According to the founder’s report, the Badische Anilin- und Soda Fabrik (BASF) was expected to last for only 25 years. Back in 1865, Friedrich Engelhorn had no idea that his start-up with 30 employees would be the world’s leading chemical company with around 113,000 employees in 80 countries 150 years later.
“Our success today is due in part to the fact that the right course was set years ago. Especially in chemistry, we are constantly building on the achievements of our predecessors,” says Ross Pilling, chairman and managing director, BASF Australia and New Zealand.
150 years give BASF an opportunity to look back and reflect, as well as to look forward.
There will be nine billion people living on our planet by 2050. How can we grow enough food for everyone and get the energy we need?
Realising it takes working together to solve these challenges ahead, BASF is taking a new approach to connecting with employees, customers, scientists and the public. The company has initiated a global co-creation program on the topics of urban living, food and smart energy. The Creator Space program brings the different groups together and provides a space for new ideas and collaborative solutions.
“The way we handle knowledge and creativity is undergoing radical change. The new logic is based on openness, cooperation and interaction. In the future, specialists will not be the only generators of new ideas. New concepts are just as likely to emerge from lively exchange between people of all levels of expertise – employees, stakeholders and non-experts,” says Pilling.
In Australia, BASF is celebrating its anniversary year by supporting the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) in its national campaign, Innovation Nation: 1000 ideas for a better Australia. Young Australians were invited to submit their ideas for building a better Australia.
“Innovation Nation has sparked an important national conversation about the kind of Australia our young people want to create. Our young people are brimming with ideas for how to create a stronger future for our country. It’s now up to all of us to back them to turn their ideas into reality," says Pilling.
BASF has selected its six finalists who will now enjoy mentoring opportunities and a day of co-creation with experts, including a live pitch with the chance to secure $10,000 in seed funding.
Milestones in BASF’s/Glasurit history
1888Merchant Max Winkelmann (1862-1935) establishes a company in Hamburg, Germany, to sell coatings and colourants. Five years later, he has five employees and starts to deliver his first own paint colour, “Kristallweiß” (crystal white). Steamer ships, naval ships and even the German Emperor Wilhelm II’s “Hohenzollern” imperial yacht are painted with the white paint, which is then also called “Hohenzollern white".
1898Ten years after its founding, the young successful company searches for an all-encompassing distinguishing mark for its paints and oils. From this point on, the newly coined word “Glasurit” is to emphasise the glaze-like hardness of the paint finish.
1965 BASF takes over Glasurit-Werke Max Winkelmann. This marks the launch of a coatings and colourants business within BASF.
1970 R-M, today automotive refinish brand of BASF, introduces the first waterborne OEM paints.
1972 BASF consolidates the paints, coatings, fibres and printing inks operations and parts of the pigment sector.
1986 The production of waterborne basecoats begins. These basecoats are used by Opel and Volvo one year later.
1992 BASF is the first paint manufacturer to implement an eco-efficient chromate-free universal primer for the coil coatings process. The waterborne “Glasurit 90 Line” automotive refinish system is introduced for the first time in 1992.
1995 R-M’s colour identification tool, Colormaster, is launched and revolutionises colour matching.
2002 Acquisition of the automotive coatings business from Wattyl Ltd. in Sydney, Australia (automotive refinish coatings and automotive OEM coatings).
2009 BASF develops iGloss, an innovative automotive OEM clearcoat. It not only has a brilliant appearance, but also provides long-lasting scratch resistance, has a long life cycle and is resistant to environmental impacts.
2013 New Refinish Competence Centres (RCC) in Clermont, France; Cesano Maderno, Italy and Sydney, Australia will offer customers an opportunity to learn, practice and fully master the use of BASF’s automotive refinish products.
The BASF experts develop a new basecoat, “XSpark". It contains very fine glass particles that reflect the light with greater precision, creating a pronounced sparkle.