New Products & Services
April 2025
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany) announced that its Cellasto business is investing roughly €60 million to establish a second plant in Shanghai, China. This production expansion aims to capitalize on China’s booming electric vehicle market. The new facility will feature advanced mold lines, resulting in a capacity increase of nearly 70%, with operations expected to start in 2027. A commencement ceremony was held on April 14th to celebrate this expansion. This follows an announcement from Cellasto in February 2025 that a new plant would be built in Dahej, India to expand production of microcellular polyurethane.
Commencement of the new Cellasto production plant in Shanghai
Photo: BASF SE
“Cellasto has always delivered exceptional value to automotive manufacturers with the same passion for quality and efficiency. I am confident that this devotion will ensure a continued success with our customers in China in this vital automotive market,” comments Dr. Martin Jung, President of the Performance Materials Division, BASF.
“BASF has made substantial investments in China since entering the Chinese market 140 years ago. Today’s expansion is another strong testament to BASF’s commitment to staying close to the local market and our customers. As the leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, 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,” adds Dr. Jeffrey Lou, President and Chairman Greater China, BASF.
“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,” concludes Bjoern Kophstahl, Vice President of Cellasto.
This company’s purpose-built perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-coated ribbon blender (photo) is engineered to meet the needs of sensitive and challenging applications where stainless steel or carbon steel may not be suitable. The interior of the trough, the double ribbon agitator, bolted stub shafts and funnel of the valve are all durably coated with black PFA. In addition to preventing product contamination and corrosion, the PFA coating promotes material release and simplifies cleaning. The dust-tight knife gate valve is easy to operate and further ensures a smooth discharge process. Operator-friendly controls via a variable-frequency drive (VFD) with forward and reverse functions make the blender very convenient to use across a wide range of media, including powders, pellets and slurries. — Charles Ross & Son Co., Hauppauge, N.Y.
KSE 3.0 safety valves (photo) replace their predecessor’s polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) housing lining with PFA copolymer, which is thermoplastic processable and transparent, facilitating visual quality inspection of the lining. For a seamless replacement, the leg dimensions of the new PFA-lined safety valve are identical to the prior model, the KSE 2.0. When compared to the 2.0 model, the KSE 3.0 is less sensitive to backpressure and reduces the pressure load on the PTFE bellows. Only one bellows with semi-circular folds per nominal size is needed, simplifying inventory and offering more installation flexibility. The reduction of component variants affects not only the bellows, but characterizes the entire design construction: only two vent hood sizes are needed for the entire series, and only one clamping screw for every two valve nominal sizes, covering the entire pressure range. The valve is generally suitable for temperatures ranging from –60 to 180°C, depending on the response pressure. — Richter Chemie-Technik GmbH, Kempen, Germany
The 8271 CMP miniature pressure transmitter (photo) is designed with small and rugged construction that enables integration into processes where space is limited. It withstands harsh environments, vibrations and potential physical impacts, ensuring longevity. An optional five-fold overpressure resistance enhances reliability and prevents damage from the pressure spikes that can be common in processing applications, thus minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. The thin-film-on-steel measuring principle provides accurate and stable pressure readings for precise process control. Accommodating different piping and mounting requirements with its wide range of pressure connections, the 8271 CMP offers versatile installation options with various processing equipment. It is also suitable for use in processes with extreme temperature conditions due to its broad operating temperature range of –40 to 125°C. — Trafag AG, Bubikon, Switzerland
The new CablePro tubular drag conveyor (photo) is designed with components that offer chemical compatibility, including corrosion-resistant coatings and polished stainless-steel tubing. It is equipped with self-lubricating disks, which are injection-molded directly onto a pre-stretched, oil-lubricated stainless-steel braided cable with a nylon coating. While this construction helps maintain product integrity in many applications, each case should be carefully reviewed to ensure proper chemical compatibility and adherence to the stringent safety and purity standards required in these sectors. CablePro incorporates an auto-tensioner to maintain optimal cable tension, extending the cable and disc life while reducing maintenance. Its sealed design with integral drains supports clean-in-place (CIP) protocols, allowing easier and faster cleaning with mechanical scrapers, fluid rinse and foam cleaners. — Hapman, Kalamazoo, Mich.