China Expansions: BASF invests EUR60 mn for second NVH plant; ECI Group opens new office

Germany-based BASF’s Cellasto brand, specialising in Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) components, is investing roughly EUR60 million to establish a second plant in Shanghai, China. This production expansion aims to capitalise on China’s booming electric vehicle market.

The new facility will feature advanced mould lines, resulting in a capacity increase of nearly 70%, with operations expected to start in 2027.

The company said it celebrated Cellasto’s 60^th anniversary four years ago, and the 10^th anniversary of its Shanghai plant. “This year, with the addition of a second plant, we are achieving another significant milestone. With our state-of-the-art facilities, we are eager to seize the opportunities presented by this dynamic market,” added Bjoern Kophstahl, Vice President of Cellasto.

“Cellasto has always delivered exceptional value to automotive manufacturers with the same passion for quality and efficiency. I am confident that this devotion will ensure a continued success with our customers in China in this vital automotive market,” commented Dr. Martin Jung, President of the Performance Materials Division, BASF.

“BASF has made substantial investments in China since entering the Chinese market 140 years ago. Today’s expansion is another strong testament to BASF’s commitment to staying close to the local market and our customers. As the leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, BASF strives to accelerate business growth in the automotive sector in China, by leveraging our local production network, strong innovation capabilities and deep market insights,” adds Dr. Jeffrey Lou, President/Chairman, China, BASF.

In other news, US/UK-headquartered technology licensor and engineering services provider for the polyolefins industry ECI Group recently opened its new office in Shanghai. It added that this expansion marks a significant milestone for the company as ECI Group continues to expand its licensing and service delivery capabilities.

China is ECI Group’s most important market. Recently, it also agreed a new license that takes its total licensed capacity in China to over 1 million tonnes of LDPE, EVA, EnBA and other high-value copolymer products since it launched its proprietary technology in 2021.

ECI Group’s new office, located at Building A, Mango Plaza, No. 27 Longai Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, will provide technology and engineering support services to local customers. ECI Group’s Consultancy Services division will also expand into the Shanghai office, providing specialist consultancy services to the polyolefins sector in China: delivering technology support and plant optimization services to help operators achieve their safety, profitability, and sustainability goals, the firm said.

Joaquin Flores, President/CEO of ECI Group, said, “Our new base in Shanghai will allow us to not only provide better support to our licensees in China, but also expand our consultancy services and Professional Technical Services offerings to other operating customers in the region.”

ECI Group comprises Engineers and Constructors International, Inc, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Simon Carves Engineering Ltd, headquartered in Manchester, UK, as well as the International Technical Excellence Centre (ITEC). With its history stretching back over 147 years to the formation of Simon Carves in 1878, ECI Group provides technology and engineering solutions for polyolefins around the world, offering proprietary technology solutions and multi-discipline engineering services that cover the full lifecycle of the project and the operating plant.

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