NEWS

BASF's eco-efficiency analysis wins international recognition
BASF's eco-efficiency analysis has been awarded the internationally recognized seal of approval of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). The U.S.-based NSF is an international non-profit organization that is active in the field of public health protection and consumer safety.
The eco-efficiency analysis, which has already been evaluated by the German Association for Technical Inspection (TÜV), provides information on the relationship between the economic value of a product and
its impact on the environment. This tool helps BASF and its customers to decide which products and processes are most suitable, both in economic and in environmental terms. The entire lifecycle of a product or production process is assessed, for example, in terms of resource and energy consumption, emissions to air, water and soil as well as risk potential.
In collaboration with various stakeholders and product safety experts at BASF Corporation, the NFS has defined standard requirements for eco-efficiency analyses. The aim of NFS Protocol 352 is to ensure conclusiveness, objectivity and transparency for the different types of eco-efficiency analyses. BASF's method has now been verified under the requirements of this protocol. "This NSF certificate is a big step forward and shows the increasing acceptance of our strategic ecoefficiency tool - also in the United States," said Dr. Ulrich von Deessen, head of BASF's Environment, Health & Safety Competence Center in Ludwigshafen.
"NSF shares BASF's commitment to the environment, and we applaud their leadership in helping to develop an intelligent methodology, which provides solutions that improve the environment and the economy," said Bob Ferguson, NSF Vice President.
BASF's eco-efficiency analysis is based on standards DIN EN ISO 14040 and 14044. Since the introduction of this tool in 1996, BASF has performed more than 400 analyses for BASF business units, as well as for external partners and customers. Eco-efficiency analyses have been conducted for major products in 90 percent of BASF's product lines.
For more information about the eco-efficiency analysis, visit www.basf.com/eco-efficiency

Faurecia joins Ford's ABF network of key suppliers
Faurecia's addition to Ford's Aligned Business Framework (ABF) to strengthen collaboration and drive mutual profitability and technology development Leading global tier one automotive supplier Faurecia was recently named by Ford Motor Company as a member of its Aligned Business Framework (ABF), the automaker's network of key suppliers. Faurecia's Interiors and Exhaust Systems product groups join ABF along with 15 other suppliers announced by Ford on June 24, 2009. Ford now has named 82 companies to its select group of component and service suppliers chosen for long-term relationships and closer collaboration.
In 2008, Faurecia generated 10 percent of its global sales with Ford Motor Company and its affiliates. The Group supplies more than 35 Ford vehicles worldwide. Most recently Faurecia has partnered with Ford on the development and production of the instrument panel and door panels/modules for the Ford Fiesta, introduced in Europe last year, and the exhaust system (cold end) of the Ford Taurus.
ABF companies enter into long-term relationships with Ford to strengthen collaboration and drive mutual profitability and technology development.

Another hat trick: three SPE awards for KraussMaffei
Parts produced using KraussMaffei technology won three awards at the SPE Automotive Awards 2009. As in prior years, KraussMaffei convincingly demonstrated the strength of its innovative capability as worldwide the only manufacturer supplying machinery for three key plastics technologies - injection moulding, extrusion and reaction processing.
KraussMaffei won first place in the category Body Exterior with a support element for the louvered grille of the CLS Coupe from Mercedes Benz. The metallic effect essential to the grille's distinctive optics is produced during the injection moulding process without any extra painting process. In the same category, the jury, made up of members of the automotive industry, processors, mouldmakers, raw materials suppliers, engineering companies and plastics institutes, also selected another KraussMaffei development for an award. This award went to a bodywork component for a forage harvester manufactured using technology developed by KraussMaffei's Reaction Process machinery division.
In the Powertrain category, a glassfibre reinforced roll restrictor for the popular Opel Insignia also won an award. The component is manufactured using a KraussMaffei system that controls the concentration of reinforcing fibres to deliver highest strength where required and minimum weight. Carrying off these three awards, the Munich plastics engineering company has repeated its success in the SPE Automotive Awards 2007 when it also won three awards.
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) aims to promote communication among scientists and engineers working in fields related to the development, production and processing of plastics and plastics-based composites.

Momentive's Ladislau Heisler Wins Foam Industry's Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award
Momentive Performance Materials Inc. announced that Ladislau Heisler, Technology Leader, Urethane Additives, has been recognized as winner of the prestigious Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award. The award, presented by the Polyurethane Foam Association (PFA), is given twice a year in conjunction with PFA technical programs, and is aimed at encouraging the sharing of technical innovations, the use of scientific methodology and professionalism in presentation technique.
 "We would like to congratulate Ladislau and his team on this outstanding achievement," said Tony Lanchak, Global Marketing Director, Urethane Additives, Momentive. "This award is testament to the dedication they put into developing new, high-performing products made from renewable materials that can help manufacturers lower the environmental impact of foam production."
Mr. Heisler's winning paper, New Silicone Surfactant for Flexible Slabstock Foams Produced Using Natural Oil-Based Polyols, was presented at the Spring PFA meeting held in Baltimore, Maryland on May 20 and 21. The research focused on Niax silicone L-670, a new Momentive surfactant that is an excellent candidate to consider for flexible slabstock foams produced using natural oil-based polyols (NOP).
Consumer awareness of "green" issues and the depletion of non-renewable resources have heightened demand for the creation of foam products that leverage renewable content. The paper, which achieved one of the highest scores since the competiton's inception, was co-authored by Gregory Pickrell. Momentive technicians Jolene Graham, Kevin Husk and Derrick Johns performed the laboratory work upon which the paper and presentation were based. Mr. Heisler's team is based in Momentive's Sistersville, West Virginia location.

SusChem Welcomes German CO2 Research
SusChem welcomes a German government initiative to inject 100 million euro over five years into research into the use of carbon dioxide as a raw material.
This high-tech research programme offers opportunities for international cooperation and is expected to be an important contribution to SusChem, the EU Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry.
The German ‘Technology for Sustainability and Climate Protection' programme aims to put the positive into CO2 by researching its potential as a raw material and in the development of production processes which reduce the use of energy and resources and reduce carbon emissions. The German ministry recognises the key role the chemical industry has to play as it is at the start of so many value chains.
The research programme is expected to develop new processes using CO2 as a base chemical, for example for the development of high-value polymers which have a number of applications including insulation.
Gernot Klotz, Executive Director, Cefic Research & Innovation said: "As SusChem, we welcome any contributions to the sustainable future of chemistry. This new initiative from the German government is particularly interesting as it turns the CO2 problem on its head and looks for a solution."