BASF Expands Ultrason Capacity in South Korea
In response to global market growth, BASF is to install additional capacity for Ultrason polyarylsulfone in Yeosu, South Korea. A new 6,000 t/y production line will start up at the end of 2017, taking total capacity for Ultrason to 24,000 t/y. “This investment strengthens our competitive position and increases our flexibility to provide all grades of Ultrason to our customers in Asia and worldwide,” said Kin Wah Chay, vice president of BASF’s global business management specialty plastics.
Ultrason is used in the consumer, electronics, automotive and aerospace industries. Common applications include heat-resistant, lightweight components such as those found in household appliances or in drinking water pipes. BASF said demand for polyarylsulfones is strongest for filtration membranes in technical and healthcare applications, particularly in Asia’s emerging markets.
Separately, BASF Petronas Chemicals has achieved mechanical completion of its new citral and citronellol facilities in Malaysia. The integrated aroma ingredients complex is being built within the joint venture’s existing site in Kuantan. The downstream L-menthol unit will come on stream in 2017.
Saori Dubourg, president of BASF’s nutrition & health division, said the second world-scale plant would bring it closer to its customers in the Asia-Pacific flavor and fragrance industry, adding that it would start supplying citral and its precursors in a phased approach once the facilities had successfully come on stream.
