Aug 25 2005
BASF will raise its annual capacity to produce dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) from 21,000 to 35,000 metric tons. The company thus responds to the worldwide increase in demand for this intermediate, which is used mainly to make particularly skin-friendly personal care products. As the world’s largest manufacturer, BASF produces DMAPA at two plants: one in Ludwigshafen, Germany; the other in Geismar, Louisiana/USA. The company will boost its capacity by taking a variety of measures to optimize the production at its Ludwigshafen plant.
“As a leading global supplier of amines we stepped up our DMAPA capacity before, in 2003, and we will continue to support our customers’ growth in Europe, the NAFTA region and Asia,” says Dr. Walter Gramlich, head of BASF’s Intermediates division. “Along with reliable supply, our customers appreciate our high demands on quality and our innovativeness.”
BASF is unique in that it manufactures the two raw materials dimethylamine and acrylonitrile that form the ingredient. The company therefore provides high-level delivery reliability and consistently high product quality. Most of the DMAPA is processed to special surfactants, which are raw materials for personal care products. They give shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps and washing-up liquids their mildness. These products consequently do not sting or hurt the eyes, make a nice, fine-bubble foam, and are readily compatible with other shampoo additives. DMAPA offers benefits even after its use: it is highly biodegradable.