Expansions: BASF achieves mechanical completion for acrylics complex in China; Colorcon opens film coating plant in Malaysia

Germany’s BASF says it has reached a major construction milestone at the Zhanjiang site with the successful mechanical completion of the first batch of plants in the acrylics complex, including the glacial acrylic acid (GAA) and butyl acrylate (BA) plants. The acrylics complex is planned to come on stream by 2025, with production capacity of approximately 400,000 tonnes/year of BA.

This achievement marks a significant step toward the site’s scheduled start-up in 2025, further strengthening BASF's position as a global leader in the acrylics market, it adds. 

“The acrylics business has been a cornerstone of BASF Petrochemicals. With the completion of the new acrylics complex in Zhanjiang, we are further enhancing our production capacities along the acrylics value chain,” said Bir Darbar Mehta, Senior Vice President of Petrochemicals Asia Pacific at BASF. “These new world-scale production facilities will allow us to meet the fast-growing demand for acrylics in China and across Asia with a reliable supply of high-quality, competitive products and shorter lead times.”

Acrylic acid is an important precursor for the production of superabsorbent polymers. Butyl acrylate, an ester of acrylic acid, is widely used in the production of adhesives, architectural coatings, and industrial coatings.

In other news, US-based Colorcon, supplying film coating systems, specialty excipients, controlled release formulations and controlled atmosphere packaging for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, has opened a new film coating manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia.

The 200,000 sq-ft facility will immediately employ 30 people and will serve as the production hub for film coatings in the Asia Pacific region.

Designed with cutting-edge technology and energy-efficient systems, the new plant reinforces Colorcon’s dedication to industry innovation, superior quality, regulatory leadership and environmental stewardship, it adds.

Simon Tasker, CEO of Colorcon, said of the project: “We are thrilled to open this world-class facility to support our pharmaceutical customers throughout Asia. This investment is aligned with our long-term vision to strengthen and de-risk our supply model for film coatings worldwide. Our goal is to anticipate market growth, adding capacity to ensure we are always a step ahead of demand. This is just one of many development projects currently in our pipeline to support our credo of ‘we’re everywhere our customers need us to be.”

Willem Hoogwater, Managing Director at Colorcon, added: “This is a monumental achievement for the local team, and I commend everyone who has played a part in bringing this facility to completion. We’re proud to offer superior film coating technology and a world-class facility to this rapidly growing region. Malaysia has quickly become an important hub for high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing, and we’re proud to support the local economy with an investment like this. We look forward to serving our regional customers even more efficiently for many years to come as a result.”

Since 1961, Colorcon has been a leader in film coating technology and this is its seventh manufacturing plant worldwide. The launch of Opadry in 1980 marked a turning point for the pharmaceutical industry—introducing the world’s first complete film coating system and revolutionising tablet coating by simplifying processes, improving batch uniformity and minimising error. Since then, Opadry has evolved into a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance film coatings that address a wide range of formulation and manufacturing challenges—from taste-masking and moisture protection to improved swallowability and regulatory compliance.

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