BASF Starts Up Specialty Amines Plant

BASF started up a world-scale plant for the production of specialty amines in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the company announced in a Nov. 5, 2015 press release. The multi-product plant can manufacture approximately 12,000 metric tons per year of a product range of about 15 amines for different applications, including pharmaceuticals. With the new facility, BASF expands its global production network for amines with plants in Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide in Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Geismar, North America; and Nanjing, China.

“With the new plant, we are responding to our customers’ growing demand for specialty amines, particularly in Europe,” said Stefan Blank, president, BASF Intermediates division.

The flexible plant can also be used for the production of new specialty amines. BASF offers approximately 200 different amines. In addition to alkylamines, alkanolamines, and alkoxyalkylamines, the company also offers heterocyclic and aromatic amines as well as specialty amines. The range is completed by an expanding portfolio of chiral amines with high optical and chemical purity.