BASF has entered into a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Dong-Il CNE to develop lightweight utility poles and oil and gas pipes, as well as other advanced infrastructure products, using the German group’s Elastolit polyurethane (PU).

Dong-Il CNE’s president, Young-Ki Choi, said the collaboration will create new applications to address the challenges to Asia’s urban infrastructure that have resulted from the region’s rising population.

The partnership’s initial project will produce utility poles. “Our ultra-light utility poles will help provide uninterrupted electricity to cities across Asia, especially in areas that are prone to severe weather conditions, such as Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Australia,” said Andy Postlethwaite, BASF’s senior vice president, performance materials Asia Pacific.

BASF said the poles, which weigh less but are more durable and resilient than those made from concrete, can withstand severe weather conditions such as typhoons and can be optimized for specific conditions.

The companies will explore other PU applications to meet growing demand for stronger, lighter composite products used in the building and infrastructure industries. In addition, they will examine several new technologies, including PU pultrusion, PU with carbon fiber filament winding, and oil and gas pipes with a PU filament winding process.

“We are delighted to partner with Dong-Il CNE to identify new opportunities and tap into the global composites market, which is estimated to reach almost $40 billion by 2021,” Postlethwaite said.

Headquartered in Hwaseong, Dong-Il CNE provides systems and equipment for preventing environmental pollution, and manufactures high-performance composite products, such as pipes, which are used in a variety of industries. The company was formerly known as Gilgwang Greentech and changed its name to Dong-Il CNE in 2014.