BASF plans to "significantly increase" production capacities for bismuth vanadate pigments at Besigheim, Germany, near Stuttgart, from 2017.

The German chemical giant markets the yellow pigments with a special greenish color tone used to formulate paints and coatings under the Sicopal and Paliotan brand names.

BASF said its bismuth vanadate pigments are a high performance inorganic alternative to pigments containing lead chromate, which, according to the EU chemicals legislation REACh are classified as CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction).

"Over the next few years we expect our customers' demand for bismuth vanadate pigments to grow faster than the overall pigment market, both in Europe and worldwide. By expanding the production capacities we are responding to this increase in demand," said Alexander Haunschild, senior vice president of BASF's business unit Pigments & Resins Europe.

Starting this year, BASF will no longer produce pigments containing lead chromate. "We are committed to offering our customers innovative products that enable them to develop sustainable solutions," Haunschild stressed.

BASF regards itself as one of the global market leaders in bismuth vanadate pigments. In 2015, it plans to introduce a newly developed alkali-stable bismuth vanadate pigment for the formulation of paints as well as a temperature-stable bismuth vanadate pigment for plastic applications.