News Releases

BASF celebrates the 40th birthday of Basotect^®, the world’s first melamine resin foam. It was introduced into the market in 1984 as a flame-retardant alternative to conventional foams used for sound proofing and thermal insulation in construction. Since then, customers have come to appreciate Basotect^® for its high performance and versatility: It is available in eight grades for different applications, amongst them the famous cleaning sponge, which simply rubs off the dirt without the help of cleaning agents. The thermoset foam is a symbol of BASF’s innovative power in the foams business unlocking its potential for industries as diverse as construction, automotive, public transport, cleaning, aerospace and renewable energies with a focus on safety and energy efficiency.

Every year, designers from BASF’s Coatings division create a new collection of colors to inspire automotive designers around the globe. “ROUTING”, the title of the 2024-2025 Automotive Color Trends, refers to the concept of “routing” in communication technology which signifies how information is transmitted.

For next-generation power electronics, BASF has developed a polyphthalamide (PPA) that is especially suited for manufacturing housings of IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) semi-conductors. Ultramid^® Advanced N3U41 G6 addresses the growing demand for high-performance, reliable electronic components for e.g., electric vehicles, high-speed trains, smart manufacturing and the generation of renewable energy. Semikron Danfoss, a global technology leader in power electronics, now uses the BASF PPA as housing in its Semitrans 10 IGBT which can be installed in inverters of photovoltaic and wind energy systems. Due to its outstanding chemical resistance and dimensional stability, the Ultramid^® Advanced N grade enhances the robustness, long-term performance and reliability of these IGBTs.