Features Paper
BASF reorganizes paper chemicals business

BASF is changing the organizational set-up of its paper chemicals business “to strengthen its competitiveness and better meet the needs of the paper industry,” the company explains. BASF offers a comprehensive range of chemical products for paper manufacturing and coating.

As of January 1, 2015, the Paper Chemicals division will be dissolved. The current headquarters of the Paper Chemicals division in Basel, Switzerland will be closed by the end of 2014. Overall, there will be a reduction of about 50 positions globally as a result of the implementation of the new set-up.

BASF says it remains committed to the paper chemicals industry and there will be no impact on supply security and service for the customers. Sales with paper chemicals were €1.44 billion in 2013.

The wet-end chemicals and kaolin businesses will be integrated into BASF’s Performance Chemicals division. A new global business unit called “Paper Chemicals” will be established within the Performance Chemicals division.

BASF is evaluating strategic options for its paper hydrous kaolin business.

The paper dispersions business and the Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging (CSPP) will be integrated into the Dispersions & Pigments division.

“Integrating the paper chemicals business along existing value chains will allow BASF to optimally steer plant capacity and leverage the advantages of the BASF Verbund,” said Michael Heinz, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and responsible for the Performance Products segment.