BASF’s Coatings division has opened a new automotive coatings manufacturing facility, also its first in ASEAN region, at Bangpoo in Samutprakarn province, Thailand. The new plant will produce solventborne and waterborne automotive coatings to meet growing market demand in the region.

Dirk Bremm, President of BASF’s Coatings division, said, “BASF is a trusted partner of all major automotive manufacturers around the world, with a broad competence in all coating layers. The inauguration of the new plant demonstrates our commitment to meeting customer expectations for advanced coating technologies and products in ASEAN, for ASEAN.” 

According to a November 2017 LMC Automotive Report from November 2017, the year’s total car production in ASEAN is anticipated to reach around 3.9 million, with Thailand accounting for the largest coatings market at more than 50% of the market share, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia.

According to Peter Fischer, Senior Vice President, Coatings Solutions Asia Pacific, BASF “With our robust capabilities in Thailand, we meet the increasing demand for sustainable and eco-efficient solutions.”

The new production plant in Bangpoo complements the facilities at the Coatings Technical Competence Center ASEAN, which was opened in September 2015 at the same location. The co-location of production and technical facilities enables operational efficiency and speed to market. The technical center includes a laboratory for product development, high performance application facilities, color design, as well as a small batch production unit.