With a “single-digit million-euro” investment, BASF has improved the flexibility of its water-soluble polyacrylates plant at its Ludwigshafen, Germany, headquarters site and expanded capacity slightly. Details have not been provided.

The world’s largest chemical producer said the facility is now up and running and supplying customers in the household and commercial cleaning products, as well as in chemical and formulator industries.

"High-performance water-soluble polyacrylates and copolymers are an indispensable component of our customers' formulations. With this investment and our applications expertise, we are supporting our European customers in their efforts to boost their market growth with differentiated products," said Soeren Hildebrandt, senior vice president, Home Care, I&I and Industrial Formulators Europe.

BASF’s water-soluble polyacrylates and copolymers are marketed by its Care Chemicals operating division under the Sokalan brand name and have numerous applications in the household and commercial cleaning products industry for water softening and in various technical processes, for example to prevent fouling.

As dye transfer inhibitors, Sokalan branded products also protect fabrics from discoloration during washing. The narrow molecular weight distribution of the latest class of polyacrylates makes them highly effective as mineral dispersing agents, BASF said.