Expansions: Chemetall opens application laboratory in Vietnam; BASF to open global service hub in India

Chemetall, the surface treatment global business unit of Germany-based BASF Coatings, has opened its first application laboratory in the southern province of Tây Ninh (formerly Long An), near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The facility provides product testing and technical support to surface treatment customers across diverse market segments such as automotive OEM and components, general industry, and plastics recycling.

"Speed is a key competitive advantage in Southeast Asia’s fast-changing market. By investing in local technical capabilities, we add value for our customers and are strategically positioned to address the increasing complexity and evolving needs of strong growth markets like Vietnam with greater speed and agility. Chemetall is committed to delivering innovative surface treatment technologies and providing expert technical services to support our customers’ success in this dynamic region,” said Evelyn Shen, Vice President, Chemetall Asia Pacific.

The new laboratory is equipped to conduct liquid sample analytics, panel and workpiece analytics, and application testing for surface treatment technical trials. Its capabilities streamline the testing and performance validation processes, ensuring that surface treatments applied to materials meet rigorous customer specifications and perform effectively in real-world applications.

"With our advanced technical capabilities and expertise closer to our customers and partners, we enhance collaboration, shorten trial-to-result turnaround time, and provide efficient local support to solve our customers’ technical challenges,” added Mike He, Regional Manager, Application Technologies, Chemetall Asia Pacific.

The launch of the new application laboratory in Vietnam further extends Chemetall’s regional footprint, bringing the total number of application laboratories in Asia Pacific to eight, including operations in Australia, China, India, Singapore and Thailand.

Meanwhile in related news, BASF’s Global Business Services, the global service organisation of BASF, is set to open a new Global Service Hub in Hyderabad, India, in the second quarter of 2026.

The new hub will operate from India under “BASF Global Business Services Private Limited,” strengthening BASF’s global service delivery network and underscoring BASF’s long-term commitment to India as a strategic location for integrated Finance and HR services, it added.

Hyderabad was selected following a structured evaluation process, including on‑site assessments of multiple locations.

“With the opening of our Global Service Hub in Hyderabad, we are creating a strong foundation for the future of Global Business Services,” said Tobias Dratt, President of Global Business Services at BASF. “Hyderabad offers the right ecosystem and talent base to support scalable, high-quality services for BASF’s businesses worldwide.”

Through the Global Service Hub, BASF’s Global Business Services will progressively build up its operations in Hyderabad over the coming years. Recruitment will ramp up in a phased and sustainable manner, with a strong focus on attracting highly skilled talent and fostering diverse teams.

The new Global Service Hub in Hyderabad will further strengthen the global business service delivery alongside BASF’s existing Hubs in Berlin (Germany), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and Montevideo (Uruguay).

Global Business Services delivers business services to BASF worldwide. It supports the company’s Business Units across key enabling functions such as Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, EHSQ (Environment, Health, Safety, Quality), Regulatory, IP (Intellectual Property), Real Estate Management and Inhouse Consulting – helping BASF operate efficiently and consistently across regions. With a strong focus on service excellence, digital enablement, and process harmonization, Global Business Services plays a key role in supporting BASF’s transformation and long-term competitiveness, while offering an engaging work environment aligned with the company’s culture and global standards.

Earlier this year, BASF also announced the opening of a Global Digital Hub in Hyderabad.

“The establishment of both Global Hubs in Hyderabad marks a significant milestone and opens a new chapter in BASF’s long‑standing presence in India. Building on our strong manufacturing and research and development footprint, this step directly supports our ‘Winning Ways’ strategy and strengthens our global capabilities. With both our Global Business Services and Global Digital Services operating in Hyderabad, we’ll be able to harness shared strengths and collaboration opportunities, further reinforcing the city’s growing strategic importance within BASF’s global network,” said Alexander Gerding, Managing Director, BASF India Limited & Head – BASF Group Companies in India.

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