- New packaging protects high molecular weight powder from oxidation
Now a new plastic film gives even better protection to Luvitec® high molecular weight powders from penetrating oxygen from the air. Luvitec® (polyvinylpyrrolidone, abbreviation: PVP) is an important component in the manufacture of specialty membranes and specialty adhesives. “With the new packaging, we can guarantee our customers even better and, in particular, consistent product quality. The membrane industry in particular is dependent on consistent product properties and purity,” explains Dr. Markus Lohscheidt, Global Business Management PVP at BASF.

The new film offers reliability
The new packaging made of ethylene vinyl alcohol plastics (abbreviation: EVOH) gives the high molecular weight PVP powders reliable protection from oxidation. The EVOH film has optimum sealing properties. It also has excellent chemical resistance, very good tensile strength, and is impermeable to gases and fluids. Thus, all the relevant product properties remain protected, not just now but for years to come. BASF guarantees a shelf life of up to three years for high molecular weight powders.

Highest product quality for sensitive membranes
Specialty membranes made of plastic materials are essential where gentle methods are required to clean or keep materials separate, in other words without using heat or chemicals. Ultrafiltration membranes, for example, keep drinking water free of bacteria and viruses. And they are used in dialysis to wash toxins out of human blood. By using Luvitec, thousands and thousands of tiny pores and channels are created in the membrane. They are essential for the separation process.

About Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
PVP is a product that has been a success story for a long time now. About 70 years ago the chemist Walter Reppe, working in a BASF laboratory in Ludwigshafen, used acetylene and pyrrolidone to produce a new monomer called vinylpyrrolidone, which in turn can be transformed into the polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone. Quickly it became clear that the BASF researcher had discovered a veritable all-rounder: PVP is soluble in water, but it can also absorb large quantities of water; it is non-irritant to the skin and does not pose a health hazard; it is temperature-resistant, pH-stable, non ionic and colorless. Due to these varied features PVP can be used for a wide range of applications. PVP is used in various BASF product lines, including Kollidon ® as a pharmaceutical excipient, Luviskol® as a component of hair gels and hair sprays, Sokalan® HP as detergent additive and Divergan® that is used in the filtration of beer and in the treatment of wine.

Further information about PVP can be found at:
www.luvitec.de
www.kollidon.de
www.cosmetics.basf.de
www.divergan.basf.de

BASF further develops its corporate strategy
- Adding value as one company BASF sets ambitious targets Sustainability and innovation as growth drivers Business expansion in emerging markets

Ludwigshafen – November 29, 2011 – BASF plans to strengthen its position as the world’s leading chemical company. In its further developed strategy “We create chemistry,” the company outlines how it wants to achieve this. The Chairman of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors Dr. Kurt Bock, Vice Chairman Dr. Martin Brudermüller and CFO Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel presented the details at a press conference today in Ludwigshafen.

Bock pointed out that the company had achieved its leading position thanks to its successful strategy in the past years: “We will build on this and make a significant contribution to meeting the needs of a growing world population.” BASF sees population growth as a crucial trend that brings on the one hand enormous global challenges, but on the other hand offers many additional opportunities, in particular for the chemical industry. In accordance with sustainable development, BASF will play a role with regard to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and improving people’s quality of life. “We have summarized what we do as a company in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future,” said Bock.

BASF targets profitable growth
The company has set itself ambitious goals. BASF forecasts that global chemical production will grow faster than global gross domestic product (GDP) through 2020. In this period, the company expects the global economy to grow by an average of 3 percent per year, and thus slightly faster than in the past 10 years, while chemical production is forecast to grow on average by 4 percent per year. BASF continues to aim to grow 2 percentage points above chemical production and thus increase sales by an average of 6 percent per year until 2020. Overall, BASF targets sales of approximately €115 billion and seeks to further increase profitability to achieve an EBITDA of €23 billion in 2020.

BASF adds value as one company
BASF supplies products and solutions to almost all industries. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas, classical chemical businesses and customized products to functionalized materials and solutions. “The scope of skills and know-how that we combine under one roof is what sets us apart from our competitors. These factors include our innovative strength, our broad technology basis, our operational excellence and our global access to relevant customer industries,” said Bock. “We add value as one company by combining these strengths.”

BASF’s unique Verbund system offers enormous competitive advantages. The company will further develop this sophisticated and profitable system, which extends from production and technology to customers. In addition, BASF will sharpen its focus on customer industries. Committed, well-trained employees ensure that the entire Verbund functions efficiently worldwide.

Innovations for a sustainable future
Innovations from the chemical industry nowadays rarely rely on the development of new chemicals. Instead, new materials and system solutions are created by combining know-how from a variety of disciplines. “Innovations of this kind require a broad portfolio, interdisciplinary cooperation and a deep understanding of our customers’ value chains. We therefore will continue to develop our portfolio in the direction of customer-focused businesses,” explained Brudermüller. In 2020, sales of €30 billion and an EBITDA of €7 billion are to be generated with products that have been on the market for less than 10 years.

Furthermore, sustainability is becoming one of the main drivers of growth and value creation. BASF’s customers want sustainable products and system solutions, and the company’s employees expect BASF to closely integrate sustainability into its day-to-day activities. “More sustainability can only be achieved through innovation – and that is where chemistry plays an essential role,” said Brudermüller. In the future, sustainability will therefore be more strongly integrated into business decisions.

Business expansion in emerging markets
BASF’s sales to customers in emerging markets have almost tripled in the past 10 years and accounted for approximately one-third of total sales (excluding Oil & Gas) in 2010. In 2020, the company expects current emerging markets to contribute 45 percent to sales. Investments will boost the company’s future growth. Between 2011 and 2020, BASF plans capital expenditures of €30 billion to €35 billion. More than one-third of this amount will be invested in emerging markets. “We already have leading positions and fast growing businesses in emerging markets, and this is something we will build on,” said Bock.

Solid and shareholder-oriented financial strategy
BASF’s financial strategy will continue to take account of the criteria needed to maintain its solid A rating. “This also includes our ambitious dividend policy and the possibility, in principle, of buying back shares,” said Engel. A new strategic excellence program, STEP, will also increase competitiveness and profitability. STEP is expected to contribute around €1 billion to earnings by the end of 2015.

About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109 ,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in its Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com