Germany-based chemical maker BASF is building a compounding plant for engineering plastics Ultramid (polyamide) and Ultradur (polybutylene terephthalate, PBT) compounds in Yesan, Chung Nam Province, South Korea. The new plant is expected to begin construction by first half of 2014 and operations from the end of 2015, and will create more than 30 new jobs.

With an initial annual capacity of 36,000 tonnes, the new plant will more than double the total compounding capacity of BASF’s engineering plastics in Korea. With this project and the capacity expansion of BASF´s compounding plant in Pudong/Shanghai (China), which has already been announced, BASF’s overall compounding capacities in Asia will increase from the current 130,000 to a total of 225,000 tonnes.

“As the leading producer and preferred business partner of engineering plastics, we continuously strengthen our position in the key markets. Our investment in Yesan is a milestone in Korea and is indicative of the success that we have had in this market. By expanding our presence in optimal locations within the country, such as Yesan, we will be able to further our collaboration with and strengthen our supply position to customers in Korea,” said Raimar Jahn, President, Performance Materials, BASF.

The Yesan plant is expected to cater to the demand for engineering plastics for the automotive and electrical & electronic industries in South Korea.

BASF already has a compounding plant in Ansan, South Korea and similar to this plant and the other Asian locations, the new plant in Yesan will produce Ultramid and Ultradur compounds. Ultramid and Ultradur are used, for example, in automotive parts as well as the electrical and electronics industry. Some innovative applications include seat structures, oil sump modules, sensors, engine mounts, connectors and highly integrated laser-structured electronic devices.