Rising global demand has spurred BASF to invest an undisclosed sum in extra capacity for its Basonat polyisocyanate hardeners in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The additional output will be available by the end of 2017. No capacity details were divulged. Basonat resins are used to formulate coatings for automotive, industrial, furniture and floor uses as well as adhesives. BASF noted the investment would strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading producers of aliphatic polyisocyanates as cross-linkers for two-component polyurethane coatings (2K PU).

Ulf Neidlein, BASF’s vice president responsible for the European resins and additives business, said there has been a considerable increase in global demand for Basonat hardeners over the last few years. “With this investment, we are addressing that demand while also increasing our supply reliability,” he commented.

BASF started a second production line for Basonat in Caojing, China, in September 2014 to serve the transportation coatings, industrial coatings and adhesives segments in the Asia-Pacific region.