Continuous expansion of market leadership
Tailor-made PU Solutions for customers in the Arabian Peninsula
Joint-venture with strong regional partner Kanoo
April 6, 2011, BASF opened its new Polyurethane (PU) Solutions System House in Dubai with an official ceremony. About 150 guests from business, government, customers and neighbors alike joined the event at the just recently completed BASF site in Dubai Industrial City (DIC), a member of TECOM Investments' Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster.
BASF was launched in the presence of His Excellency Abdulla Sultan Al Fan Al Shamsi, Counselor of Industrial Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Economy.
Wayne T. Smith, President BASF Polyurethanes, said: "This investment further emphasizes the significance of this region for BASF and demonstrates that we are prepared to accompany our customers' growth in all regions of the world and desire to be their preferred partner of choice. In Dubai, we will strengthen existing customer relationships and implement our proven worldwide strategy of locally operated, customer-oriented System Houses. This step once again shows that we are continuously expanding our leading position in the polyurethane market." BASF's global network of 38 System Houses, together with its production sites for the main precursors and basic products, makes BASF the only polyurethane manufacturer who can reliably provide its customers around the globe with locally manufactured products.
Abdulla Belhoul, Managing Director of Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster, TECOM Investments, said: "We are delighted to welcome BASF, one of the leading global chemicals brand, to Dubai Industrial City. Our logistically strategic location adds enormous value to any company that sets up operations and we are keen to provide all required services and facilities to ensure smooth operations."BASF complements the elite group of companies that are currently operating out of Dubai Industrial City, especially the Chemicals cluster. We look forward to welcoming even more renowned entities operating in the same domain to the region's major destination for manufacturing and logistics."
BASF strengthened its business with polyurethane customers in the Gulf region in 2008 by setting up joint-venture companies together with Kanoo in the UAE which has acquired the local polyurethane business of Multi Chemical Est. in Abu Dhabi 2008. Mishal Hamed Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of The Kanoo Group, stated: "We are committed to continue our cooperation with BASF in the polyurethane segment and we are proud of the realization of this new System House as integral part of a joint growth strategy in the Gulf region." The Kanoo Group has been a joint-venture partner of BASF in the United Arab Emirates since 1970.
Dr. Uwe Hartwig, Senior Vice President BASF Polyurethanes Europe, said: "With this new System House we have created best conditions for further success in the rapidly growing market for polyurethane applications in the Arabian Peninsula. Like all our System Houses, Dubai will not only have local sales and production units, but it will also provide customers with fast, competent and comprehensive technical services." Hartwig stressed the importance of the new site for BASF's overall service-oriented System House concept in the field of polyurethanes. BASF just recently has opened a new System House in Srem, Poland, and announced to build another two in Chongqing and Tianjing, China.
BASF's new Polyurethane Solutions System House will develop, serve and manufacture innovative PU systems for a wide range of industries. The new facility occupies 2.8 hectares of land in the chemical business zone of Dubai Industrial City, which has a logistically strategic location between growing industrial areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The System House itself is utilizing a high share of BASF building materials and construction know-how. The building was constructed using the latest generation of PU sandwich elements in the facade, PU insulation boards in the roof and several products supplied from other BASF business units. It hosts besides latest technology production units, high-rack storage facility and a technical development and training center.
Already today, BASF is a market-leader in Polyurethane Solutions in the Gulf region. In the market segments construction and insulation especially, BASF sees strong potential for applications using high-quality specialty plastic material polyurethane to expand further in the future. Sandwich elements, insulating boards and spray foam are ideal products for energy-efficient and uncomplicated constructions.
"Polyurethane and Polyurea Systems will further complement and strengthen BASF's strong local position in construction materials such as flooring applications," said Dr. Joerg Schneider, Managing Director of the Polyurethane System House. Further developing and increasingly important industries in the Gulf region such as oil and gas, footwear, appliances and electronics, transportation, sports and leisure and furniture will be served by the local BASF PU team.
At the opening ceremony in Dubai a special exhibition of selected polyurethane products gave guests an impression of the broad product and service portfolio, as well as the diversity of PU applications. Also included were the aspects of environmental protection and occupational safety on the site. Local experts were on hand to answer questions on individual areas of interest.
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About Dubai Industrial City
Dubai Industrial City (DI), a member of TECOM Investments, is the third largest non-real estate project in Dubai and is spread across 560 million square feet of land. The industrial destination was established to serve as a catalyst for the growth and expansion of the industrial sector in the United Arab Emirates especially in light to medium manufacturing sectors with specific emphasis on Machinery and Mechanical equipment, Transport Equipment and parts, Base Metal, Chemicals, Food and Beverage and Mineral Products.
Dubai Industrial City provides a cost effective and efficient business environment together with a number of industry supporting products and facilities including warehousing and logistics solutions, labour villages, vocational training, commercial space as well as a one stop shop for the issue of required licenses and permits.
Dubai Industrial City is strategically located next to the new Al Maktoum Airport (Dubai World Central) and in close proximity to the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The City provides a traffic free environment with direct connections to the Emirates Road, Dubai By Pass Road providing easy and convenient access to global transportation points via road, air and sea.
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Aseel Nihad
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JiWin the Public Relations
Phone: +971 4 3613584
Email: aseel.nihad@jiwin.ae
© Press Release 2011
