LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany - BASF is expanding its production capacity for about 20 specialty amines at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The company will invest a double-digit million-euro amount in expanding current production facilities, which are planned to go on-stream gradually by early 2017. The specialty amines are used for the manufacturing of coatings, lubricants, crop protection products and pharmaceuticals. With this investment, BASF strengthens its worldwide amine production network with plants in Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide, Germany; in Antwerp, Belgium; in Geismar, Louisiana; and in Nanjing, China.

“This investment will allow us to meet the growing demand that our European customers have for specialty amines,” said Stefan Blank, President, BASF Intermediates division.

In March and April 2014, BASF announced the construction of two new multiple-product plants for the manufacturing of specialty amines at the BASF Verbund sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Nanjing, China, where startup is planned for 2015.

With about 200 different amines, BASF has the world’s most diverse portfolio of this type of chemical intermediates.