New business model for specialty plastics

Products accompanied by new ancillary services

12-Dec-2005

BASF has a new marketing model for specialties in its operating division for styrenics. The company's new global business unit Specialty polymers & Specialty Foams brings together products which have particular properties that distinguish them from high-volume standard plastics. These products are supplied together with ancillary services. The unit includes thermoplastics such as Terlux® (MABS), Luran® S (ASA), Terblend® N (PA/ABS), Terluran® HH (high-temperature ABS) and Styroflex® (SB), and also the specialty foams Basotect® (melamine resin foam), Neopolen® (EPP, EPE) and Palusol® (alkali silicate sheet). The product line also includes the biodegradable materials Ecoflex® and Ecovio®.

BASF undertook a customer survey to establish the types of service and other additional features needed by processors of specialty plastics if they are to achieve success in their markets. The result: whereas standard plastics require a compact product line that can be produced at low cost, the four key factors in the marketing of specialties are innovation, partnership, reliability and diversity.

Unlike standard plastics, specialties are showing average yearly growth of at least eight percent. Much of this growth derives from the Far East, so BASF has set up the new business unit on a global basis, with a 10 percent target for annual growth of its products. This growth in the market is to be accomplished by combining these materials with industry-specific service packages, technical support, or specialized colors. The aim is that the entire package will always help customers to achieve a significant system-cost saving.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/50800/new-business-model-for-specialty-plastics.html