BASF creates new global business unit to advance battery activities for electromobility
In recognition of the significant growth opportunity associated with the global battery marketplace, BASF is creating a new global business unit that will bring together its current and future battery-related electromobility activities.
- (1888PressRelease) November 28, 2011 - As part of this transition, a new global business unit “Battery Materials” will be formed, effective January 1, 2012. This business unit will integrate the existing battery activities of BASF’s Catalysts division, which is focused on cathode materials development; its Intermediates division, which is focused on electrolyte formulations, and BASF Future Business GmbH, which is focused on next-generation lithium battery opportunities. This operating consolidation will take place throughout the first half of 2012, leveraging the collaborative efforts of each of these business teams to ensure a seamless migration for BASF and its market constituents.
“The creation of the global operating unit Battery Materials will allow us to take a more integrated, solutions-oriented approach to serving battery manufacturers , leveraging our resources and expertise in a unified and focused manner,” said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the Board of Executive Directors and Research Executive Director of BASF SE.
The new Battery Materials unit will be integrated into the Catalysts division and led by Ralf Meixner, who is with BASF for 29 years and currently serves as Vice President, Business Management, Industrial Petrochemicals Europe. Effective January 1, 2012, Mr. Meixner will assume the role of BASF Senior Vice President, Battery Materials, and become part of the company’s Catalysts division leadership team, based in Iselin, New Jersey. “As the world’s leading chemical provider to the global automotive industry, there are significant opportunities for BASF in the battery materials space,” said Frank Bozich, President of BASF’s Catalysts division. “I look forward to bringing together our team of battery materials experts under the leadership of Ralf Meixner to build an exciting new growth business for the future.”
BASF: Strong commitment to improving battery materials
Batteries are the key technology for electromobility of the future. Over the next five years, BASF will invest a three-digit million euro sum in researching, developing and the production of battery materials. As well as developing materials for lithium-ion batteries, which include solutions for anodes and separators, the company is also researching future battery concepts such as lithium-sulfur or lithium-air. With its research activities BASF is substantially contributing to making electric cars affordable, environment-friendly and sustainable. “For this we need batteries and further innovative components that provide a greater driving range with less weight and lower costs,” said Kreimeyer.
BASF’s electromobility activities
Innovative materials and functional components are prerequisites for safe, efficient and affordable electromobility. Together with partners in industry and science BASF is developing materials and technologies for today's and next generation lithium-ion batteries as well as for future battery systems. The aim is to reduce the time to market for new solutions to energy storage. A major step on this road is the construction of a manufacturing plant for battery materials in Elyria, Ohio/USA. Along with battery materials, plastics and composites for lightweight automotive design and solutions for improved heat management, such as IR-reflective pigments for coatings and vehicle interior uses, have major roles to play.
About BASF’s battery activities:
http://www.battery-solutions.basf.com/p02/USWeb-Internet/battery_solutions/en_GB/
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in its Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.
Catalysts Intermediates Division
BASF Corporation Klaus-Peter Rieser
Joseph M. Jones Phone:+49 621 60-95138
Phone:+732 205 5557 Fax:+49 621 60-95188
josef.jones ( @ ) basf dot com klaus-peter.rieser ( @ ) basf dot com
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