Expansions: BASF launches new auto OEM coatings plant in Germany; Mitsubishi Gas completes Thai plant for electronic materials

German firm BASF Coatings has successfully commissioned a production plant for automotive OEM coatings at its Muenster site in Germany. The new facility is designed to produce high-runner products, namely colours that currently represent the majority of market demand, and ensure consistent product quality and enhanced production efficiency.

The investment marks a strategic milestone for BASF Coatings, reinforcing its long-term competitiveness in the high-volume coatings segment. The facility’s advanced automation enables more sustainable operations, while enhancing process stability and reliability.

The new plant is one of the most transformative investments of BASF Coatings in the past five years. From the initial conceptual studies in 2019, through two and a half years of construction, to the start of regular production today, this project has been shaped by the deep expertise of BASF Coatings teams.

“Our innovative strength and continuous drive for improvement make us a successful industry player – and more importantly, a valued partner to our customers,” emphasised Uta Holzenkamp, President of BASF Coatings.

The new plant is designed to optimise energy consumption, thereby reducing CO2 emissions, marking another important step in BASF Coatings’ sustainability journey. 

Since 2022, the Muenster site has been powered entirely by renewable wind energy, saving approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Muenster joins other BASF Coatings sites across Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America that operate on 100% renewable electricity.

In other news, Japan’s Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company has announced the completion of construction of the new plant expansion at MGC Electrotechno (Thailand) Co, located in WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong Province, a subsidiary of MGC Electrotechno Co, dedicated to manufacturing BT materials for semiconductor packages.

 The semiconductor market, which MGC's BT materials serve, is poised for medium to long-term growth. The proliferation of advanced communication technologies such as 5G and 6G, the expansion of digital transformation (DX), IoT applications, automotive innovations, and the rapid evolution and implementation of AI related technologies, including generative AI, are expected to drive demand for high-performance semiconductors and the essential BT materials that support them.

Furthermore, semiconductors have become integral to the national strategies of various countries that emphasise the need for stable and diversified supply chains as a critical challenge, it adds.

 To meet these growing demands and address these challenges, ETT has constructed an additional plant, doubling its production capacity. This significant capacity expansion will help strengthen competitive advantages for capturing new business opportunities, it says.

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