BASF and SAIB join forces to develop a light wood-based material using Kaurit® Light technology

* Joint development of a particle board that is at least 20% lighter
* Market launch of the new product is planned for 2011
* Presentation of the lightweight material at the SICAM trade fair in Italy



Ludwigshafen, Germany and Caorso (PC), Italy – At SICAM, which will run in Pordenone, Italy, between October 20 and 23, 2010, BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, and SAIB, one of Italy’s biggest derived timber manufacturers, will present their joint project to develop a lightweight particle board. The new wood-based material, based on the Kaurit ® Light system, will be at least 20% lighter than conventional particle board. The product, which is being presented at SAIB as “Light”, will be launched in 2011.



“Thanks to our strategic partnership with BASF, we’re developing exciting new possibilities in industrial furniture production. At the same time, we’re satisfying furniture manufacturers’ requirements for a new, lighter material,” says Adriana Conti, Managing Director of SAIB S.p.A. “The lightweight panel fulfills all regulations for particle boards and can be used as a conventional board”, explains Wolfgang Gutting, Vice President, Glues and Impregnating Resins at BASF. In addition to the new Light raw particle board, SAIB also has plans to produce water-resistant V100 panels.



Particle board made with Kaurit Light technology consists of wood chips, a polymer (Kaurit ® Light) and a bonding agent (Kaurit ® glue). Before being added to the wood chips, Kaurit ® Light is foamed in a so-called pre-foamer. The rest of the manufacturing process is identical to that of conventional particle board. The usual machines and materials can also be used for further processing.



For more information about the new, lightweight material, visit the SAIB stand (A39) in Hall 6 at SICAM in Pordenone. SICAM is the international trade fair for components, technical products and accessories for the furniture industry.



About SAIB S.p.A.



SAIB is one of Italy’s leading manufacturers of particle board. The company’s core business is in producing raw and melamine-coated carrier particle board. Whether it’s for kitchen furniture or cupboards, or to furnish offices or homes, a large number of furniture brands around the globe use particle board from SAIB. Thanks to continuous product innovations, new decors and finishes, SAIB has become a strategic partner of Italian furniture manufacturers who set trends the world over. For more information about SAIB, please visit www.saib.it.



About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.