Page 164 - CW E-Magazine (24-10-2023)

News from Abroad

WHITE BIOTECHNOLOGY

BASF plans new fermentation plant for crop protection

products in Germany

BASF said it will invest a “high
double-digit million euro amount” in a
new fermentation plant for biological
and biotechnology-based crop protec-
tion products at its Ludwigshafen site
in Germany. The plant will manufac-
ture products including biological fun-
gicides and biological seed treatment.
BASF also plans to utilise the plant
to produce the main building block of
Inscalis, an insecticide derived from
a fungal strain. Commissioning is
planned for the second half of 2025.

The plant will use microorganisms
to convert renewable raw materials
such as glucose into the desired pro- addition, fermentation is a very flexible “For production at our Ludwigshafen
ducts via fermentation. technology that will allow us to bring site, this development is another step in
more innovative biotechnology-derived the transition to innovative manufactur-
“We see a growing demand for products to the market in the future,” ing processes with lower energy inten-
biological crop protection products. commented Mr. Marko Grozdanovic, sity based on renewable raw materials,”
This investment is an important step Senior Vice President, Global Strategic add Mr. Christian Aucoin, Senior Vice
in building an even stronger and more Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solu- President, Global Operations at BASF
competitive portfolio in this area. In tions. Agricultural Solutions.
MILESTONE

Wacker completes 30 years in China

German chemicals group, Wacker, also announced the expansion of several
recently organised a grand ceremony in new production lines for manufacturing
Shanghai to celebrate the 30th anniver- functional silicone fluids, silicone
sary of its subsidiary in China. emulsions and silicone elastomer gels
at its Zhangjiagang site. “This is our
Wacker, which opened its first office largest single investment since the site
in China in 1993, today operates an went into operation,” Mr Hartel said.
extensive network of production sites, “Over the past 30 years, we invested
R&D and service centres. In 2022, it nearly €1-bn in production, in customer
generated around €2.5-bn in China, range of development opportunities and technical service and in research in
which corresponds to approximately which we at Wacker intend to leverage China.”
30% of Group sales. continuously,” he noted.
Today, Wacker China has over
Speaking at the event, Wacker’s In May this year, Wacker ramped 1,700 employees and operates four pro-
CEO, Mr. Christian Hartel emphasised up new production facilities for disper- duction sites, three technical centres,
the importance of the region for the sions and dispersible polymer powders eight sales offices and a Wacker Aca-
company. “The country offers a wide in Nanjing. In September, the Group demy for training purposes.

164 Chemical Weekly October 24, 2023

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