BASF increases its production capacities of light stabilizers in Italy and Germany – Chemical Engineering

By Mary Page Bailey | March 21, 2022

BASF SE (Ludwigshfaen, Germany) will increase the production capacity of its hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) at sites located in Pontecchio Marconi, Italy, and Lampertheim, Germany. As part of a multi-stage investment plan, BASF aims to support the growing demand for lightweight stabilizers used in sustainable plastics applications and to provide enhanced security of supply to global customers.

“We are seeing a growing demand for sustainable materials used in applications such as automobiles, building materials and greenhouses, to meet the global challenges of today and tomorrow. As the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of light stabilizers, we are expanding our production footprint to be able to meet growing customer demand,” said Dr. Achim Sties, Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals Europe, BASF. “The complementary investment in infrastructure will also help increase the resilience and efficiency of our operations. We are committed to remaining the trusted and reliable partner of our customers.

Growing scrutiny of plastics use and disposal is pushing the industry to focus on more sustainable solutions. Allowing plastic materials to be used for as long as possible in specific applications will minimize waste. The integrity and durability of plastic materials can be affected by exposure to sunlight and artificial light, which results in the breakdown of chemical bonds in a polymer. Photodegradation leads to cracking, chalking and weakening of physical properties such as impact strength and tensile strength. BASF’s HALS Tinuvin, Chimassorb and Uvinul play a key role in protecting polymers against UV rays and are effective inhibitors of free radical-induced degradation. This feature helps extend the life of the products.

The production sites in Pontecchio Marconi and Lampertheim are globally strategic production sites for HALS and NOR HALS to serve customers worldwide. BASF has continuously invested in updated and expanded production capabilities, including surrounding infrastructure, to ensure highly efficient production of the best quality products.

BASF operates a global production network and is the only plastic additives supplier with production sites on four continents.