The expanded e-coat manufacturing capacity will address the increasing demand from local automotive manufacturers.
The Coatings division of BASF has recently announced that it has expanded the e-coat manufacturing facility at its site in Mangalore (India), in order to meet the increasing demand from local automotive OEMs. The company will then be able to produce the latest generation of products, such as CathoGuard 800 RE – which offers lower consumption, increased efficiency and higher reactivity for electric vehicles.
E-coat, also referred to as electrophoretic or cathodic dip coating, is employed to safeguard the surfaces, edges and cavities of the body of cars from corrosion. Furthermore, it effectively smooths out the roughness of pre-treated metal substrates, creating an ideal foundation for the subsequent layers of paint to be applied. The Indian facility has been active since 1996 and it is now the largest manufacturing site of BASF in South Asia. Recently, the company has also expanded its Automotive Coatings Application Center.
“The automotive market in India is booming with opportunities. With a mix of international and local car brands and evolving consumer behaviours, it holds immense potential for BASF. I am incredibly proud of our strong growth in India and the region, thanks to our successful collaborations with customers and partners. But beyond the numbers, what makes me even more proud is our ability to leverage our innovations, passion for colours and sustainability experience to serve the local market,” has declared Patrick Zhao, the senior vice-president for the global automotive OEM coating business of BASF.