BASF Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions opens a new hydrogen components laboratory in Hanover, Germany.

“For over three decades, Hanover has been the core hub for our mobile source emission catalyst and system development in Europe,” said Dr. Elmar Schütt, Senior Vice President of R&D and Applications at ECMS. “Our R&D and applications team in Hanover has launched numerous innovative solutions that enable our automotive customers to meet the most stringent emissions standards in a cost-effective manner. The Hanover team’s long-standing expertise in catalysts, precious metals, formulations, and coatings makes it the ideal location for establishing our next-generation green hydrogen R&D center in Europe.” The new laboratory will focus on several key areas, including the synthesis and characterization of advanced water electrolysis catalysts and the preparation of catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs). One of its primary goals is to develop low-iridium catalysts—addressing both the scarcity and high cost of iridium, a critical component in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers—while maintaining electrolyzer efficiency and durability, thereby significantly improving the economic viability of green hydrogen production. In addition, the laboratory is equipped to conduct electrochemical testing of CCMs under various operating conditions to evaluate performance and degradation behavior. It also provides fuel cell testing support for customer-specific projects, aiding European clients in product development. This new laboratory represents another strategic step by ECMS toward building a comprehensive product portfolio, reducing costs for electrolyzers and fuel cells, and supporting the entire hydrogen value chain. It further reinforces ECMS’s commitment to enabling broader global energy transition and decarbonization efforts. Leveraging its extensive partnerships and networks across commercial and customer domains, ECMS ensures that research conducted at the new laboratory remains highly cutting-edge and commercially viable. About BASF Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions BASF Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions serves customers across diverse industries—including automotive, aerospace, indoor air quality, semiconductors, and the hydrogen economy—drawing on its global leadership and deep expertise in catalysts and precious metals. It offers end-to-end services in precious metal trading and recycling. ECMS focuses on circular solutions and sustainability, helping customers build a cleaner, more sustainable future. Protecting life’s essential elements is our mission—and drives us to continuously seek new solutions. ECMS operates in 15 countries and regions, with 20 production sites and more than 4,500 employees. About BASF At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future.

The paint industry landscape changes forever: BASF exits the coatings business.

In 1954, BASF acquired U.S.-based Inmont Corporation—and with it, the R-M brand. R-M’s history runs equally deep: founded in Detroit in 1919 by Herbert Mason and Fred Rinshed as Rinshed-Mason Company, it quickly became the largest automotive paint supplier in the United States. In 1931, R-M launched the world’s first automotive metallic paint. In 1965—on the occasion of BASF’s centenary—the German chemical giant made a move that would reshape the global coatings industry: it acquired Glasurit Werke Max Winkelmann AG. At the time, BASF described the acquisition as “the first step toward a consumer-centric market.” In 1967, BASF acquired Dr. Beck & Co. AG, further strengthening Parrot Paint’s R&D and manufacturing capabilities. In 1969, it acquired Urruzola—one of Spain’s most renowned coating companies—making marine coatings a new growth pillar. In 1986, BASF Coatings developed the world’s first waterborne basecoat at its Würzburg plant, which was first applied at Opel’s automobile factory—replacing large quantities of organic solvents with water and dramatically reducing VOC emissions. This technological breakthrough remains a landmark in the environmental transformation of the automotive coatings industry. In 1992, BASF launched its first waterborne basecoat series—the Parrot 90 Series. In 1995, it introduced the high-solids solid-color refinish paint—the Parrot 22 Series. By then, BASF Coatings had built an empire spanning OEM automotive coatings, automotive refinish coatings, surface treatment, and decorative paints. Its products received technical approvals from over 50 global automakers—including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce—and served more than 42,000 customers across 140 countries. Yet cracks began to appear in this empire in 2024. On September 26, 2024, BASF unveiled its new corporate strategy, “Winning Ways,” dividing its businesses into two categories: “Core Businesses” and “Standalone Businesses.” The coatings business—as well as Agricultural Solutions, Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions, and Battery Materials—was classified as a “Standalone Business.” According to Dr. Markus Kamieth, this reflects the fact that standalone businesses serve specific industries and have relatively low integration with BASF’s integrated value chain; going forward, BASF intends to unlock their inherent value. Financial data fully supports this “standalone” classification. In 2024, BASF Coatings generated sales of €4.28 billion—a 2.4% decline year-on-year. In 2023, coatings revenue totaled €4.387 billion, with transportation coatings (OEM + refinish) accounting for 65%, surface treatment for 23%, and decorative coatings for 12%. What does a stable, ~€4 billion annual revenue business mean for BASF? The answer is: it’s good—but not good enough. What BASF truly needs are businesses deeply embedded within its integrated value chain—capable of generating strong synergies. Although the coatings business is tightly linked to the automotive supply chain, it primarily serves as a downstream application segment, offering limited synergy with BASF’s upstream chemical and materials businesses.

BASF Rebrands Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions Unit as Metivo

5 days ago

BASF rebranded its Environmental Catalysts and Metal Solutions unit to Metivo during New York Platinum Week, advancing its independent business strategy. Specializing in emission catalysts and precious metal recycling, the unit operates across 30 global production sites with 4,400 employees.

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