BASF Breaks Ground on New Resins Plant in Michigan

BASF officially broke ground July 16, 2007 for its new resins plant in Wyandotte, MI, joined by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Wyandotte Mayor Jim DeSana and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. The plant is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2009, and will produce the JONCRYL products that BASF acquired when it purchased Wisconsin-based Johnson Polymer one year ago.

The construction project will cost in excess of $150 million.

During the ground breaking ceremony at BASF’s site led by general manager Ed Nuernberg, BASF executives  Patrick Prevost, president of BASF’s Global Performance Chemicals Division, and Millicent Pitts, group vice president of BASF’s Performance Chemicals for Coatings, Plastics and Specialties Division spoke to the approximately 100 in attendance. Mr. Prevost and Ms. Pitts were quick to acknowledge the efforts of BASF employees and the city, county and state officials in attendance.

“I would like to thank you for your strong personal engagement over the past year as we prepared for the transfer of technical, commercial and production activities from Wisconsin to Wyandotte,” Mr. Prevost said. “The level of spirited cooperation you have shown during these efforts will also inspire our plant construction. You have convinced me that Wyandotte, MI is the right place to build a highly-customer-oriented BASF center in North America.”  

Governor Granholm underscored the importance of BASF’s growth in Wyandotte as part of her statewide economic strategy. “The fact that these jobs are moving to Michigan from another state is a testament to our competitive, pro-business environment,” she said. “This new BASF facility will provide the type of good-paying jobs that we are working to bring to communities across our state.”

During the site selection process for the new plant, BASF received an attractive package of incentives from the state of Michigan, Wayne County and Wyandotte City Council. In addition to these incentives, BASF considered the proximity of the facility both to employees who will be relocated from Wisconsin and to the business’s North American customer base.