Market and product

BASF is adding a production line for Ultrason polyarylsulfone at its Yeosu, South Korea, facility, which will boost the chemical giant’s global annual capacity of the product to 24,000 metric tonnes.

The new line, with 6,000 metric tons of annual capacity, will start production at the end of 2017. BASF started the Yeosu facility in 2014.

“With this expansion we respond to global market growth. Our customers worldwide will benefit from BASF’s strong production set-up in two key regions,” said Raimar Jahn, president, performance materials, BASF.

In addition to Yeosu, BASF also produces the entire product range of Ultrason in Ludwigshafen, Germany, including polyethersulfone (Ultrason E), polysulfone (Ultrason S), and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason P).

“This investment strengthens our competitive position and increases our flexibility to provide all grades of Ultrason to our customers in Asia and worldwide,” said Kin Wah Chay, vice president, Global Business Management Specialty Plastics, BASF.

Ultrason is used in applications in the consumer, electronics, automotive and aerospace industries, such as heat-resistant, lightweight components in household appliances or fittings for drinking water pipes.

According to BASF, the market growth of polyarylsulfones is strongest for filtration membranes in technical and health care applications — especially in Asia’s emerging markets. - prw.com