BASF Shanghai Plant Produces Emissions Control Catalysts   

By Tanya Tian    
BASF said on March 29th catalysts produced at a BASF plant in Shanghai have removed more than 18 million tons of pollutants from China's air and water since 2000.
   The BASF Shanghai Mobile Emissions Catalysts facility, celebrating its tenth anniversary, has now produced its ten millionth catalysts.
   BASF's Shanghai manufacturing site began commercial production of mobile emissions catalysts in 2000. Since that time, three significant capacity expansion projects have been completed to keep pace with growing regional demand. Over the years, BASF's Asia Pacific headquarters for Mobile Emissions Catalysts was relocated to the site, and state-of-the art research and development (R & D) capabilities were also added to develop solutions that meet China's tightening emission control regulations. Stage IV regulations will be phased-in beginning in 2010 for light duty and heavy duty vehicles in China, while Stage III regulations for motorcycles are scheduled to be implemented this year.
   Regional production for trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles continues to experience dramatic growth, increasing the need for a range of high-quality emissions control solutions in China, and throughout Asia.
   "We continue to meet market demand for high-quality solutions that can satisfy both current and future regulatory requirements," said Lothar Laupichler, Business Director, BASF Mobile Emissions Catalysts, Asia Pacific. "We have invested more than Euro 50 million in our Shanghai operations over the past ten years, and we will continue to expand our manufacturing capacity to meet our customer's needs for many years to come."