May 30 2008
BASF has received the “Group Award 2008” in recognition of its role as top supplier to Volkswagen (VW). Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, member of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors, was presented with the award by Prof. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, and Francisco J. Garcia Sanz, member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft responsible for procurement.
In particular, the award honored the development of BASF’s Hydraulan® 404 brake fluid. Hydraulan enhances the braking performance of vehicles and is better for the environment because it needs to be changed less frequently. Thus, the total volume of brake fluid used and disposed of by Volkswagen Group and its garages is reduced by around one-third. The Volkswagen Group Award is given to VW Group’s 15 best suppliers each year.
“We are very pleased to receive this prestigious award, which combines sustainability and customer benefit. It acts as an incentive for us to contribute to Volkswagen’s continued success by delivering innovative products and system solutions,” said Marcinowski. According to Rüdiger Mackenthun, head of BASF’s Automotive & Refinery Chemicals business unit: “With products like Hydraulan, VW and BASF are together assuming responsibility for the continued development of environmentally efficient, advanced and safe products for automobiles.”
In awarding the environment prize, Volkswagen looks not only at product quality but also takes into account whether the supplier operates an environmental management system. BASF was impressive in all categories: Hydraulan needs to be replaced and disposed of only every three rather than every two years. Another advantage is that the brakes of Hydraulan-equipped VW vehicles react up to 30 percent faster. Finally, BASF combines business success in all areas with global responsibility for environmental and climate protection and has made this an integral part of its corporate strategy.