International. BASF's Coatings division has opened a new laboratory for OEM coatings for automobiles at its headquarters in Münster, Germany. The modular concept "Lean Lab" aims to ensure optimized, digitized and transparent processes and the efficient use of resources in the laboratory area throughout Europe.
The lab features a laboratory dosing machine developed especially for BASF, which it says is the only one of its kind in the coatings industry.
"BASF cooperates closely with all major car manufacturers around the world to develop advanced coating technologies. Through process digitalization, optimized resource utilization and automation, we can respond even more efficiently and meet the needs of our customers," said Dirk Bremm, President of BASF's Coatings division.
Since 2014, BASF has invested €24 million to completely refurbish an existing laboratory building for this purpose, including adding an additional story. The building now features four bright and airy laboratory levels, with spacious offices and state-of-the-art laboratories that are digitally connected. Discrete work processes are intelligently designed to encourage customer-specific product development, manufacture paint samples, and perform application testing. An optimized logistics concept also ensures that all materials for daily work, and only for this work, are available, which positively impacts resource efficiency.
A laboratory dosing machine that is unique in the coatings industry and was specifically built for the laboratory in Münster facilitates the work and ensures quality. BASF collaborated with machine manufacturer Fricke Dosing + Filling Systems in Minden, Germany, to develop the machine.
