LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany (Nov. 25, 2009)—BASF A.G. plans to end production of XSB carboxylated styrene-butadiene latex paper coating binders at three sites in Europe by mid-2010.
The move will cut about 40 percent of the firm's XSB capacity on the continent, and cause about 40 job losses.
The capacity cutbacks will take place at sites in Guturribay, Spain; Kaipiainen, Finland; and Ribecourt, France. Production will be consolidated at factories in Hamina, Finland; Ludwigshafen, Germany; and Pischelsdorf, Austria, BASF said.
The consolidation will yield significant capacity utilization at those sites, the firm said.
BASF's paper coating binder business is suffering from unsatisfactory profitability because of an overcapacity situation in Europe, the firm said.