BASF expands capacity for PP catalysts at Texas facility

18-Apr-09

Despite a slump in polyolefin demand, BASF Catalysts has completed a significant debottlenecking and expansion project for its current and new polypropylene catalysts. The increased capacity is specifically targeted for producing the company's breakthrough LYNX® polypropylene catalyst at its production facility in Pasadena, Texas (USA). "Although current economic conditions are challenging and have impacted polyolefins demand, our long-term outlook for global polyolefin catalysts growth remains strong," said George Vann, BASF Polyolefin Catalysts Global Business Director. The Pasadena site manufactures and distributes polyolefin catalysts for the chemical industry, and is also engaged in the development of new catalyst manufacturing processes and the production of developmental quantities of new catalysts. BASF's LYNX® polypropylene catalyst technologies are utilized commercially in most major polypropylene process technologies, including slurry, bulk loop, stirred gas, fluid gas, and stirred bulk. The catalyst technology's characteristic consistent particle morphology and narrow particle size distribution provide the ability to realize the full capability of each process. LYNX catalysts have gained widespread market acceptance due to their high efficiency, high activity and control of crystallinity, and stiffness to desired levels.