The new plant sees the expansion of PVP production reach the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, in particular China, to reflect the need for PVP-based products and growing consumer demands in the area.
BASF’s manufacturing facility will produce PVP K30 powder, a polymer used as a base for several applications in the cosmetics and technical industries.
“The new plant in Shanghai marks a key milestone for the transfer of global PVP production technology to Asia Pacific,” said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE.
Last year, BASF announced plans for international investments in its NVP (N-vinylpyrrolidone)/PVP value chain, totaling up to $70 mn. These plans include the extension of production capacities in Ludwigshafen, Germany and Geismar, Louisiana, US. The company chose Shanghai, China to introduce its technology to the growing market.
The BASF facility is complete with innovative and complex production facilities, including a high-quality control laboratory and considerable warehousing capacity for storage purposes.
“This successfully concludes the first step of our global multi-location investment into the NVP/PVP value chain,” said Saori Dubourg, President of BASF’s Nutrition & Health division.
With the aim of creating chemistry for a sustainable future at the forefront of everything they do, the new plant operates in compliance with local and international Good Manufacturing Practices that are now starting to increase in frequency in the APAC region.
The PVP manufacturing facility does, for example, comply with the EFfCI (European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients), a standard dedicated to the cosmetics industry that brings together the collective interests of European ingredient manufacturers and represents a significant part of the market.
PVP is typically used in a variety of applications, including the cosmetics industry due to its broad number of features. Not only is PVP effective in adhesive properties, it is easily soluble in water and solvents, temperature resistant and is non-irritating to the skin; ideal for use in the cosmetics and dominating skin care market.