Without disclosing the price tag, BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) has announced a 70,000 t/y expansion of its engineering thermoplastics compounding capacity at its plant in Schwarzheide / Germany. The additional output of “Ultramid” PA and “Ultradur” PBT compounds is due to come on stream “presumably in 2017”, the company said, adding that the expansion will result in the creation of another 50 jobs. Ultramid and Ultradur are used in the automotive, E&E as well as the construction and furniture industries.

This is the latest in a series of recent upgrades in the Ultramid and Ultradur portfolio, following a doubling of output at BASF’s plant in Shanghai / China (see Plasteurope.com of 24.06.2014) and the start-up of a new plant in Yesan / South Korea in October this year (see Plasteurope.com of 30.10.2015). The German chemicals giant said the expansion in Schwarzheide will bring its total global compounding capacity to more than 700,000 t/y.

The TDI line operated by BASF at Schwarzheide is currently in the process of being mothballed, following the start-up of a new facility at group headquarters (see Plasteurope.com of 18.11.2015).