On April 6, 2011, BASF opened its new Polyurethane (PU) Solutions System House in Dubai with an official ceremony. About 150 guests from business, government, customers and neighbors alike joined the event at the just recently completed BASF site in Dubai Industrial City (DIC). Wayne T. Smith, President BASF Polyurethanes, stated: "This investment further emphasizes the significance of this region for BASF and demonstrates that we are prepared to accompany our customers' growth in all regions of the world and desire to be their preferred partner of choice.
In Dubai, we will strengthen existing customer relationships and implement our proven worldwide strategy of locally operated, customer-oriented System Houses. This step once again shows that we are continuously expanding our leading position in the polyurethane market." BASF's global network of 38 System Houses, together with its production sites for the main precursors and basic products, makes BASF the only polyurethane manufacturer who can reliably provide its customers around the globe with locally manufactured products.
BASF’s new Polyurethane Solutions System House will develop, serve.
BASF strengthened its business with polyurethane customers in the Gulf region in 2008 by setting up joint-venture companies together with Kanoo in the UAE which has acquired the local polyurethane business of Multi Chemical Est. in Abu Dhabi 2008. Mishal Hamed Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of The Kanoo Group, stated: "We are committed to continue our cooperation with BASF in the polyurethane segment and we are proud of the realization of this new System House as integral part of a joint growth strategy in the Gulf region." The Kanoo Group has been a joint-venture partner of BASF in the United Arab Emirates since 1970.
Dr. Uwe Hartwig, Senior Vice President BASF Polyurethanes Europe, said: "With this new System House we have created best conditions for further success in the rapidly growing market for polyurethane applications in the Arabian Peninsula. Like all our System Houses, Dubai will not only have local sales and production units, but it will also provide customers with fast, competent and comprehensive technical services." Hartwig stressed the importance of the new site for BASF's overall service-oriented System House concept in the field of polyurethanes. BASF just recently has opened a new System House in Srem, Poland, and announced to build another two in Chongqing and Tianjing, China.
BASF's new Polyurethane Solutions System House will develop, serve and manufacture innovative PU systems for a wide range of industries. The new facility occupies 2.8 hectares of land in the chemical business zone of Dubai Industrial City, which has a logistically strategic location between growing industrial areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The System House itself is utilizing a high share of BASF building materials and construction know-how. The building was constructed using the latest generation of PU sandwich elements in the facade, PU insulation boards in the roof and several products supplied from other BASF business units. It hosts besides latest technology production units, high-rack storage facility and a technical development and training center.
Already today, BASF is a market-leader in Polyurethane Solutions in the Gulf region. In the market segments construction and insulation especially, BASF sees strong potential for applications using high-quality specialty plastic material polyurethane to expand further in the future. Sandwich elements, insulating boards and spray foam are ideal products for energy-efficient and uncomplicated constructions. "Polyurethane and Polyurea Systems will further complement and strengthen BASF's strong local position in construction materials such as flooring applications," said Dr. Joerg Schneider, Managing Director of the Polyurethane System House. Further developing and increasingly important industries in the Gulf region such as oil and gas, footwear, appliances and electronics, transportation, sports and leisure and furniture will be served by the local BASF PU team.
At the opening ceremony in Dubai a special exhibition of selected polyurethane products gave guests an impression of the broad product and service portfolio, as well as the diversity of PU applications. Also included were the aspects of environmental protection and occupational safety on the site. Local experts were on hand to answer questions on individual areas of interest.