BASF starts commercial production of Elastollan FR TPU grade in Shanghai

BASF announced that its Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) plant in Shanghai, China, is qualified to produce Elastollan Flame‑Retardant (FR) TPU grade, offering a comprehensive portfolio of flame-retardant solutions including both FHF and FR grades.

Key applications of Elastollan Flame‑Retardant (FR) TPU grade include industrial automation, robotic and EV charging. The commercial supply begins in March 2026, accelerating responsiveness and application development for the cable industry in Asia Pacific.

Key applications include industrial automation, robotic and EV charging.

“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.

This milestone builds on the plant’s 2023 localization of the Halogen-free Flame-Retardant (FHF) TPU series for customers in Asia Pacific. With the addition of the FR series, BASF now offers enhanced FR performance designed for more stringent application conditions.

With both the FHF and FR series produced locally, BASF provides a comprehensive portfolio of FR TPU solutions to support key cable sectors, including industrial automation, robotic, EV charging, in meeting local compliance requirements and addressing specialized FR needs with greater agility and confidence.