In a move aimed at improving customer service and increasing its presence abroad, BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) has announced that it is opening two new PU System Houses, in Colombia and west China respectively.

The group says it expects its PU System House in Cartagena / Colombia, intended to serve the local market alongside that of Venezuela and Equador, to be fully operational by Q1 2011. “We expect the market for PU systems in the Andean region to grow in the coming decade by 6%,” said Anton Traunfellner, managing director of BASF Polyurethanes in South America. The group is eyeing growth in industries like appliance, transportation, construction and footwear.

The group’s new PU System House in west China is scheduled to begin service in 2012. Located in Chonqing, it will be fully integrated into the 400,000 t/y MDI plant BASF is planinng to build there, scheduled to go onstream in 2014 – see Plasteurope.com of 30.09.2009. The Chonqing establishment will be the group’s third in China, alongside the existing ones in Nansha and Shanghai – see Plasteurope.com of 02.06.2005. BASF hopes it will widen its foothold in growing markets like construction, appliance, transportation and footwear.