BASF completed a 21,000 t per year capacity expansion for polyamide 6 film product materials at its Ludwigshafen main site in December 2012. Herman Althoff, head of the group‘s global business unit Polyamide and Intermediates, said the capacity upgrade reflects growing demand for sophisticated polymer applications in flexible food packaging. "With this new capacity for high-end polyamides we are able to support the application innovations and film production efficiency of our customers even better", he added. BASF also produces PA 6, PA 6/6.6 copolymer and PA 6.6 at facilities located in Antwerp, Belgium; Freeport, Texas, USA and Sao Paulo Brazil, in addition to Ludwigshafen.

The world's largest chemical company also recently announced plans for a global expansion of capacity for the chemical intermediate 1.6 hexanediol (HDO) to more than 50,000 t per year by 2014 at a cost of more than €30 million. The investment, which will include portfolio optimization and enhancement of logistical processes as well as infrastructure works, is designed to strengthen BASF"s position as "the globally leading HDO supplier." BASF operates HDO production facilities at its Verbund sites in Freeport, Texas, and Ludwigshafen, Germany.

"By increasing our capacity and further optimizing our operations we respond to the growing demand for innovative high-performance formulations," said Sanjeev Gandhi, President, BASF Intermediates division, and added, "by aligning with the growth of our customers and ensuring the availability of high-quality HDO we continue to serve our global customers as a reliable partner."