BASF SE set to invest approximately USD 30 million in its superabsorbent polymer business

Dr. Wolfgang Kanther, Vice President, Global Marketing & Strategy Acrylics Value Chain said, “In a highly competitive market environment, we strive to be a strong and forward-thinking partner to our customers in the baby, adult and feminine hygiene market offering innovative and sustainable solutions.”

BASF SE set to invest approximately USD 30 million in its superabsorbent polymer business

On 25th March 2021, BASF announced its plans to expand its superabsorbent polymer business. The company will build a state-of-the-art Superabsorbent Excellence Center with the cost of an estimated amount of USD 30 millionat its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium.

Company further said that investment of almost USD 30 million clearly outlines company’s commitment towards hygiene business as an important part of its acrylics value chain.

BASF has indicated that the new plant will be equipped with latest data collection and sensor technology. These technologies will help in accelerating the scale-up the process from product development to production site. BASF has already introduced applied robotics for automated sample testing in its development labs for its superabsorbent business. The implementation of advanced data collection and sensor technology is the next step in BASF’s digitization strategy for its superabsorbent business. The implementation of the new technologies will further help BASF in improving the performance of its products, while proximity of new plant to BASF’s world class manufacturing facility in Antwerp, Belgium will reduce the time-to-market.

Dr. Wolfgang Kanther, Vice President, Global Marketing & Strategy Acrylics Value Chain said, “In a highly competitive market environment, we strive to be a strong and forward-thinking partner to our customers in the baby, adult and feminine hygiene market offering innovative and sustainable solutions.”

BASF is looking to optimize its production network and for this reason, BASF will shut down its Mannheim, Germany production plant of superabsorbent polymers. With complicated cost structure and unfavorable market demand development, operations at 25KTPA Mannheim plants are no long economical for BASF and thus the shut-down of the plant. Company has announced that all the affected employees will be offered new positions in BASF SE. Company will phase out the commercial production of Mannheim plant and the production will be moved stepwise to other production sites, predominantly to the world-scale plant in Antwerp.

BASF SE is a global leader in superabsorbent production with brands HySorb® and SAVIVA®. BASF also holds a leading position global hygiene industry as it develops and produces superabsorbent polymers for various applications including baby diapers, adult incontinence products and feminine hygiene articles.