BASF SE, Germany, has announced plans to reorganize its Leather and Textile Chemicals business unit
(BU) to concentrate on the Asia-Pacific region and on high-value-adding applications.
Leather Chemicals will focus on core technologies for the automotive industry and premium
leather segment, and Textile Chemicals will focus on value-adding steps such as printing and
finishing and solutions for manufacturing premium textile items.
BASF will establish a global innovation center for its Leather and Textile Chemicals BU in
China, which is its main growth market. The center will be located within the BASF Innovation
Campus in Shanghai and will be part of the R&D Innovation Verbund.
In addition, the company will eliminate 65 positions globally — including 29 in
Ludwigshafen, Germany — to adjust to the BU’s new setup. However, BASF reports it will create
approximately 23 positions to support the anticipated growth in China, India and Turkey.
“BASF strives to remain the preferred partner of the leather and textile industries for
reliable and innovative chemical solutions,” said François Desné, senior vice president, Leather
and Textile Chemicals global business unit, BASF. “We are reshaping our business setup to
strengthen our long-term ability to compete in a rapidly changing market environment.” The
reorganization is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
April/May/June 2013