BASF Unveils Advanced Facility in Ludwigshafen to Drive Catalyst Innovation

Mit dem neuen Forschungstechnikum für Katalysatorentwicklung und Feststoffverfahrenstechnik in Ludwigshafen wird BASF Chemiekatalysatoren im Pilotmaßstab herstellen und damit seinen Kunden weltweit in Zukunft schneller innovative Technologien anbieten. Zudem werden dort neue Verfahren und Prozesse für die Verarbeitung und Herstellung von Feststoffen entwickelt.
Das Bild zeigt eine Anlage zur Herstellung von Feststoffen.
Foto: BASF SE
With its new Catalyst Development and Solids Processing Center in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF will serve as a hub for pilot-scale synthesis of chemical catalysts, enabling the company to offer its global customers faster access to innovative technologies. This pilot plant will also be of central importances for the development of new solids processing technologies.
The picture shows a reactor for the synthesis of solids.
Photo: BASF SE

(IN BRIEF) BASF inaugurated a new Catalyst Development and Solids Processing Center in Ludwigshafen, Germany, on December 12, 2024. The facility is purpose-built to accelerate the pilot-scale production of chemical catalysts and drive innovation in solids processing technologies. By incorporating advanced process equipment and state-of-the-art safety features, the center is set to enhance BASF’s research and development capabilities and meet global market demands more efficiently. High-level executives, including Dr. Helmut Winterling and Dr. Detlef Ruff, highlighted that the new center is a strategic investment aimed at fast-tracking the green transformation through reduced energy consumption, lower raw material use, and diminished carbon footprints. With a significant high double-digit million-euro investment, the new facility marks a major upgrade from its predecessor, ensuring BASF’s leading position in catalyst innovation and sustainable chemical processes.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUDWIGSHAFEN, 14-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — BASF SE (ETR: BAS), the world’s largest chemical producer, has officially inaugurated its state-of-the-art Catalyst Development and Solids Processing Center in Ludwigshafen, Germany, on December 12, 2024, marking a significant expansion of its global catalyst development initiatives. This cutting-edge research facility is designed as a pilot-scale hub for synthesizing chemical catalysts, thereby enabling BASF to deliver innovative technological solutions to its global clientele with unprecedented speed. Additionally, the new center will play a pivotal role in advancing novel solids processing technologies.

“With the integration of advanced process equipment, our new Center empowers us to accelerate the focused development of breakthrough catalyst and process technologies—capabilities that are vital for driving the green transformation,” explained Dr. Helmut Winterling, President Group Research at BASF. “This investment not only fortifies our research and development activities at Ludwigshafen but also secures a promising future for our innovation efforts.”

Catalysts are indispensable in industrial chemistry, as they are involved in the production process of more than 80 percent of chemical products. Their use reduces energy consumption and minimizes unwanted by-products, which in turn lowers raw material usage and decreases the carbon footprint of manufactured goods. Employed across diverse sectors such as chemical and petrochemical industries, as well as in cutting-edge processes essential for environmental sustainability, catalysts are central both to BASF’s own production and to the tailored solutions it provides to customers worldwide.

At this new Center, BASF is set to further develop and refine process technologies and catalytic processes. “The technical capabilities of this modern facility will not only boost our innovative potential but also enhance our competitive edge in a global marketplace,” stated Dr. Detlef Ruff, Senior Vice President Process Catalysts at BASF. “By transitioning laboratory-developed catalysts to production scale in this facility, we can offer our customers high-quality pilot samples of new catalysts. This flexibility allows us to respond more swiftly to market demands and deliver advanced technological solutions faster—an essential factor in the successful launch of new products.”

Constructed over a three-year period to replace an outdated facility, the new building incorporates state-of-the-art safety systems and is equipped with the latest technologies to support robust R&D activities. Reflecting BASF’s commitment to innovation, the project involved a high double-digit million-euro investment, underscoring the company’s dedication to maintaining a leading-edge research and development footprint in Ludwigshafen.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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SOURCE: BASF SE