BASF construction Chemicals

Local Experience - Global Expertise

BASF, the world's leading chemical company with its portfolio ranging from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. At BASF, we combine economic success, social responsibility with 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 €73.5 billion 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).

BASF Construction Chemicals Division, wholly owned by the BASF India Limited, operates across India, Nepal and Bhutan. The market segmented structure means that people can rely on the proximity of a local company with the backing of a global group.

"Local experience, Global expertise" is the motto followed by the company to provide latest trends and products systems to the Indian construction Industry. The sales and support is provided by well qualified engineers, trained in India and abroad. The company has been pioneer in introduction of latest generation concrete admixtures for self-compacting concrete, alkali free accelerators for sprayed concrete, spray polyurethane for waterproofing, poly-urea for concrete protection and polyurethane concrete floors for highest level of ruggedness & hygiene maintenance.

The quality systems in production, distribution and sales & marketing forms an integral part of company’s culture. In addition to the own global standards, the quality management system complies with ISO 9001: 2008 and environment management system complies with ISO 14001: 2004. The company comprises manufacturing plants for liquid admixtures, powder and resin products; located at Navi Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Kolkata and Nalagarh. A Construction Technology Development Centre, Training facility and several branches provide products, technical and marketing services to contractors, consultants and owners. We also exports products to affiliate companies’ worldwide.

Integrated solutions

The result of specifying BASF as a single source of supply is a guarantee of value, performance and durability of inclusive systems, supplied against the highest international quality standards.

A single source of supply provides the benefits of one point of contact for the consultants, contractors and a single point of material responsibility for the client.

No other single manufacturer can offer such complete, complimentary systems or tailor integrated solutions to often complex site dynamics.

BASF’s product includes Integrated System Packages for Airports & Cargo Handling, Automobile assembling, Bridges & flyovers, Car parks & podiums, Chemicals & mineral processing, Electronics manufacturing, Food and beverage production, Foundation protection, Hospitals & Health care, Industrial construction, IT & ITeS office spaces, Kitchens & Catering facilities, Luxurious & Mass Housing, Oil, Gas and petrochemicals, Pharmaceutical & Biotech, Ports, Jetties & marines construction, Power project construction, Precast concrete production, Rails and Highways, Ready mix concrete, Schools & Education institutes, Shopping malls and showrooms, Swimming pools & water bodies, Tunnelling & mining, Ware housing, Water treatment & storage and Watertight construction joints.

Built Expressions in conversation with Mr. Upen Patel, Business Director - South Asia, BASF India Limited, Construction Chemicals Division, posed a few questions about marketing strategy adopted and future plans of the company. Excerpts below;

1. What are the recent market trends in water proofing prevailing in the present scenario? How has been the growth of the industry in the last few years? 

   Waterproofing of buildings and structures is rapidly expanding market segment in construction chemicals. During past ten years Indian Construction Industry has moved from traditional methods of using stone, bricks and lime to chemical, polymeric and pre-formed membranes. This change has made chemical waterproofing business grow +25% CAGR in last 10 years.

2. What are your marketing strategies to meet the cometition among others as the construction market has seen an upswing rise in the recent past?

   Competition creates awareness on wide spectrum of waterproofing solutions and makes market grow faster. At BASF we differentiate by our total solution approach and work together with the designers at the beginning of the project and stay connected till the rightful execution of the solutions. BASF team is well experienced and supported by our global experts, this helps up solve customer challenges and provide dependable and long performing solutions. Once a BASF customer is then customer forever!

3. What are the latest technologies to check leak detection in waterproofing membrane? How is it advanced in India?

   In case of single-ply membranes using high-pressure air detection method is widely popular, besides using vacuum system. For spray applied membranes, leak detection is done through electrical conductance method. Customers still prefers water-ponding tests in many cases and that too with dye you can source the origin but can be difficult to implement in existing buildings.

4. Is there a lack of awareness in the use of construction chemicals in the water proofing industry?  If so, what are your suggestions to improve the status?

   Lack of awareness is reducing at the overall level, but more awareness is required on right selection of waterproofing systems and understanding their limitations. If you select to use integral approach like Crystalline waterproofing, focus is required on surface preparation, Fog curing and finally on the construction joint treatments and treatments to post-construction cracks in concrete. In case of pre-formed membranes engineering detailings are not-standardized and also many materials are available to confuse the designers.Tell us about the latest launch in the products and your plans for the year 2013.

   We still lac Indian guidelines for selection and usage of modern waterproofing materials and existing building code is very old and needs revision.

5. Tell us about the latest launch in the products and your plans for the year 2013.

   At BASF, we are focusing on easy-to-use range of waterproofing for wet-rooms and spray applied systems for complex situations. Also would create more awareness on watertight injections for stopping active leaks in basements.

   As a leading player in admixtures for concrete, we would like to challenge designers to design more and more basements with watertight concrete concept, which would reduce dependence on waterproofing membranes and allow for durable and long lasting structures. Once the water enters the concrete structure it would not only leak but corrode reinforced concrete and reduce the life of the structure.

6. What is BASF vision for the next decade? What are the strategies to achieve it? 

   At BASF, we create chemistry for sustainable future. We innovate to make our customers more successful. We drive sustainable solutions. We achieve this by attracting and developing the talent and forming the best team in the industry which works very closely with customers and stake holders in construction industry.

Mr. Upen Patel Profile

Upen Patel is the Business Director, BASF Construction Chemicals (India) Pvt. Limited. Mr. Patel is a Civil Engineer from Sardar Patel University.  He has more than 17 years of extensive experience in Construction Chemicals Sector. Mr. Patel started his career with Fosroc, one of the first Multi-national construction chemicals co to enter in India.   He joined BASF Construction Chemicals in 2002 and has served the company in various Functions like Sales, Marketing and Business Management. As a Business Director for South Asia, he is responsible for business across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, Maldives and Bhutan.

Mr. Patel is Vice-President of Construction Chemicals Manufacturer's Association (CCMA) of India. Mr. Patel is member of many standards forming committees of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) and also a member of American Concrete Institute and Indian Concrete Institute.

Mr. Patel has been trained internationally on many jobsites and has travelled extensively in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Mr. Patel has presented many technical papers related to Construction Chemicals in various seminars, trade journals and magazines.

Website: www.basf-cc.co.in

Tel: +91 22 2858 0200