BASF Coatings opens an Application Center for the automotive industry in India

* Strengthens BASF’s commitment to customer service in the Indian growth market
* BASF offers environmentally friendly products and coatings processes


Münster/Mangalore. BASF today (October 26, 2006) opened a new application center in Mangalore for the development of automotive OEM coatings and to provide customer support to the Indian automotive market segment.

“This state-of-the-art center allows us to work very closely with our automotive customers in India and provide them with tailor-made solutions,” said Dr. D. Ramkumar, Chief Executive of BASF Coatings in India. “It will help us to significantly strengthen our offerings to an automotive market that is growing strongly,” Ramkumar added.

The new application center which was inaugurated by Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF Aktiengesellschaft, offer the state-of-the-art testing facilities such as conveyorized, advanced electrostatic bell applicators. It also allows simulation of the conditions of any paint booth. The world-class equipment puts BASF in an excellent position to increase its offerings to customers and expand its market share in Indian the growth market.

“BASF Coatings is well positioned in both Asia-Pacific and in India and has ambitious goals for all of its three coatings business units: Automotive OEM Coatings, Automotive Refinish and Coil Coatings. Our investment underscores our commitment to our customers in this important market,” said Kreimeyer.

The supply of coatings technologies with a strong economic and ecological performance plays an increasingly important role in India. BASF is very experienced in these technologies and is ready to offer a new generation of automotive coatings as well as economically and ecologically advanced integrated coatings processes to automotive manufacturers in the region. The application center will demonstrate these technologies to its customers at the laboratory scale.

Prasad Chandran, Chairman of the BASF Group in India said: “The automotive sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. BASF in India, with its global network and exchange of experience, is a committed partner in this growth. The Coatings Application Center is a further step in achieving supporting our strategic guideline of helping our customers to be more successful.”

BASF Coatings (India) Pvt. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF Aktiengesellschaft.

BASF : A major international player in coatings

BASF Coatings AG belongs to the global Coatings Division of the BASF Group. In 2005 the Coatings Division achieved world sales of about 2,2 billion euros. The Coatings Division develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints, and also the processes needed to apply them. In this business, eco-efficient water-based, powder and high-solids coatings as well as radiation-curable systems play a special part. In Brazil, the company has been successful in the decorative paints market for years and holds the leading position. BASF has a major, global presence in the Coatings sector, with significant market positions in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia/Pacific region, for example with affiliates in Australia, China, India, Japan, and the Philippines. The internet address of BASF Coatings is www.basf-coatings.com

BASF Automotive Solutions. Performance Passion Success

BASF – The Chemical Company – is a leading-edge source of intelligent sustainable solutions to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers worldwide. With a full portfolio of technologies that include coatings, catalysts, engineering thermoplastics, polyurethanes, pigments and colorants, coolants and brake fluids for a broad array of exterior, interior, chassis and under-the-hood applications, BASF – The Chemical Company - develops and delivers the innovations that help the automotive industry improve the quality, appearance, safety, cost competitiveness, performance, comfort, fuel efficiency, sustainability. Website: www.automotive.basf.com

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Dr. Michael Golek

BASF

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