BASF is enhancing its innovation efficiency in Japan by moving the Dispersions and Resins Applications R&D Center from Amagasaki to Yokkaichi. The new R&D center is adjacent to BASF’s dispersions and resins production plant where the commercial and supply chain management teams are based. Under this new setup, cross-functional collaboration will be further strengthened.

“I am very excited about this new move which creates seamless product development process, from R&D initiatives including scoping new R&D projects to on-premise scale-up production and supply chain management. It eases cross-functional team communications and therefore, shorten project lead time. In the end, our customers enjoy better services,” said Masashi Sugitoh, Business Director of Dispersions & Resins of BASF Japan.

“Our customers prefer BASF products because of our product reliability, quality and sustainability features. Our durable Acronal® architectural coatings which reduce building maintenance burden is a good example — the blue exterior wall of our new R&D center is applied with high weather resistant paint with our Acronal coatings in formulation from Kikusui Chemical Industries, one of our key customers of joint branding portfolio. Packaging coating supported by our Joncryl resin for biomass inks is another popular product provided by BASF Japan. We leverage our global R&D platform to provide localized modifications of the Joncryl® brand to meet customer demand.”

The Amagasaki R&D Center has been operated by BASF since 2010 following the integration of Ciba, a Swiss specialty chemical producer. Located right next to the Rokuromi production plant that celebrated its 50th anniversary with zero lost-time injury in August 2020, the new Rokuromi R&D Center will start operating in June 2021.