BASF has started production at its state-of-the-art Superabsorbents Excellence Center, situated within its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. This substantial €25 million investment underscores the company’s dedicated focus on the hygiene business as an important part of its acrylics value chain.
To increase innovation capabilities for its superabsorbent polymer business and to accelerate the scale-up process from product development to production scale, the new pilot plant is equipped with the latest data collection and sensor technology.
Through the integration of digitalization and advanced modeling, the applied technology will be key to further increase product performance. Combined with the proximity to BASF’s superabsorbent production in Antwerp, the state-of-the-art processes in the new pilot plant will significantly reduce time-to-market.
The pilot plant is also a strong commitment to BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp. The Flemish government recognized the innovative character of the Excellence center and has granted a funding of €1.4 million to the development of this new process technology platform.
“This investment in a Superabsorbents Excellence Center in Antwerp highlights our commitment to innovation for the hygiene industry. With the pilot plant we want to provide new impulses to our customers and strengthen our leading role in the global Superabsorbents market,” commented Marco Altmayer, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Business Development Petrochemicals, during the inauguration of the Superabsorbents Excellence Center.
