit targets despite economic growth that’s falling short of forecasts, as well as unfavorable exchange rates. Chief Executive Officer Kurt Bock told Bloomberg TV in July that the chemical maker is emphasizing efficiency to compensate for markets he described as “volatile and challenging.”
BASF and other makers of building products are still grappling with asbestos litigation, which began in the 1970s and has turned into the longest-running mass tort in U.S. history. Companies and insurers have paid at least $70 billion to settle injury claims tied to asbestos-laden products, according to a 2005 study by the Rand Corp.
Joseph Jones, a BASF spokesman, said the court threw out some claims and left only a small portion of the case to proceed.
“BASF is evaluating its options to obtain further review of the court of appeals’ decision,” he said in an e-mailed statement.
John Villa, a lawyer for Cahill with Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, said the firm intends to fight claims of wrongdoing in the BASF case.
‘The Facts’
“The firm is confident the facts will demonstrate that the allegations against it are unwarranted and that the firm’s conduct met all professional standards,” Villa said in an e-mailed statement.
In 2012, a federal judge in New Jersey dismissed the suit, in which asbestos claimants alleged that a predecessor company to BASF, Catalysts LLC, worked with Cahill to fabricate evidence showing the company’s talc was asbestos-free. The deception allegedly duped plaintiffs into dropping their cases or settling them on the cheap.
U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler said that while the suit described “abhorrent and outrageous litigation tactics,” there was no basis for a fraud suit under New Jersey law because the actions occurred as part of judicial proceedings. Chesler didn’t rule on the merits of the allegations.
A three-judge panel of the Philadelphia appeals court overturned Chesler’s ruling, finding the asbestos claimants properly raised fraud claims.
‘Systematic Fraud’
New Jersey has never recognized a litigation privilege “to immunize systematic fraud, let alone fraud calculated to thwart the judicial process,” the panel said in its ruling.
The suit was filed by the families of six workers who died from asbestos-related illnesses allegedly caused by talc mined by Engelhard Corp., which BASF acquired for $5 billion in 2006. Engelhard operated a talc mine in Vermont from 1967 to 1983.
The families contend Engelhard executives, along with Cahill lawyers, undertook to hide or destroy documents showing the company’s talc contained asbestos to shield it from liability. The company had test results from as early as 1972 showing the talc contained the cancer-causing material, according to the suit.
In a 1979 suit against the company, three Engelhard employees testified that it was aware the talc mine contained asbestos, according to the suit. After the company settled, that testimony was sealed by a confidentiality agreement and never made public, according to the the suit.
State Cases
It wasn’t until another asbestos claimant sued the company in 2009 that a former Engelhard research chemist testified he’d found asbestos in the company’s talc “many years ago,” according to the appeals court ruling. That led plaintiffs’ lawyers to uncover the ditching of the asbestos evidence, the appeals court judges said.
Engelhard and its attorneys pursued “a strategy of denial and deceit” to hoodwink people into dropping or settling state-court cases cheaply, the asbestos claimants contend in their suit. Those cases were filed in courts in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the appeals court’s ruling.
Cahill, which has more than 300 lawyers, handles corporate and commercial litigation, along with bankruptcy and tax cases, according to its website.
The lower-court case is Williams v. BASF Catalysts LLC, 11-cv-1754, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (Newark). The appeal is Williams v. BASF Catalysts LLC, 13-1089, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Philadelphia).
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10 years ago
BASF Prepares for Its 150th Anniversary in 2015
FLORHAM PARK, NJ--(Marketwired - Sep 3, 2014) -
Click For power-eng.com Link
*We create chemistry" introduced as new claim in the
BASF logo
*Broad discussion about future challenges in urban living, smart energy and food
*Launch of interactive Creator Space™ online platform
BASF is introducing a new claim "We create chemistry" in its logo. This change to the company's brand identity underlines how BASF collaborates and innovates with customers and partners to contribute to a sustainable future. The new claim is derived from BASF's "We create chemistry" strategy, which was announced in 2011. "Since we launched this strategy, BASF has been increasingly focusing on offering its customers functionalized products and solutions based on chemistry as a clever combination of compounds. It is therefore the right time to make the next step and move from 'The Chemical Company' to 'We create chemistry.' The new claim refers not only to science but also to the chemistry between people, which is at the core of BASF and its brand," explained Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.
Initially, "We create chemistry" will mainly be used in the logo in circumstances directly related to the company's 150th anniversary. As of January 1, 2015, it will be applied broadly throughout BASF. The other elements of BASF's corporate design, for example the six corporate colors, will remain unchanged.
In accordance with its company purpose "We create chemistry for a sustainable future," BASF's goal is to bring together people and ideas in a process of co-creation. BASF is inviting people to collaborate on developing solutions to global challenges related to urban living, smart energy and food throughout the anniversary year. To spark the discussion, the company has launched an interactive platform called Creator Space™ online at www.creator-space.basf.com. Here, customers, scientists, the public and BASF experts are invited to exchange thoughts and ideas.
In 2015, insights from the online conversation will form the basis for discussions at numerous live and virtual co-creation events around the world. The aim is to use the anniversary year to drive innovation and make a lasting contribution to society and BASF's business.
"Our 150-year history shows that chemistry is an enabler for new ideas and solutions. Innovation in the 21st century will require new strategies and tools, and social networks are an important part of the mix. We invite everyone to join the conversation on Creator Space online," said Bock.
Anniversary discussions focus on three topics
By 2050, there will be more than nine billion people living on Earth. The needs of the growing world population for good living conditions, energy and food can only be met through innovations. BASF has identified three topics where chemistry plays an important role that will form the focus of the anniversary program:
Urban living: It is estimated that more than 70% of the world population will be urban dwellers by 2050. As cities grow rapidly, so do the social, environmental and economic challenges, for example, in ensuring fresh water supply, improving waste management as well as offering efficient and accessible mobility and housing.
Smart energy: Dramatically rising energy demand is one of the world's most pressing challenges. A smarter energy future requires deriving more cost-efficient energy from clean and renewable resources like wind and solar, increasing energy efficiency and improving the storage and transportation of energy.
Food: The challenge of feeding the world's growing population by providing a sustainable supply of food is one of the most crucial in the next decades. Avoiding food loss and food waste, ensuring nutritious food and improving the efficiency of food production is necessary to prevent undernutrition and malnutrition.
Further details of the anniversary program will be announced at a press conference on December 4, 2014, and then there will be regular updates on all activities on Creator Space online. One highlight of the year will be the Anniversary Celebration in Ludwigshafen on April 23, 2015.
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10 years ago
BASF Increases Prices for Pigments and Dyes Worldwide
Ludwigshafen, Germany, 2014/08/29 - [8/29/2014]
With effect from September 1, 2014, or as contracts allow, BASF will increase prices for numerous pigments and dyes by up to 15 percent worldwide
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The products affected are predominantly azo pigments, yellow and red high performance pigments, effect pigments, phthalocyanines and dyes. Price increases are necessary due to the current market situation, significantly higher raw materials costs and rising cost of environment, health and safety as well as maintenance.
The products affected are mainly used as raw materials in the coatings and paints as well as in the printing and plastics industries.
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10 years ago
BASF inaugurates concrete admixture production plant in Kenya
Published on 28/08/2014 [8/28/2014]
Click For worldcement.com Link
BASF has inaugurated a new concrete admixtures production plant in Nairobi, Kenya. The facility will enable the company to meet the rising demand for construction chemicals in Eastern Africa.
The plant is located in the Mlolongo area of Greater Nairobi, with good access to the road network and the Mombasa Port. It will deliver to customers within Kenya, as well as to neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
“We are now able to rapidly supply our customers with admixtures for all cement and aggregate types, whether their construction projects are located in the urban areas of Eastern Africa or in more remote sites,” commented Dick Purchase, Head of BASF’s Regional Business Unit Construction Chemicals Middle East, West Asia, CIS and Africa.
(From left) Laurent Tainturier, BASF Senior Vice President CIS, Middle East and Africa; Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Dick Purchase, Head of BASF’s Regional Business Unit Construction Chemicals Middle East, West Asia, CIS and Africa.
BASF will manufacture standard and custom-made performance admixtures from the MasterRheobuild® and MasterGlenium® product line at the site. The admixtures help to increase concrete strength and workability retention. The latter is of particular relevance for urban areas such as Nairobi or Kampala, Uganda, where heavy traffic may cause transportation of the concrete to the construction site to take longer.
BASF hopes that the solutions produced at the new plant will also benefit contractors in Eastern Africa, who may already be aware of the product portfolio and technologies.
“Not only will BASF now be able to further contribute to the building of sustainable structures in Eastern Africa, it will also bring employment opportunities and expertise to the region’s construction sector,” said Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, at the opening ceremony.
BASF’s construction chemicals have been sold on the East African market for over 25 years. The company’s other production facilities in Africa include: Westonaria, South Africa; Algiers, Algeria; Sadat City, Egypt; Casablanca, Morocco.
“Growth in emerging markets is an integral component of BASF’s ‘We create chemistry’ strategy,” noted Laurent Tainturier, Senior Vice President CIS, Middle East and Africa at BASF. “In line with this, BASF’s Africa strategy aims to double sales on the continent by the year 2020. The new production facility will strengthen the product portfolio in the region, and will meet the demands for multi-story buildings, long-lasting infrastructural constructions and more energy efficiency in construction techniques.”
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10 years ago
BASF Coatings Recognised at PSA Peugeot Citroën Supplier Awards
Thomas Wadlow - Marketing - 19 hours ago
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Germany’s BASF, the largest chemical company in the world, has been recognised by PSA Peugeot Citroën for its economical coating solution which protects vehicles’ bodywork from corrosion.
At the carmaker’s annual supplier awards, BASF’s Coatings division was acknowledged for its CathoGuard 800 cathodic e-coat.
Laurent Vaucenat, Global Account Manager Renault/Nissan and PSA at BASF, said: “As the main supplier to PSA, we are very pleased and proud to receive this award.
“It shows recognition for BASF’s power to create innovative high-quality products which save costs and are globally available. The award also confirms the close partnership that exists between BASF and PSA.”
The PSA Group benefits from this technology for the production of 500,000 vehicles per year. Many major automakers have also introduced CathoGuard 800 into their global operations in recent years.
The BASF Coatings division has already been awarded the title of core supplier by PSA in 2012.
The cathodic e-coat is the first layer of the paint system and is in great demand as an alternative to conventional e-coats that often incorporate tin.
CathoGuard 800 also has a low solvent content and saves material due to its high efficiency. In addition, this technology is highly suitable for integrated painting processes that dispense with primer application.
Frédéric Delbecque, Account Manager PSA at BASF, said: “We have been able to save over 10 percent in materials and energy by using CathoGuard 800 for cathodic e-coating.
“There is less need for rework, owing to uniform application of the corrosion protection layer and its high quality. This accelerates the production process. The perfectly smooth surface meets the requirements of our customers in the automotive sector.”
BASF’s Coatings division develops, produces and markets innovative automotive coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints, operating sites in Europe, North America and South America as well as Asia Pacific.
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10 years ago
Engenia to offer ‘most advanced’ formulation of dicamba available
Aug 25, 2014 Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press
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When the companies that developed the new dicamba- and 2,4-D-tolerant traits receive final regulatory approval for them, they plan to introduce new formulations of those herbicides to be applied over the top of crops with those traits.
That will also be true for BASF, which, along with its legacy companies, has been manufacturing and selling dicamba herbicide since the 1960s. Dan Westberg, regional tech service representative for BASF, discussed the new formulation – Engenia – and what BASF is doing to prepare for its launch in this video.
“Engenia herbicide that BASF is bringing to the market is the most advanced formulation of dicamba that’s ever been available,” said Westberg, interviewed at the 2014 BASF Research Tour, held at Murray State University in Murray, Ky. “We first marketed it back in the 1960s, and we’ve done continuous improvement of that herbicide over the years.
“Engenia is that step change improvement that we’ve developed specifically for the dicamba-tolerant crops – cotton in 2015 and soybeans, hopefully, in 2016.”
The potential approval of the dicamba trait and the registration of Engenia by EPA in 2015 could provide cotton producers with a much-needed tool for controlling their main nemesis – Palmer amaranth – and other weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate and other herbicides.
“Engenia could provide growers fighting glyphosate-resistant weeds with a good, new option, especially in cotton where there aren’t a lot of good options for weed control,” said Chad Brommer, who was recently named technical market manager for Engenia.
“We are very excited about the anticipated launch of Engenia,” said Dr. Brommer, former head of the research laboratory at BASF’s U.S. headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. “Engenia can provide a highly effective site of action, particularly for glyphosate-resistant weeds.”
Dicamba-tolerant cotton on track for 2015 launch; soybeans slated for 2016
Brommer and Westberg stress Engenia must be part of a systems approach to ensure it remains an effective tool. “Growers need to use a pre-emergence herbicide for starters and make timely applications of Engenia – on weeds less than 4 inches tall,” says Brommer
“If you look at the spectrum of control that dicamba or Engenia has it’s over 180 broadleaf weeds,” Westberg notes. “But it’s forte is those summer annual weeds that are really problematic in our Mid-South crop production. Palmer amaranth clearly dominates the conversation in many areas. Engenia will be very effective when used in a system.
“But many growers are also dealing with marestail; obviously that was the first one that was real problematic. Typically, in no-till fields, we’ll be able to offer an in-crop way to control that. We also have pockets where we have giant ragweed and common ragweed that are glyphosate-resistant. We also have spiny amaranth, particularly in a few locales in Mississippi. And in areas of the upper Mid-South, we actually get a blend of Palmer amaranth and common waterhemp. Those two can cross, and we’ll be able to provide effective control of that.”
Westberg and Brommer also talked the On-Target Academy, BASF’s program for educating growers about best practices for herbicide application.
“We’re working with producers to ensure that whatever you’re putting out goes where it needs to go and nowehere else,” says Brommer. “Thousands of growers have gone through the program, and we’re getting good feedback on it.”
Westberg says it’s a matter of performance and stewardship. On the performance side, BASF will ask growers to use a pre-emergence herbicide and “layer in at least one other residual herbicide to challenge those weeds so that we never rely just on postemergence applications of Engenia."
On the stewardship side, BASF believes the new formulation has eliminated volatility as a concern for Engenia. “What we must do is manage the on-target application. That’s selecting the right nozzle, which is first and foremost; using the right application volume; paying attention to what’s downwind; and paying attention to wind speed.”
BASF will be developing a comprehensive program and a set of recommendations so that farmers can achieve those objectives. To learn more about Engenia, visit http://agproducts.basf.us/campaigns/ingenious/
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10 years ago
Basf Se Stock Rating Upgraded by Goldman Sachs (BASFY)
Posted by Seth Barnet on Aug 17th, 2014
Click For wkrb13.com Article
Basf Se (NASDAQ:BASFY) was upgraded by equitiesresearchers at Goldman Sachs from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued on Friday.
Shares of Basf Se (NASDAQ:BASFY) opened at 100.538 on Friday. Basf Se has a 52 week low of $87.01 and a 52 week high of $119.71. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $109.0 and a 200-day moving average of $111.1. The company has a market cap of $92.342 billion and a P/E ratio of 13.94.
Basf Se (NASDAQ:BASFY) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The company reported $2.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.22. On average, analysts predict that Basf Se will post $7.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Separately, analysts at Kepler Capital Markets downgraded shares of Basf Se from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th.
BASF SE is a Germany-based chemical company. It diversifies its activities into six business segments: Chemicals, providing basic products and specialties including nitric acid and methanol, basic chemicals including ethylene and butadiene and intermediates, among others; Plastics, providing engineering plastics, polyamides and polyurethane solutions, among others; Performance Products, providing products for the coatings and paints industry, cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industry, vitamins and enzymes, products for the paper industry and performance chemicals, among others; Functional Solutions, which develops coating products, catalysts and concrete admixtures, among others; Agricultural Solutions, providing active ingredients and formulations for the improvement of crop health and yields, and Oil & Gas business segment, which is bundled in the Wintershall Group, is engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas and trading.
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10 years ago
BASF invests in Welsh flexible display materials firm
richard wilson
13th August 2014
Click For electronicsweekly.com Article
smartkem
BASF Venture Capital has invested €1m in SmartKem, the Wales-based developer of organic semiconductor inks.
SmartKem’s inks are used in printed thin film transistors (TFTs), which are used as the driver transistors in flexible OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) displays.
The two companies will work together in the chemistry research for flexible displays and circuits.
“The future belongs to flexible displays. Our investment in SmartKem and our extensive Joint Development Program will take us a great step forward in bringing this future-oriented technology faster to the market,” said Dirk Nachtigal, managing director, BASF Venture Capital.
Steve Kelly, CEO of SmartKem told Electronics Weekly earlier this year:
Printed electronics, after many years of being touted as the next big thing, has without doubt turned a corner on path to full scale commercialisation.
We have been focused on market- driven applications where serious market traction existed, the most significant of which is printed, flexible drive electronics for flexible display manufacture. With the initial launch of LG’s and Samsung’s curved mobile phones in late 2013, it is expected that this is a precursor to a range of new-form factor products for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
For suppliers in the printed electronics industry, this is the most significant sector for growth in 2014 and beyond. This not only applies to material suppliers, such as SmartKem, but also to production and test equipment manufacturers as well as a range of IP license opportunities as the UK’s academic and research institutes are widely recognised in Asia as world beaters in scientific and technical creativity.
Thin film transistors can be used to drive displays by switching pixels on and off. Traditional TFT displays use silicon or metal oxide transistors are processed on glass at high temperatures. Organic thin film transistors can be processed on plastic films at lower temperatures.
The total investment of the financing round was €3m. Further investors with equal terms were Octopus Investments and Entrepreneurs Fund.
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10 years ago
BASF
Click for wikipedia.com on BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany.[2] BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik (English: Baden Aniline and Soda Factory). Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock Exchange. The company delisted its ADR from the New York Stock Exchange in September 2007.
The BASF Group comprises subsidiaries and joint ventures in more than 80 countries and operates six integrated production sites and 390 other production sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, Americas and Africa.[3] Its headquarters is located in Ludwigshafen am Rhein (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). BASF has customers in over 200 countries and supplies products to a wide variety of industries. Despite its size and global presence BASF has received relatively little public attention since abandoning its consumer product lines in the 1990s.
At the end of 2013, the company employed more than 112,000 people, with over 52,500 in Germany alone. In 2013, BASF posted sales of €73.97 billion and income from operations before special items of about €7.2 billion. The company is currently expanding its international activities with a particular focus on Asia. Between 1990 and 2005, the company invested €5.6 billion in Asia, for example in sites near Nanjing and Shanghai, China and Mangalore in India.
History
BASF was founded on 6 April 1865 in Mannheim, in the German-speaking country of Baden by Friedrich Engelhorn. It had been responsible for setting up a gasworks and street lighting for the town council in 1861. The gasworks produced tar as a byproduct, and Engelhorn used this for the production of dyes. BASF was set up in 1865 to produce other chemicals necessary for dye production, notably soda and acids. The plant, however, was erected on the other side of the Rhine river at Ludwigshafen because the town council of Mannheim was afraid that the air pollution of the chemical plant could bother the inhabitants of the town. In 1866 the dye production processes were also moved to the BASF site.
BASF refounded
On 28 July 1948, an explosion in which 207 people died occurred in Ludwigshafen. In 1952, BASF was refounded under its own name following the efforts of Carl Wurster.[7] With the German economic miracle in the 1950s, BASF added synthetics such as nylon to its product range. BASF developed polystyrene in the 1930s and invented Styropor in 1951.
Business segments
BASF operates in a variety of markets. Its business is organized in the segments Chemicals, Plastics, Performance Products, Functional Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. The company occasionally advertises to the public using the tagline "At BASF, we don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better." Its slogan is "BASF The Chemical Company".
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10 years ago
BASF profit boosted by specialty chemicals
July 24, 2014, 2:12 a.m. EDT By? Chase Gummer
Click For marketwatch.com Article
FRANKFURT-German chemicals giant BASF SE said Thursday that second-quarter net profit jumped 12%, boosted by its industrial and specialty chemicals division, despite a deteriorating global economic outlook and heightened geopolitical risks.
Net profit in the quarter rose to €1.3 billion ($1.75 billion) but fell short of analysts' expectations of €1.45 billion. Revenue increased 1% to €18.5 billion in the second quarter as currency pressure continued to weigh, while earnings before interest and taxes, before special items, rose 9% to €2.71 billion.
BASF confirmed its outlook for the full year but said it now expects weaker global economic growth than it did six months ago, primarily due to rising geopolitical risks.
"We stand by our outlook for 2014 despite even more unfavorable currency developments and increased political risks," said Chief Executive Kurt Bock.
The company said it expects the divestment of its gas trading and storage business through an asset swap with Russian gas giant Gazprom to be slightly delayed and implemented sometime in the fall of 2014.
"The complex legal unbundling process involving the establishment of new companies in Russia, the Netherlands and Germany is taking longer than initially anticipated," said Chief Financial Officer Hans-Ulrich Engel.
On Wednesday rival Dow Chemical Co. posted better-than-expected revenue helped by growth in all segments.
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