BASF and Voith form paper chemicals partnership

17 June 2003 16:49  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--German chemicals giant BASF and compatriot Voith Paper have signed a long-term cooperation agreement in paper chemicals.

A BASF spokeswoman told CNI on Tuesday the agreement will be valid for five years initially but can be renewed after expiration. She did not disclose the financial details of the agreement.

The cooperation deal will focus on the development of new technologies such as curtain coating as well as the design and launch of new paper machinery and the accompanying chemical systems.

Conventional coating trials for paper finishing will be conducted mainly at BASF's technical centre in Ludwigshafen, Germany while machine optimisation and new technology trials will take place at the Voith site in Heidenheim.

Both companies will, however, continue to market their products and services to the paper industry separately.

Hans Richard Schmidt, head of BASF’s European paper and carpet business unit and Hans-Peter Sollinger, a member of the Voith board, said: “Both companies are global leaders in their fields and their range of products and expertise span the entire paper production and finishing process. The alliance will allow us ... to raise process safety levels at plants and to accelerate the pace of innovation for our customers."

The deal with Voith comes about two months after BASF agreed a long-term partnership with Swiss paper pigments producer Omya.

By: Russell Ong
+44 208 652 3214

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