BASF strengthens business with the automotive Industry
http://cn.newmaker.com
10/18/2007 11:29:00 AM
佳工机电网
Shanghai, China. When it comes to automotive, BASF is stepping on the gas. Driven by a powerful engine with high-performance elements such as successful R&D, quality, innovations, partnership, and a global presence, BASF is revving up operations in Asia with not only investments in new plants but through an automotive center newly established in Shanghai.
－Showcases a broad portfolio of automotive products
－Sets up new automotive center in Shanghai
－Expects strong growth rates for the automotive industry in China
The 5-storey building comprises an automotive showroom as well as application development laboratories, technical service facilities, marketing, sales and supply chain activities for the catalysts, and the engineering plastics business units.
''Automotive constitutes one of BASF's most important target industry segments and our second-largest revenue source,'' explained Dr. Wolfgang Hapke, BASF's Asia Pacific President. ''In 2006, BASF derived some 10 percent of its total sales of €52.6 billion from the sale of products to the automotive industry.''
On the latest trends in the automotive industry, Hapke said that the automotive industry in Asia is turning the highest growth rates in the world at eight percent with China being one of the main growth drivers. Presenting BASF's approach to this sector he cited many examples of innovative technologies BASF offers in response to new trends and demands posed by the industry.
Solutions that enhance comfort, safety and sustainability
For example, different business units in BASF have pooled their expertise to develop a car seat that can almost completely be made of BASF products: from the seat shell made of engineering plastics that are lighter in weight and cheaper in cost and and polyurethane foams that greatly improve sitting comfort: to upholstery made more durable from special leather and textile finishing chemicals and superabsorbers. BASF is offering the complete solution to vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in a concise and easily accessible manner.
The company also offers solutions to reduce emissions from vehicles. Having pioneered the first catalytic converter for automobiles BASF now provides its heavy duty diesel catalyst, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to the fleet of buses under the Beijing Public Transport Holding. Ltd. In compliance to environmental standards of the National Emission Standard Stage IV. This is also one of the Clean Air Initiatives for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Lightweight construction saves resources
Catalysts are not the only way to reduce emission: the vehicle's weight is another crucial factor. Reducing a vehicle's weight by 10 percent translates into five to seven percent savings in fuel consumption. For every kilogram by which the weight of a car is reduced, the environment is spared 25.3 kilograms of CO2 emissions over the entire service lifespan of the car. Using plastics in automobile construction therefore also makes sense from an environmental point of view because they are much lighter than steel components. BASF is providing a high-tech ensemble of plastic solutions that are commonly found in cars today - from dashboards, steering wheels, and seats to airbag and damping systems.
And under the hood, there is an entire plastics world that BASF caters to - temperature-resistant plastics function right next to the engine block. Cable sheathing, insulating materials, gaskets, various aggregates ranging from the fuel pump to the air intake manifold - are all "made of plastics.'' And they all hold operating fluids - coolant, brake fluid, fuel, and lubricants.
"With a broad product portfolio for the automotive industry, we are in a position to both recognize and offer innovation potentials which add value from the vantage point of car manufacturers,'' said Hermann Althoff, Group Vice President Engineering Plastics, Asia Pacific, BASF. ''With our products and technical services we help our customers to be even more successful. Our automotive center in Shanghai brings our industry approach to a new level and signals our commitment to the automotive industry in China and Asia."
BASF - The Chemical Company - is a leading-edge source of intelligent sustainable solutions to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers worldwide. With a full portfolio of technologies that include coatings, catalysts, engineering thermoplastics, polyurethanes, pigments and colorants, coolants and brake fluids for a broad array of exterior, interior, chassis and under-the-hood applications, BASF - The Chemical Company - develops and delivers the innovations that help the automotive industry improve the quality, appearance, safety, cost competitiveness, performance, comfort, fuel efficiency, sustainability. Website: www.automotive.basf.com
BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF's high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
Fig: BASF has set up an automotive showroom in Shanghai.
Shanghai, China. When it comes to automotive, BASF is stepping on the gas. Driven by a powerful engine with high-performance elements such as successful R&D, quality, innovations, partnership, and a global presence, BASF is revving up operations in Asia with not only investments in new plants but through an automotive center newly established in Shanghai.