By David Reed, UT EditorMünster/Lemförde, Germany-BASF Coatings and BASF's Elastogran Group subsidiary have signed a long-term agreement to cooperate in the coating of wood trim parts for the automotive industry. The agreement relates to the use of the reaction injection moulding (RIM) process to coat parts with a special polyurethane (PU) material, designated PUR glasklar. This process is rapidly replacing the conventional use of polyester coatings and is claimed to reduce emissions as well as yielding superior properties in the finished parts, a statement from BASF indicated. The agreement was signed by Uwe Bauschulte, Metal/wood automotive components account manager at BASF Coatings, and Norbert Prechtl, Technical sales manager flexible foam systems at Elastogran. Under the interdivisional partnership within the BASF Group, Elastogran will provide the product and the technical know-how, with BASF Coatings providing sales and service, along with the other coatings products for customers, the statement added."