BASF Opens New R&D Center For Engineering Plastics In South Korea

German chemical giant BASF S.E. said on Tuesday that it opened a new research and development (R&D) center in South Korea for engineering plastics that are widely used in automotive and consumer electronics, as part of an expansion in the Asian market, Yonhap news agency reported.

Photo Insert: The Engineering Plastics Innovation Center Korea, or EPIC Korea, combines its existing R&D team and the expertise of Solvay's polyamide business.

The Engineering Plastics Innovation Center Korea, or EPIC Korea, in Ansan, about 42 kilometers southwest of Seoul, combines its existing R&D team and the expertise of Solvay's polyamide business, which it recently acquired from the Belgian chemical firm, BASF said.

The new facility will carry out various tests on a wide range of polymers, including polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyoxymethylene (POM) -- synthetic plastics used in cars, e-mobility vehicles, printers, game consoles and smartwatches.

"The new facility is a clear signal of our commitment to support our customers in developing innovative solutions," Andy Postlethwaite, senior vice president of BASF's Performance Materials Asia Pacific, said in a press conference.

"We work with the likes of Samsung, we work with LG. We work with Hyundai on the development materials for the future to serve the needs of the Korean customer and Korean market," he said.

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