SOUTHFIELD, MI, April 16, 2014 -BASF will serve as a Gold Level sponsor and experts from the company will present technical papers at the upcomingECOAT 14 Conference in Orlando from April 22-24 at the Rosen Centre.

The conference, where the biggest innovators in the electrocoating industry convene to discuss new technology, aims to showcase the latest trends and advancements in the field through case studies and technical presentations.

A ttendees - ranging from custom coaters, captive shop finishers, engineers, distributors, line operators, senior level executives and more - will have an extensive opportunity to expand their electrocoating knowledge and interact with the world's foremost experts. The event also features exhibit rooms to facilitate interaction with suppliers of equipment, chemicals, paint, ancillary equipment and finishing applications.

As amanufacturer of high-performance cathodic electrocoats for more than 30 years, BASF offers customers a breadth of global technology and support, from shop conversion and workflow analysis to customized training and onsite problem-solving.

Presentations and speakers from BASF featured during ECOAT 14 include:

  • Maximizing Efficiency to Improve Profitability by Thaddeus Lepkowski, Market Segment Manager, BASF Coatings North America - maximizing the operational efficiency of an ecoat system can play a major role in improving the profitability of a facility. This discussion will outline key factors to determine how efficiently an ecoat system is operating. This includes process bottlenecks, racking and rack density, film build distribution and system design. (Advancements in Coatings Panel Discussion, April 23 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.)

  • Lightweighting Chassis Components Without Sacrificing Corrosion Performance by Tyler Dennison, Electrocoat Process Engineer, BASF Coatings North America and Lisette Maloney, Asst. Research Director, Magni Industries, Inc. - lightweight automotive components will be the reigning topic among OEMs, Tier I suppliers, and material processors for the foreseeable future. Ecoaters and ecoat technology will play a significant role in successfully meeting these regulations. Discussion will include the integration of these technologies and performance improvements generated. (Process Improvement Workshop, April 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 1:55 p.m.)

  • PPAP Testing by Robert Schiller, Group Leader, BASF Corporation - PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) does not have to be a complicated process. For bulk materials such as electrodeposition paint, the customer, ecoater and paint supplier need to work together under the guidelines of PPAP to accomplish what is needed for approval. The requirements of PPAP will be discussed to demonstrate how they can be easily met with little disruption in everyday activities. (Process Improvement Workshop, April 23 from 2 p.m. to 2:25 p.m.)

  • Modeling Success: The True Cost of Electrocoat by Charles Orr, Field Service Engineer, BASF Corporation - there are many cost drivers associated with the electrocoat process that need to be qualified. The interaction of these factors and today's competitive business environment make the need for a "complete" cost model more essential than ever. Discussion will include how modeling the process allows profitability to be maximized, costs to be minimized, and helps identify process bottlenecks that can limit efficiencies. (Process Improvement Workshop, April 23 from 2:30 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.)

For more information on the conference and schedule of events, visitECOAT 14 .

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visitwww.basf.us .

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet atwww.basf.com .

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