FLORHAM PARK, NJ -- BASF Corporation has announced the opening of their new epoxy composite laboratory at its technical center in Tarrytown, NY. The new epoxy composite laboratory brings together BASFs comprehensive technical capabilities for epoxy systems, under its Baxxodur brand to support the development of new epoxy composite applications. It offers a wide range of facilities for simulating a customers production processes with Baxxodur resin systems and the ability to develop tailored solutions for customers specific process conditions. In addition, BASF has increased its technical support team with experts who provide on-site customer support.

"This investment reinforces BASFs commitment to the wind energy market and will help us serve our customers better by providing fast and reliable technical support tailored to their needs", said Teressa Szelest, Senior Vice President of BASFs Chemical Intermediates Division.

Composites based on thermosetting epoxy resin systems have become an established material for the production of modern wind turbine rotor blades. Baxxodur epoxy systems can be processed significantly faster, over a wider temperature range than conventional systems, thereby increasing flexibility in production and allowing blade manufacturers to produce parts of higher quality in significantly reduced cycle times, offering up to 30% improvement in production efficiency.

The new laboratory provides synergy with cluster of analytical services and application development resources of multiple BASF business units. This investment in North America is part of BASFs overall strategy to provide customers with a global network of technical support. BASF also has epoxy composite technical centers in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Shanghai, China.

BASF will be exhibiting its products for the wind energy market at the JEC Composites Show, Porte de Versailles, Hall 1, booth G 17 in Paris, France, March 29-31, 2011.