BASF To Open Thermoplastics Plant In Yeosu, Korea

BASF will open a new plant in Yeosu, Korea to increase its supply of thermoplastics to the Asia Pacific market.

AsianScientist (Jan. 23, 2014) – BASF will open a new plant in Yeosu, Korea to increase its supply of thermoplastics to the Asia Pacific market.

“The production of our high performance specialty plastics Ultrason in Korea supports our goal to locally produce approximately 75 percent of all BASF products we sell in Asia Pacific by 2020, and demonstrates our commitment to this fast growing market,” said Mr. Raimar Jahn, president of Performance Materials at BASF.

The new Ultrason plant, with an annual capacity of 6,000 metric tons, brings the company’s global capacity of Ultrason polyarylsulfone to 18,000 metric tons. With this investment, BASF also creates 50 new jobs at its Yeosu site.

Ultrason is the trade name for the BASF product range of polyethersulfone (Ultrason® E), polysulfone (Ultrason® S), and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason® P). The product can withstand temperatures up to 220 degrees centigrade without altering its properties, and possesses outstanding chemical stability.

Its applications are widely used in the electronics, automotive and aerospace industries for the production of heat-resistant, lightweight components. Other popular Ultrason applications include membranes for water treatment, fittings for drinking water pipelines or food contact parts as in espresso machines, or microwave-proof dishes. Ultrason is also used in the production of carbon fiber composite materials.

“The Yeosu plant brings us closer to our customers in the region and enables us to better support the growth of key local industries – partly driven by the global development of many new Ultrason applications. Another important value proposition that production of Ultrason in the region offers is shorter lead times to facilitate our customers’ growth in the region,” said Mr. WooSung Shin, managing director of BASF Korea.

By locating the site in Yeosu, BASF will also be able to serve other major markets for Ultrason such as China and Japan, the company says.

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Source: BASF.
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