OREANDA-NEWS. BASF Catalysts India Private Limited ("BASF") is expanding its mobile emissions catalysts production capacity in Chennai, India.

Construction of a new 47,000 square meter facility will begin in December 2013, enhancing the company's existing emissions catalysts operation in Chennai with new production lines and manufacturing capabilities. Startup is planned in the first quarter of 2015.

Upon project completion, a total of nine manufacturing lines will be housed in the new operating site, producing light duty, heavy duty and motorcycle emissions control catalysts to meet growing market demand and customer technology needs. Once operating at full capacity, the site is expected to employ approximately 300 people.

"The pending expansion of Bharat Stage IV (Euro IV equivalent) emissions control regulations in India combined with overall vehicle production growth will drive a significant increase in demand for our advanced emissions control solutions," said Anup Kothari, Vice President, Mobile Emissions Catalysts Asia Pacific. "BASF is investing to more than double our manufacturing capacity in India to help customers meet these emerging needs. At the same time, this expansion project will allow us to establish Chennai as our regional production hub to serve the fast-growing motorcycle manufacturing markets in India and ASEAN."

The expansion activity in Chennai will provide the necessary equipment and infrastructure to address the technology pathways developed with customers for BS IV compliant applications. In addition to existing catalysts technologies such as the TWC (Three-Way Catalyst), DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) and CSF (Catalyzed Soot Filter), the advanced SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology system will also be locally manufactured, ensuring world-class heavy duty diesel production capabilities in the region.