BASF Coatings has officially launched a new Application and Technical Center in Jiangmen, China, to drive innovation, testing, and development of waterborne automotive coatings. The facility is part of BASF’s plan to strengthen its R&D capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, which is the world’s largest automotive market.
The Jiangmen center will enhance BASF’s ability to provide customized solutions for automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and refinish coating customers. The focus will be on producing waterborne coatings that are sustainable, fast-drying, and durable — essential qualities for the automotive refinish sector.
Key Features of the Center
The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with advanced technologies for:
– Application Testing: Coatings can be tested on actual car body panels to ensure performance consistency in real-world conditions.
– Process Evaluation: The facility can simulate the entire coating process used by automotive manufacturers, allowing for optimization of efficiency and cost.
– Competitor Benchmarking: BASF can compare its products to competitors’ coatings, ensuring that its products remain superior in terms of performance, cost, and sustainability.
Focus on Waterborne Coatings
Waterborne coatings, which reduce the use of solvents and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have become a priority for automotive manufacturers due to growing environmental regulations. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea have imposed stricter rules on emissions, forcing manufacturers to adopt greener production processes. BASF’s Jiangmen center aims to spearhead the development of these waterborne coatings to support automakers’ sustainability goals.
Driving Growth in Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific accounts for more than 40% of the global automotive market, with China being a key player. The establishment of BASF’s technical center in Jiangmen positions the company closer to its largest customer base, enabling faster development cycles and direct collaboration with automotive OEMs.
“Asia is at the heart of our growth strategy,” said a BASF executive. “By localizing R&D and application testing, we can provide faster service to our customers and co-develop products that meet specific regional needs.”
Industry Significance
The opening of the Jiangmen center aligns with BASF’s broader strategy of focusing on sustainability, regionalization, and technical excellence. BASF’s decision to invest in a local testing hub reflects the company’s belief in China’s long-term growth potential as the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles (EVs) and a hub for global automotive production.