BASF has invested in a Center of Excellence at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium, to strengthen product development for superabsorbent polymers. The €25 million investment is a clear commitment of the company to the hygiene business as an important part of its acrylics value chain.

To increase innovation capabilities for its superabsorbent polymer business and to accelerate the scale-up process from product development to production scale, the new pilot plant is equipped with the latest data collection and sensor technology. By leveraging digitalization and advanced modeling, the applied technology will be key to further increasing product performance. Combined with the proximity to BASF’s superabsorbent production in Antwerp, the state-of-the-art processes in the new pilot plant will shorten time-to-market.

“This investment in a Superabsorbents Excellence Center in Antwerp highlights our commitment to innovation for the hygiene industry. With the pilot plant we want to provide new impulses to our customers and strengthen our leading role in the global Superabsorbents market,” says Marco Altmayer, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Business Development Petrochemicals, during the inauguration of the Superabsorbents Excellence Center.

The pilot plant is also a strong commitment to BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp. The Flemish government recognized the innovative character of the Excellence center and has granted a funding of €1.4 million to the development of this new process technology platform.

Jan Remeysen, CEO of BASF Antwerpen NV, says, “The Superabsorbents Excellence Center is an investment in the future. We are pleased to play a big role in the production and development of Superabsorbents as a center of expertise and innovation. In addition, we appreciate the recognition and funding by the Flemish Government.”