BASF: New production line for aqueous dispersions in the Netherlands
BASF recently officially opened its new production line for aqueous dispersions in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. Thanks to this new plant, production capacity will be increased without additional CO2 emissions.
The expansion of the production line at BASF was based on the existing infrastructure and buildings. The plant is electrically powered and supplied with green electricity from the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, which BASF operates in a joint venture with Vattenfall and Allianz. "I am proud that we have achieved this expansion without additional CO2 emissions. Our site will become CO2-neutral and contribute to BASF's climate protection goals. At the same time, we want to continue to grow in order to serve our customers with products that have a low environmental footprint," says Sjoerd Visser, Site Manager of BASF's Heerenveen site.
From plastic to paper and from solvents to water
The coatings, printing and packaging market, which BASF serves with its products, is undergoing profound change. There is increasing consumer demand for sustainable solutions. Sjoerd Visser adds: "The expansion will allow us to grow with strategically important products to enable a shift in the value chain from plastic to paper-based packaging, and with our water-based products to give them a functional property such as barrier properties. In addition, we will have the opportunity to increase the share of bio-based products in our portfolio in the printing and packaging industry as well as in the coatings market."
Water-based dispersions
The new plant will significantly increase production capacity for products such as Joncryl and Acronal Pro. Joncryl, a water-based (and therefore environmentally and food-safe) polymer product, is used in sustainable printing inks for food packaging. The color lasts longer and is less harmful to the environment. Acronal Pro's water-based polymers offer high-quality and durable solutions for optimizing the color and gloss of inks and coatings. The Heerenveen site is ideally suited for this investment thanks to its existing infrastructure and know-how. Sjoerd Visser concludes: "These are difficult times for our industry in Europe as we face the challenges of climate neutrality, the circular economy, digitalization and the implementation of the EU strategy for sustainability in chemistry. With our innovation team here in Heerenveen, we are committed to tackling these issues. We want to remain an important player in Europe for our customers."