BASF Enters Four Innovative Products in the 2012 International Plastics Design Competition

WYANDOTTE, Mich., March 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In addition to displaying new plastic products and technologies at booth 24000 at the NPE2012 international plastics exposition in Orlando, BASF -- the world's leading chemical company -- is entering four products in the International Plastics Design Competition taking place during the show.

The competition, which helps designers and manufacturers of components and finished products display their most innovative achievements before tens of thousands of professionals at the world's largest plastics conference, is open to any product for any end-use market and country. Categories include applications such as innovative packaging, medical products, bio-process systems, nanotechnology, energy efficiency and bio-based materials.

BASF's four entries in this year's competition are:

• Mobilegs - Designed to completely transform the world of assisted mobility for individuals who have suffered an injury, have joint pain or other mobility issues, Mobilegs offers a new take on traditional crutches. The crutches offer a mobility solution that is agile and functional while still being comfortable.  The saddle frame is made from BASF's Ultramid® B3EG6 -- a glass-filled nylon material. Mobi, LLC, Minneapolis, is the creator and designer of this product.
• 111 Navy Chair by Emeco - Created using 111 recycled soda bottles per chair, the 111 Navy Chair by Emeco, Hanover, Penn., is produced from BASF's Petra® post-consumer recycled PET.  The chair is engineered to meet meticulous cosmetic and rigorous performance requirements, while being designed for ease of disassembly at end of life use. The chair can be used in settings such as homes, fast food restaurants, schools and museum cafeterias.
• Compostable Multilayer Packaging Structure - This packaging structure from BASF Corporation is a prototype for snack bags but has the potential to be used in many other applications. The structure is not only completely compostable but also consists of only six layers -- fewer than in conventional structures. Each layer is produced with a BASF material.  Since current multiplayer packaging is neither recyclable nor compostable, use of BASF's structure can result in helping to turn what would otherwise be landfill waste into a usable, valuable product. It also helps improve landfill diversion rates for "Zero Waste" initiatives in cities, sports venues, convention halls, universities, and more.
• Thermoplastic Oil Pan Module - Designed by BASF and MAHLE North America, Novi, Mich., with Chrysler Group LLC, this oil pan module with an up-hill oil channeling design offers several benefits over traditional metallic oil pan systems. It contributes to improved fuel efficiency by reducing oil pan weight by 40 percent, and also reduces costs, since the tooling investment required for the oil pan is 50 percent less than for traditional pans. The thermoplastic pan also matches acoustic and vibration performance of an aluminum pan, and has improved impact resistance to stone impact due to a high performance composite used in its formulation.

To see all the 2012 entries and vote, visit the International Plastics Design Competition's People's Choice page . The winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 3, during the show.

Registered trademarks are property of BASF SE and BASF Corporation.

BASF -- The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.9 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

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 euro 73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

SOURCE BASF