About us

Competence in polyurethane

As a part of the BASF group, “The chemical company”, we have over 40 years of experience in the PU industry. BASF is market and technology leader in the area of polyurethane systems, special elastomers and PU primers. Our head office in Lemförde (Germany) serves as technology centre for BASF polyurethane worldwide.

BASF Nederland B.V. in Boxtel has been active as a system house since 1976, specializing in polyurethane systems for the broadest possible range of applications.

Our quality standard, recognized by the market as one of the highest and most consistent, has remained unchanged. The transition to BASF has helped broaden our know-how base, allowing us to offer our customers better service and support innovation and creativity more effectively, allowing you to further strengthen your position. You can rest assured that we will maintain the high level of service you have come to expect from us.

Organisation

BASF Nederland B.V. is a private company

The structure of the company comprises technical-commercial specialists supported by product stewardship in order to optimally attend to you as customer.

BASF Nederland B.V. has a team of enthusiastic employees all of whom work in Boxtel.

In order to guarantee our knowledge in polyurethanes and the processing in the future, BASF Nederland B.V. invest a lot in employee training.

Boxtel: Location and facilities

BASF Nederland B.V. is situated since 1990 in a purpose built premises situated in the industrial park 'Ladonk' in Boxtel (NL).

The company is provided with a modern production setting, well equipped laboratories for both development and quality control. The logistical aspects of supply, warehousing, production and delivery of goods, packaged or in bulk, were meticulously planned during designing of the complex.

BASF Nederland B.V. is proud that many visitors are amazed at the order and cleanliness of the laboratory and production facilities. This express themselves in the high-class quality of all intermediate products supplied by BASF Nederland B.V.

BASF Nederland B.V. manufactures principally to customer orders using our own formulations to produce polyurethane intermediates. Depending on the formulation, amount, capacity and type of package BASF Nederland B.V. can choose the most suitable tank for production.

BASF Nederland B.V. is also an ideal partner, having more than two decades of experience, for toll-blending of related products according to your formulations.

The following production equipment among others is available:

Mixing tanks with capacities from 1.000 tot 40.000 kg
Filling stations for drums and IBC's
Piggable piping
Covered loading/unloading facilities for packaged and bulk materials

Raw materials are charged to the mixing unit by weight using advanced weighing systems.

Both production halls, development and machine laboratories as well as the covered loading/unloading area are sealed with a polyurethane coating system. A special liquid containment system ensures that their is no ground contamination.

In the office section, externally sign posted as Expedition, the logistic centre of BASF Nederland B.V. can be found. In one room the following tasks are represented:

Order processing
Production scheduling
Shipping
Buying

This combination of tasks means short communication lines which provides a quicker response to your orders.

For the storage of packaged material BASF Nederland B.V. has a warehouse with a capacity for 1200 pallets of which 100 are situated in a warm room. A special forklift is used for incoming and outgoing materials.

The stock is controlled with a barcode registration system.

Development laboratory

In a combined action by development, technique, buying and management the first steps are taken that may lead to improved or new polyurethane systems. BASF Nederland B.V invests a lot of time and money in development so that you, the customer, can use our products in the future. We also take into account outside influences such as:

Environmental regulations
Availability of current raw materials
Application of new raw materials

Machine laboratory

BASF Nederland B.V. supplies polyurethane systems and not finished products. The optimum formulation can only be provided if the processing parameters and physical properties are known.

BASF Nederland B.V. has at its disposal a comprehensive machine park in order to test the processing of the systems developed. These include:

Spray machines for processing coating systems
Spray machine for processing rigid foam systems
High-pressure machine and press for discontinuous panels
High-pressure machine for structural foam systems
Low-pressure machine for non-cellular materials and adhesives
High-pressure machine with pentane pre-mixing
Small press for test panels using handmix techniques

Physical-Chemical laboratory

For the testing of raw materials and polyurethane systems BASF Nederland B.V. has a well equipped laboratory. With the help of sophisticated instruments the important properties for polyurethane such as: percentage water, hydroxyl value, amine value, viscosity and isocyanate content can be measured.

Physical - mechanical laboratory

The principal properties of polyurethane end products can also be measured in house:

Flexural-, compressive, tensile strength
Dimensional stability (e.g. 70 °C and 95 % relative humidity)
Thermal conductivity
Hardness (Shore A and Shore D)
Impact strength
Water adsorption
Fire performance (B2-test)

Based on the new standard for CE labeling of insulation products BASF Nederland B.V. utilizes approved institutes for tests that cannot be performed inside the company.

History

BASF Nederland B.V., at start known as PCC, has since its foundation in 1976 expanded to the company it is today: a healthy and well-equipped company with a faithful customer circle, reliable suppliers and advisers and an enthusiastic team of employees.

An important milestone was reached on the 1st December 2001 when PCC celebrated its 25th anniversary. This was celebrated with our employees, partners and selected guests.

The main them of the evening was "innovation". Not only our own innovations were spotlighted but also important innovations from the past.

We look back with much pleasure to this day and thank everyone who has played a role in our existence.

1976 - 1980

Polymer Chemical Company BV, in short PCC BV started in 1976 in Oisterwijk as a small company.

Despite the moderate size of the company the first innovative products were developed in this period, e.g. quick curing polyurethane systems for laminators and free-foam units.

These systems provided improved adhesion and smooth surfaces on chipboard, and were used as insulation elements in roofing aplications.

Other innovations from this period was the glueing of chip-board by a polymer instead of the work intensive tongue and groove technique, as well as the glueing of flax and wood shavings producing high quality chip-board for the building industry. Good flowing systems for the production of discontinuous panels were an important part of PCC developments.

Diverse products such as boats steering wheels, arm rests for chairs, oak furniture (chests), chess figures, brushes and brooms were made for third parties.

Charlie Chaplin

Innovation can also be found in humour. Charlie Chaplin was the one who, with his inimitable mime and his unique personality, created a new form of comedy. He appeared at the PCC anniversary as though he had just stepped out of the film "The Gold Rush".

1981 - 1985

During this period the development of vastly improved systems for the production of panels for refrigerators, cold-storage rooms and reefers were an innovative step.

In 1982 the first surf-boards with a foam core from PCC were manufactured.

A few years later the whole of Europe were surfing on boards made in this way.

Because the heavy boards were soon "Out" lighter PUR systems with improved properties had to be developed. PCC took up the challenge and were influential in the development of systems with reduced density and shorter demould times.

At the same time further developments were in progress including rigid integral skin systems for window frames and non-foaming casting polyurethane to prevent cold bridges in aluminium window profiles.

Other systems in this period were developed for spray and block foams and rigid foam systems for the production, on a 2,5 m wide laminator, of large sandwich panels with gypsum facing boards for prefabricated houses.

Jules Verne

The french author Jules Verne was endowed with a flourishing phantasy. He foresaw the devolpment of submarines and airships and dreamed of undertaking such a flight himself. Michael Shalton dreamed the same dream during the 25th PCC anniversary and undertook an experimental flight.

1986 - 1990

Aufgrund der Notwendigkeit einer Ausbreitung siedelte die Firma um nach Boxtel.

Innerhalb von 3 Monaten wurde der alte Betrieb enträumt und in einem gemieteten Hallen-Komplex ein kompletter Produktionsbetrieb mit Büroräumen, Sozialräumen, Laboratorien und Fertigungsräumen aufgebaut ohne Produktionsstillstand und damit eine störungsfreie Versorgung unserer Kunden gewährleistet.

PCC wollte der erste Lieferant sein der den Markt mit FCKW-freien PUR-Systemen beliefern konnte. Wir hatten Erfolg. 1 Jahr vor dem Verbot des Treibmittels R11 waren alle Kunden umgestellt auf die neue umweltfreundliche Treibmittelgeneration.

Die weltweit erste Dosiermaschine für wassergetriebene PUR-Hartschaumsysteme produzierte Trennwände für Schwimmbäder mit größtem Erfolg. Durch den Ankauf einer 2K-Spritzanlage war PCC in der Lage, sowohl verbesserte Ortschäume, als auch spritzfähige hochreaktive Coatings zu entwickeln.

Die Vermarktung einer neuartigen Schäumanlage, der sogenannte "Panelfoamer"machte es möglich, Verbundelemente mit halbierter Formstandzeit und 10% reduzierter Rohdichte beim Einsatz geeigneter PUR-Systeme herzustellen. Auch hier spielte PCC eine führende Rolle.

Der menschliche Roboter

Aus der heutigen Industriegesellschaft ist der Roboter nicht mehr wegzudenken. Er übernimmt eintönige Arbeiten und erleichtert die Arbeit. Wir haben uns an den mechanischen Kollegen gewöhnt. Aber auf Festveranstaltungen ist er eher selten zu finden. Nicht so bei PCC.

1991 - 1995

Slowly but surely the factory was too small. A new building complex was erected in Hemelrijk in Boxtel where we can still be found today. Again the production and storage capacity were considerably expanded.The expanded capacity enables PCC to have a high level of flexibility and a faster delivery capability. Furthermore, modern laboratories, offices and social rooms were provided.

The development of CFC free PUR foam systems provided new possibilities.

A series of new decorative mouldings with lower densities and higher strength could be produced. Castings systems were also used in rotational mouldings. The first full polyurethane house doors were manufactured by injecting non-cellular systems onto glass reinforced polyurethane plates with a rigid polyurethane foam core. These doors provided some protection against burglary. Also profiled insulation panels were continuously produced using PUR.

The airship (Zeppelin)

Some innovations fall into oblivion. And then suddenly, unexpected, they are again in the limelight. Even the Zeppelin is now of general interest. Also at the 25th annivarsary of PCC where the Zeppelin with PCC logo flew over the heads of the guests creating admiration.

1996 - 2000

An increased demand for toll-blending activities threatened a capacity shortage. Therefore, it was decided in 1996 to build a new hall and a covered loading and unloading area for lorries and tankers. Included were a new laboratory, offices for the back-office and storage for 1200 pallet places (100 warmed) with the necessary loading equipment.

Again the production and storage capacities were extended. Pigable pipe lines and a loading unit for tankers completed the production equipment. It has not only been new buildings but product development has been significantly intensified.

To the innovative products belong semifinished products for the manufacture of water blown structural foams with high scratch resistance at lower densities, water blown rigid foam systems for warm water heaters, pentane blown systems for diverse applications, low density foams for non-packaging uses, rigid foam with increased flame resistance also without inclusion of halogens. For these developments the necessary machinery has been bought.

The latest developments are sprayable, non-cellular, 2 component high solid coatings for use in building protection, in the reparation of pipes and tanks, both under and above ground,

as well as sprayable, liquid films for automobile and building applications. Polyurethane, polyurea and hybrids form the raw material basis. Some examples are: Aviation coatings, TechCoat products, dashboard films and tank coatings for corrosion protection.

Laser

The laser technique is an inovation of significant importance. It is utilised in industry and medical treatment. That a laser can also make possible visual aspects that can astonish, was proven by the lasershow on our 25th anniversary party

2001 - 2005

PCC obtains the environmental standard ISO 14001

The roots of the environmental care system of Polymer Chemical Company can be traced back to 1996 before the ISO 14001 was available. PCC went to great pains to change the then existing system based on BS 7750 to the NEN - EN ISO 14001.

The external certification was performed by TÜV NL QA.

PCC achieved this standard without any deviations wherebye the ISO 14001 logo may be placed next to the logo for ISO 9001.

PCC, by obtaining this certificate, wanted to show that environmental care is a serious part of its company policy.

A new mixer arrived

At the beginning of July 2006 a new mixing tank was put in use.

This tank has a capacity of 15000 kg and replaces a mixing tank of 9000 kg which had been in use since 1986.

PCC continues to develop and innovate. That was the case during the past and will be so in the future, because PCC strives for a leading position in market niches for rigid polyurethane.

Quality, customer selectivity, reliabity and efficency have a high priority.

2006 - 2010

01.04.2007: Elastogran takes over Polymer Chemical Company B.V (PCC)

As an independent systemhouse PCC has been working on the creative development of systems with various applications over the past thirty years. From rigid isolation systems for discontinuous production processes to crack bridging coatings for parking decks and from rigid systems for continuous production processes to polyurea systems for the protection of concrete. PCC has developed it all by itself over the last thirty years. This due to our highly motivated team of personnel with the help of our business partners and stakeholders.

In order to be able to further optimize the level of service and support towards our customers in a world where economies of scale have become a key issue a strong cooperation with a strategic partner has become a necessity. It is our honest opinion that this guarantees continuity for both our customers as well as for our personnel.

It is therefore that we have the pleasure of informing you that our long term partner Elastogran has decided to take over PCC (provided the cartel authorities give their

Permission). After the take over PCC will continue its activities within the Elastogran group whereby the contactpersons will remain.

You can be assured that we will continue to render the high service level that you are used to. It is our full conviction that the combination of creativity and know-how of Elastogran and PCC will strengthen both our position.

01.6.2010: Name change for Elastogran companies

Following the introduction of the BASF corporate brand for European polyurethane sites, the next step is to change the names of Elastogran companies. For instance, Elastogran B.V. located in Boxtel (NL) will be called BASF Polyurethanes Benelux B.V. from now on. This is in keeping with a system already introduced on a global scale. The name change will not affect the legal form of the companies concerned. Nor will the renaming affect existing agreements such as employment contracts or customer contracts.

The Elastogran name lives on in the BASF brand “PU Solutions Elastogran,” which was recently launched throughout Europe. It stands for the polyurethane system and specialty elastomer market leader’s more than 40 years of experience and customer focus. “The name change is an important indicator of BASF’s commitment to its European PU business and helps strengthen the BASF brand overall,” said Jacques Delmoitiez, President BASF Polyurethanes.