BASF developments with aqueous pressuresensitive adhesives

Two factors have been decisive for the success of self-adhesive items in the past 60 years: aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesives (first developed by BASF in 1942) and the coating technology. With the further development of coating systems and the development of BASF's own systems such as the vario-gravure coating process and the new two-chamber doctor blade AGS 2500 S system, BASF has made a name for itself as a leader in this particular coating technology.

To back this up, BASF in Ludwigshafen, together with Pagendarm BTT GmbH, is building a technical center facility for aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesives that is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 1500 meters per minute. BASF will then have the fastest coating machine for pressure-sensitive adhesives in the world. Joint trials with customers are planned to start in 2003. The new facility is part of a capital expenditure programme of euro 5 million, under which the technical centre for pressure-sensitive adhesives is currently being modernized. In this connection the existing facility of Pagendarm will be revamped for the sole use of UV hot-melt adhesives at a maximum speed of 600 metres per minute.