BASF’s Coatings Division has invested one million euros in the construction of a new Application Center in Oldenburg, Germany.
The company has now officially opened the center as part of a customer event. The center is therefore not only strengthening the Oldenburg site, but also BASF’s global business in industrial coatings. The new center, which includes a spraybooth for large objects, several work rooms and a training and presentation room, will be used for applications in the wind energy sector, as well as for marine and aircraft coatings and a whole array of applications in diverse industrial segments.
“We are increasingly gearing our business in coatings for wind energy to a global market. At the new Application Center, we are able to simulate the various painting conditions of our customers worldwide and optimize our products accordingly,” explained Dr. Achim Gast, head of Post-Coatings at BASF . A wide range of climate conditions can be simulated. As a result of the application tests in Oldenburg, application technologies and processes are already being ideally adapted during development in order to allow smooth and efficient use at the customer’s premises. These in-depth tests carried out in advance save money and time for both the Coatings Division and its customers. “We also shorten the coordination process when there are product modifications,” stated Lübbo Röttgers, coordinator of the Application Center. “This allows us to continuously improve our product quality.”
An additional plus: BASF’s paint experts will train their customers at the new center. In the future, in Oldenburg, they will practice how to apply BASF products efficiently and in a high-quality manner. The Application Center offers ideal conditions for conducting special training courses, such as the course on using the RELEST® Wind RepKit , a refinishing system specially developed by BASF for repairing rotor blades.
BASF for wind energy
BASF supports the development of wind power as a climate-friendly source of energy in the energy mix. BASF’s portfolio for wind power applications comprises epoxy and coating systems, foams, special grouting mortars and concrete additives as well as lubricants and hydraulic systems. The innovative solutions from BASF facilitate more efficient manufacturing, coating and maintenance of rotor blades, foundations, towers and gearboxes of wind turbines. In this way BASF helps to make wind turbines more profitable and more durable. BASF continually develops and improves its wind power portfolio in close cooperation with its customers.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND staff, March 19, 2012; Image: basf-coatings