BASF Shanghai Coatings, a joint venture between BASF and Shanghai Huayi Fine Chemical Co., has opened the €50 million expansion of its automotive coatings plant at Shanghai, China.

The new facility is located adjacent to another new BASF resin and electrocoat plant, which is due on stream in the second half of 2015. The German group said the close proximity of these two plants with access to facilities of BASF Caojing site and the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park will allow greater synergies and operational efficiency.

BASF said the new production unit is equipped with advanced ventilation and off-gas treatment and also is specially designed to have a closed handling of ingredients.