BASF has opened its new catalyst plant in Sroda Slaska, a special economic zone near Wroclaw, Poland.
Construction of the new 40,000 sq meter factory – the supplier’s largest catalyst plant in Europe – began in late 2012, with an initial EUR90m (US$121.7bn) spend. The plant began production trials in April and, in June, started up two manufacturing lines with an initial 100 workers.
Expansion will follow, raising the spend at the plant to approximately EUR150m. Once all 10 planned light duty and heavy duty catalyst production lines are operating at full capacity by 2016, BASF expects to employ more than 400 people.
The catalysts will be used by manufacturers of light duty petrol vehicles and light and heavy duty diesel vehicles to meet more stringent Euro 6/VI emissions regulations.