BASF and Schütz have announced that the pair have signed an agreement to construct a highly automated production and storage facility for intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) at BASF's headquarters in Ludwigshafen.
The new IBC production facility will ensure a secure and long-term supply of industrial packaging for the BASF plant. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
Schütz said in the joint statement that it has partnered with BASF to develop a strategy to supply industrial packaging by integrating a new IBC manufacturing plant next to BASF's factory. The plan features a modern digitalised packaging warehouse within the production facility and promotes the reuse, reconditioning and recycling of used containers.
"This project is not only a bold signal for sustainable site development; it also stands for highly-efficient, customer-specific on-site solutions and the further expansion of our role as a strategic partner to the industrial sector," said Roland Strassburger, CEO of the Schütz Group.
"The targeted attraction of long-standing partners and the investment in production capacities close to the site create decisive structural advantages for our main plant," added Helmut Winterling, President European Verbund Sites, BASF SE.
"The integration of IBC manufacturing into our material and production cycles strengthens our competitiveness in the long term.”
"Schütz's new site, close to our facility, creates maximum supply security for our operations," said Uwe Lohr, Senior Vice President Global Indirect Procurement, BASF SE.
The proximity and integration keep transport routes short and allow us to respond flexibly at all times to changing demands in our production plants and facilities.
The collaboration between BASF and Schütz dates back to the 1960s.
