BASF to expand Thai mobile emissions catalysts

BASF is investing to expand its regional production capacity and enhance its local manufacturing capabilities for mobile emissions catalysts in Rayong, Thailand, the company announced on Tuesday.

BASF says it is planning to construct a new 35,000-square-meter facility to replace its existing plant in Rayong, providing increased operating space and upgraded manufacturing capabilities comparable to BASF’s other automotive catalysts manufacturing sites around the world. 

Investment terms were not disclosed.

The existing plant opened in 2001, and growing demand from tightening emissions regulations has driven the need for a larger facility with the latest equipment to provide state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities.

Upon completion of the expansion project in the second quarter of 2017, the new site will house a total of four production lines for both light duty and motorcycle emissions catalysts, helping customers meet increasingly stringent regional emissions regulations.

“Through this investment, BASF is further strengthening its emissions catalysts production capabilities to meet our automotive customers’ emerging technology needs in Thailand and throughout the ASEAN market,” said Michael Baier, BASF’s vice president for the mobile emissions catalysts business in the Asia-Pacific region. 

“Our expansion to a larger and more advanced production site will allow us to improve our operating efficiency as we provide industry-leading emissions control solutions for cleaner air," he added.

Among the core technologies that will be manufactured at the expanded BASF operating site in Rayong include: