Chemetall® opens new laboratory

BASF's Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory in Mexico.

The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF's Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory at its 38,700-square foot manufacturing and office facility in Queretaro; Querétaro, Mexico. This new facility joins a global network of best-in-class technical laboratories for direct customer support and continuous innovation. All utilizing the advanced process techniques at a modern and accredited facilities with highly trained, dedicated and experienced personnel. This new laboratory will facilitate cutting-edge simulation and product development, and will further strengthen the position of Chemetall as global supplier of choice for the surface treatment industry.

"It is of paramount importance to be close to our valued customers and effectively meet their needs," said Ernesto Osorno, Managing Director of Chemetall Mexicana. "Our response time to customers in the region will benefit from localized value-added services."

The new laboratory capabilities include analytical, application, and corrosion services. The analytical lab will offer customer support, solution and surface analysis, manufacturing QC support, metalworking coolant management, Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Ion Chromatography (IC), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Niton X-Ray Fluorescence, Auto-titrator, and Microtap. Application services lab will provide process simulations utilizing spray washers, immersion tanks, and paint spray booth processes. The corrosion lab will offer salt spray, paint and film testing, cyclical testing, and humidity testing and much more.

The Coatings division of BASF is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. The portfolio is completed by the "Innovation Beyond Paint" program which aims at developing new markets and businesses. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners' needs all over the world. BASF shares skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2017, the Coatings division achieved global sales of about EUR 3.97 billion.