BASF starts commercial production of Elastollan FR TPU in Shanghai

BASF has begun commercial production of its Elastollan Flame-Retardant (FR) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) grade at its Shanghai plant, with supply starting this month. The move strengthens the company’s local manufacturing footprint in Asia Pacific and is intended to accelerate responsiveness and application development for regional cable manufacturers.

The Shanghai TPU facility is now qualified to produce both halogen-free flame-retardant (FHF) and conventional FR grades of Elastollan, giving BASF a broad portfolio of flame-retardant TPU solutions produced locally. The milestone builds on the plant’s 2023 localisation of the FHF series for Asia Pacific customers.

With the addition of the FR series, BASF says it can offer enhanced flame-retardant performance for more demanding operating environments. The company positions the new capacity as particularly relevant for cable applications in industrial automation, robotics and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure—segments that are experiencing rapid growth and tightening safety requirements across the region.

By manufacturing both FHF and FR grades in Shanghai, BASF aims to support customers in meeting local compliance standards while reducing lead times and improving supply chain reliability. Local production is also expected to facilitate closer technical collaboration, enabling faster material qualification and customised formulation work for specialised flame-retardant requirements.

Elastollan TPU is widely used in cable jacketing and sheathing applications due to its combination of mechanical strength, abrasion resistance and flexibility. The expansion of FR production capacity in Shanghai underlines BASF’s strategy of aligning materials manufacturing more closely with high-growth downstream sectors in Asia Pacific, particularly electrification and advanced manufacturing.

“Local production of FR grades that combine superior flame-retardant efficiency with excellent mechanical performance enables us to respond faster to specific technical requirements of the regional market while strengthening our competitive position in strategic segments—not only in cable applications, but also in specialty tubes, hoses and belt sectors moving forward,” said Rohit Roop Ghosh, vice president, business management TPU, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.

Photo: ©BASF

BASF