Ludwigshafen, Germany -- BASF opened a new polyurethane (PU) solutions system house in Dubai Industrial City on 6 April 2011.
Noting that the investment emphasises the significance of this region for BASF, Wayne Smith, president BASF Polyurethanes, said it also "demonstrates that we are prepared to accompany our customers' growth in all regions of the world and desire to be their preferred partner of choice."
In Dubai, BASF "will strengthen existing customer relationships and implement our proven worldwide strategy of locally operated, customer-oriented system houses," Smith added, in a BASF statement.
BASF has had a joint-venture with Kanoo in the UAE, which acquired the local polyurethane business of Multi Chemical in Abu Dhabi in 2008.
Mishal Hamed Kanoo, deputy chairman of the Kanoo Group, said in the statement that Kanoo is committed to continuing its cooperation with BASF in polyurethanes and sees the new system house as "an integral part of a joint growth strategy in the Gulf region."
"With this new System House we have created best conditions for further success in the rapidly growing market for polyurethane applications in the Arabian Peninsula," said Dr Uwe Hartwig, senior vice president for BASF Polyurethanes Europe.
Like all our system houses, Dubai will not only have local sales and production units, but it will also provide customers with fast, competent and comprehensive technical services," Hartwig added
BASF most recent new system house was in Srem, Poland: it has announced plans to build another two in China, in Chongqing and Tianjing.
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