BASF Catalysts India’s new lab to research and develop vehicle emission control solutions

Above: Dirk Bremm, President and CEO of BASF ECMS (front row, right) and Saeed Alerasool, senior VP of RD&A at BASF ECMS (front row, left), inaugurate the new RD&A laboratory in Chennai. Other executives from BASF's ECMS were also present, including Daniel Wussow (centre left), senior VP of the Mobile Emissions Catalysts business unit, and Sujan Saha (Saeed, left), Head of Southeast Asia and Head of India Business Unit

BASF Catalysts India (BCIL), the Indian subsidiary of BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (BASF ECMS), has opened its new Research and Development and Application (RD&A) laboratory in Mahindra World City, Tamil Nadu, Chennai. This strategic move focuses on the development of emission control catalysts, which are being pursued in line with the unique needs of the Indian automotive market.

Saeed Alerasool, senior vice-president of RD&A at BASF ECMS, said: "The new RD&A laboratory will support the development of market-specific catalyst formulations with agility and flexibility in line with the unique requirements of the Indian market. Our customers are facing a changing environment, including stricter tailpipe emission requirements and fuel diversification. BASF ECMS will be able to support these customers to adapt to changes and be ready to support future automotive technologies."

Currently, the Indian government is focusing on diversifying its fuel sources, including the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable biofuels, and hydrogen, and the country's automotive industry is also undergoing an evolution. The opening of the institute is an important step in line with this changing trend. Changing regulatory conditions require local OEMs to launch flex-fuel vehicles that can run on a blend of biofuels and gasoline. In addition, as emissions requirements become more stringent, India's automakers face another challenge.

"With the new lab at our Chennai site, BCIL is now able to provide end-to-end support to our customers, from initial catalyst development to delivery of finished products," said Sujan Saha, Head of Southeast Asia and Head of Business in India, Mobile Emissions Catalysts.

BASF Catalysts India is leading the catalysts business in the Indian automotive market. BCIL, which has been in operation since 1998, is regarded as a pioneer in the automotive emissions industry, having established the first catalytic manufacturing plant in India. BCIL manufactures and supplies emission control catalysts for the automotive industry at its plant in Mahindra World City, south of Chennai. BASF ECMS currently operates six global RD&A centres to support the R&D of mobile vehicle emission catalytic control technology.