BASF, Navtech form alliance

By David Reed, UT EditorWyandotte, Michigan-BASF Corp. says it has established an alliance with Navtech llc, a three-year-old maker of microcellular polyurethane parts, to develop and market such products for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) applications in the automotive market. BASF has been supplying such parts for over 35 years independently, using the Cellasto tradename.The two firms will now share their MPU technologies in respect of the automotive sector, while Navtech, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, will continue to operate as an independent supplier in non-automotive NVH applications, according to a 7 Dec statement from BASF. The statement also said that BASF will have an option to obtain an exclusive licence for Navtech's Navcell MPU technology."This relationship will be seamless to our customers. From their perspective, they will see in BASF an even stronger capability to bring them advanced MPU products and value-added services for automotive NVH applications," said Bob Jamrog, Director of BASF's Cellasto MPU business in North America."Navtech's considerable expertise in MPU materials technology and the design and development of MPU products highly complements the strong technology, services and manufacturing capabilities of BASF's Cellasto business in the automotive sector," said Dr Mehdi Ilkhani-Pour, president of Navtech. "The two of us working together will make a formidable team in serving the automotive industry," he added, in the prepared statement.NVH components made from MPU are designed to isolate the noise and vibrations of the powertrain, chassis and body and so improve driving comfort and long-term system durability, the BASF statement explained. NVH components are also used in the industrial market and other non-automotive applications, it added."