FLORHAM PARK, NJ, October 5, 2009 - BASF Corporation today announced an Innovation Technology Platform that will explore future customer needs and link them to product and applications development.  Combining joint technology and innovation platforms of Ciba’s Home and Personal Care (HPC) business with Care Chemicals and Formulators allows a free flow of concepts, ideas and creativity that will lead to new product developments.

“By identifying customer needs and applying our broad product portfolio and technical expertise, BASF will develop new solutions for the market,” said Simon Medley, Group Vice President, Care Chemicals and Formulators for BASF in North America. “Ciba’s Home and Personal Care (HPC) business has been an innovator in ultraviolet (UV) light protection technology, product stabilization, optical brighteners, photo- and oxidation catalysts.  BASF will be able to expand its polymer portfolio, especially in areas such as rheology modification.”

BASF’s Care Chemicals and Formulators’ business has enhanced its innovation-driven growth strategy in the consumer products arena.  Christian Wulff, Director, Technical Innovations and Customer Support Group, will direct a team that works with customers to explore market needs that are unmet in the respective industries. 

“We will link global research and development efforts to regional market needs in North America,” said Christian Wulff. “Ciba’s innovations in sun protection technology, fabric softeners and whiteners form a strong complement to BASF’s existing competencies in polymer chemistry and physics, polymer-surfactant interaction, dispersing, emulsifying, particle formation and modification.”

BASF will also merge four technical facilities – the personal care labs in Stony Brook, Ossining and Tarrytown, New York, and Ledgewood, New Jersey – as well as the home care labs in Wyandotte, Michigan, and Tarrytown – into two facilities. The Tarrytown location will become the application development and technical service hub for personal care ingredients in North America. Wyandotte will become the technical center for all homecare activities.  The technical service in Mexico will support the local business there.

Care Chemicals and Formulators

BASF’s Care Chemicals & Formulators business unit develops, produces and markets a comprehensive range of products for cosmetics, detergents & cleaners, and industrial and chemical applications. As a result of focused research and development, as well as customer support, BASF is a preferred partner of its customers worldwide. The products offered by Care Chemicals & Formulators include a wide range of cosmetic ingredients, surfactants, polymers, chelating agents, biocides, waxes and wax emulsions, as well as metal surface treatment products. Care Chemicals & Formulators is part of BASF’s Care Chemicals division.

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BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals, as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF helps 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 has approximately 97,000 employees and posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008. 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.