BASF begins production at German intermediate plant
Amines are chiral intermediates used as building blocks for the production of pharmaceuticals, as well as having functions in the construction, automotive, and crop protection industries.
BASF’s new facility in Ludwigshafen, Germany, commissioned in April 2014, has begun production and is set to make around 12,000 metric tons per year of 15 different amines from the chemical firm’s portfolio.
Spokesman Klaus-Peter Rieser would not disclose how much capacity would be dedicated to pharma companies, but told in-Pharmatechnologist.com the firm is seeing growth for amine intermediates in the industry.
“BASF expects a CAGR of 5% for specialty amines in strategically relevant markets 2015–2020,” he said.
The firm manufactures around 200 different amines from under its ChiPros brand and says it supplies the world’s most extensive portfolio of such products.
Rieser confirmed this, saying “BASF holds a globally leading position with specialty amines generally, [and] plans to further support the growth of its customers in the pharmaceutical industry globally.”
The site will supply predominantly European demand.
“With the new plant, we are responding to our customers’ growing demand for specialty amines, particularly in Europe,” said Stefan Blank, President of BASF’s Intermediates division.
“We have decades of experience in developing and manufacturing amines and with the current expansion we are extending our global leadership in these versatile intermediates.”
Other BASF amine-making facilities are located in Schwarzheide in Germany, Antwerp, Belgium, Geismar, North America, and Nanjing, China.
