Shanghai, China – More than a decade after opening its first plant in Shanghai, Cellasto is strengthening its presence with a second plant, to capitalise on China’s booming electric vehicle market.
Representing an investment of €60m, the facility will feature what BASF – which owns the brand and develops Cellasto microcellular PU elastomers – calls “advanced mould lines”, resulting in a capacity increase of nearly 70%. Operations are expected to start in 2027.
“Today’s expansion is another strong testament to BASF’s commitment to staying close to the local market and our customers,” said Dr Jeffrey Lou, president and chairman Greater China for BASF, during a commencement ceremony this week. “BASF strives to accelerate business growth in the automotive sector in China, by leveraging our local production network, strong innovation capabilities and deep market insights.”
Bjoern Kophstahl, VP of Cellasto, added: “Four years ago, we celebrated Cellasto's 60th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of our Shanghai plant. This year, with the addition of a second plant, we are achieving another significant milestone. With our state-of-the-art facilities, we are eager to seize the opportunities presented by this dynamic market.”
Cellato’s Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) components are used in automotive applications such as jounce bumpers, coil spring isolators, top and vehicle body mounts, interior dampers and displays, and the chassis.
The China facility is the latest in Cellasto’s expansion across Asia, with plans confirmed in February for a new plant in Dahej, India by 2026. The first Cellasto plant in Dahej was opened in 2014.
