Environmentally Friendly Corrosion Protection from BASF S Cathoguard 800

Environmentally friendly corrosion protection from BASF’s CathoGuard 800

Ø US Carmaker General Motors changes to BASF’s new environmentally friendly e-coat CathoGuard 800 technology

Detroit / Münster. CathoGuard® 800 is BASF´s latest e-coat technology for OEM car manufacturers. Because CathoGuard 800 is tin-free and contains less solvent the technology is considered to be environmentally friendly, a key attribute of products used by automakers. General Motors (GM) has transitioned to BASF’s CathoGuard 800 cathodic e-coat at its plants throughout the world – including in Russia, China, Brazil and North America, helping the automaker to realize the benefits of the technology in all regions.

Joe Schmondiuk, BASF, Vice President, Global Accounts OEM Coating Solutions, stated: “I’m especially pleased that GM has changed to CathoGuard 800 all over the world. It demonstrates the way we work together to advance sustainable solutions.” E-coating is a process in which the car body moves through an e-coat bath, where paint particles are deposited on the steel panels with the aid of an electric current. This coating layer protects the car from corrosion. CathoGuard 800 not only guarantees ideal protection for the metal, but is also especially sustainable. The fact that the technology contains less than one percent solvents makes it very environmentally friendly. In addition, it is tin-free and, as such, already complies with future European environmental legislation. Additionally, the product’s exceptional throw power provides outstanding e-coat coverage and corrosion protection for the hard to reach cavities in the vehicle.

GM initiated the changeover to CathoGuard 800 in 2009. SGM Yantai III in China is the most recent plant to implement the changeover in 2012. This makes a total of eleven plants at which GM bodies will be taking an environmentally friendlier bath.

BASF and General Motors are connected by a long standing partnership. For instance, BASF recently received the “GM Global Supplier of the Year Award for 2011,” the eighth time it has been awarded the coveted distinction by General Motors in the past ten years. BASF was named Supplier of the Year for its outstanding performance as a global paint supplier to General Motors.

About BASF Coatings

BASF Coatings develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints. BASF has significant market positions in the Coatings sector in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia Pacific region. In 2011 BASF Coatings achieved global sales of 2.8 billion Euros. The internet address of BASF Coatings is www.basf-coatings.com. You can download a copy of BASF customer magazine Coatings Partner from www.coatingspartner.com

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.