BASF opens Attapulgus R&D center. Published 2:48 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026 BASF Vice President Jan Donath cuts the ribbon on BASF's new R&D facility last Wednesday, with Site Director Mark Herring at left and Global R&D Director Marius Vaarkamp at right. Representatives from the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, Decatur County Board of Commissioners, Decatur County Board of Education, City of Bainbridge, and City of Attapulgus were also present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Ethan Benn/The Post-Searchlight BASF opened a new research and development center in Attapulgus last Wednesday, bringing a state-of-the-art facility to its existing Decatur County site. Vice President Jan Donath said the company moved its R&D lab from New Jersey to Georgia because its three manufacturing sites are also based in the state. The new facility allows different teams to work together on the same site - and it's much easier to run a sample up the hill than mail it to the Northeast. "This is our commitment to the state of Georgia, and it makes absolute sense that we have our R&D lab now located also in Georgia," Donath said. "Innovation is crucial to remain competitive, and from out of Georgia, we serve the world." BASF makes catalysts that help refiners make more or better quality gasoline from oil, Global R&D Director Marius Vaarkamp explained. But creating those catalysts takes serious research. "We need different formulations, different chemistry, and that's actually what we're doing and developing here," he said. The Post-Searchlight - as well as representatives from the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, Decatur County Board of Commissioners, Decatur County Board of Education, City of Bainbridge, and City of Attapulgus - toured the new facility. Some employees were already at work developing new products and testing catalysts, which is at the "core of the laboratory's work," according to BASF. The Attapulgus site has been occupied for over a century, Site Director Mark Herring said, though catalyst production began in the 1970s. "Our job is to make sure it's many more years that [we're] here," he said. Herring added that having manufacturing and R&D on the same site is a "beautiful scene," and BASF will be better for it. "[Fluid Catalytic Cracking] production has been in this great community of Attapulgus for 53 years," he said. "Let the generations of the next 53 years look back at this day as another milestone for Decatur County."

BASF strategically develops its Ultradur(R) portfolio for drinking water and food contact applications. New food-contact grades ensure regulatory compliance and business continuity * Clear and transparent differentiation between Ultradur(R) Aqua grades and dedicated food-contact grades for drinking water respectively food-contact applications * New Ultradur(R) food-contact grades ensure long-term regulatory compliance and guarantee business continuity for food-contact applications * The new glass-fibre-reinforced Ultradur(R) FC grades comply with the EU requirements for materials without BPA coming into force in July 2026 BASF Engineering Plastics is positioning its Ultradur(R) portfolio for drinking water and food-contact applications with a clear focus on the future. As a first step, BASF will offer two clearly differentiated product lines for glass-fibre-reinforced materials: proven Aqua grades for drinking water applications and dedicated FC (Food Contact) grades for use in food-contact applications. This approach provides a transparent and reliable basis for safe material selection - both today and in the future. In response to evolving regulatory requirements, food-contact grades will now be clearly designated as such and will hold the corresponding certifications for food-contact applications. Customers benefit from clear guidance and the assurance that they can continue to rely on high-performance and compliant Ultradur(R) solutions. This portfolio development is driven by Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, published in December 2024. Following the end of the transition period on July 20, 2026, the regulation bans the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols classified as hazardous in plastics, coatings, and varnishes intended for food contact. BASF has proactively addressed these changes by further developing its Ultradur(R) food-contact portfolio to continue offering reliable solutions to customers over the long term. Advanced Ultradur(R) FC grades for food contact applications Among the materials affected by the new EU regulation were certain glass fibre reinforced Ultradur(R) food-contact grades, which required targeted formulation adjustments. BASF has taken this as an opportunity to systematically further develop and future-proof its food-contact portfolio. Today, the following Ultradur(R) grades without BPA with valid food-contact certifications are already available, among others: * Ultradur(R) B4300G6 FC UN * Ultradur(R) B4300G6 FC BK15136 * Ultradur(R) B4300G4 FC R03 UN * Ultradur(R) B4300G4 FC BK15136 These materials cover a wide range of applications in the food sector - from components for coffee machines and cookware to parts for industrial food processing, conveyor systems, and handling equipment for eggs and other food products. In this way, BASF supports customers in the safe continuation of existing applications while also enabling future developments. Ultradur(R) Aqua grades remain available as a separate portfolio To ensure the continuity of existing drinking water certifications at the customer level, the established Aqua grades will remain available with unchanged formulations and continue to be marketed under their current product names. These products are specifically designed for water and drinking water applications and will continue to form the reliable foundation of this portfolio. However, despite similar naming conventions, glass-fibre-reinforced Aqua grades will no longer carry food-contact certifications going forward. By clearly differentiating between Aqua and food-contact materials within the Ultradur(R) family, BASF provides transparency and planning certainty for processors, OEMs and brand owners. At a glance, customers can identify which engineering plastics grades are approved for drinking water and which are suitable for food contact - enabling them to align their material choices early and confidently with future regulatory requirements. About BASF At BASF, the company creates chemistry for a sustainable future. Its ambition: it wants to be the preferred chemical company to enable customers' green transformation. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. BASF's portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions and Nutrition & Care; its standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around EUR60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States.