BASF to add Ultrason polyethersulfone production in Korea

BASF will build a new Ultrason polyethersulfone (PESU) plant at the company's site in Yeosu, Korea, part of €2.3 billion in investment in Asia Pacific that the company is planning from 2011 to 2015.

The planned annual capacity of the new plant will be 6000 tonnes, with construction to start in early 2012 and production expected by early 2014. BASF estimates that about 50 new jobs will be created once the plant is operational. At this time, BASF's global headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany is the only production site for Ultrason.

The new regional capacity reflects BASF's ambitious goals for Asia Pacific, with a stated goal of generating 70% of its sales in the region. "By establishing local production of our high performance specialty plastics in Korea, we can support the growth of key local industries," said Albert Heuser, president, Market and Business Development, Asia Pacific, said in a release.

Ultrason applications are found in the electronics, automotive and aerospace industries targeting components that require heat-resistant light-weight components. Within the water-treatment industry, it's used in the manufacturing of water-treatment membranes.

BASF said the Yeosu site was selected for its qualified workforce and infrastructure. Access to the existing and emerging automotive and electronics hubs in Korea, Japan, and China played a role as well, with BASF noting that the Korean electronics industry is a "major target market" for Ultrason, with the Korean location also benefitting from proximity to other "major markets" like China and Japan. 

Ultrason is the umbrella trade name for a product range including polyethersulfone (Ultrason E), polysulfone (Ultrason S), and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason P). Heat resistance up to 220°C and chemical stability are some of its noteworthy attributes.

BASF announced a doubling of its Ludwigshafen production capacity in 2006, at the time boosting annual nameplate output to 12,000 tonnes. As part of that expansion, the company said it would build a new logistics and packaging center for Ultrason, with those projects entailing a capital investment in the "mid-double digit million euro range" and a the creation of 23 new jobs.

Competitive manufacturers of polysulfone materials include Solvay (Udel brand), and Sumitomo Chemical (SumikaExcel, SumiPloy). A number of companies compound the material, including SABIC Innovative Plastics (through its LNP division), Ferro, LATI, RTP Company, and PolyOne.