Toronto, Ontario -- BASF Coatings has opened a new laboratory in Wuerzburg, Germany, introducing a digitalized and efficiency focused “lean lab” designed to support the development and production of waterborne basecoats for the European automotive industry.
The Lean Lab model features three district sections. One area handles all wet application work, another is dedicated to customer support and product improvement, and a third manages raw materials and supplies. Separating these functions is meant to reduce overlap, streamline processes and improve consistency from development to production.
The Wuerzburg launch is part of a global rollout.
“With this infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for modern, digitalized, and flexible product development, reaffirming our commitment to driving innovation and sustainability consistently across all regions,” said Dr. Ralf Otte, vice-president of global technology and automotive OEM coatings at BASF Coatings.
Workstations across the lab are laid out to reduce strain and improve workflow, and each station is tied into a digital system that records every step in the development process. The laboratory sits close to production, allowing coatings to move quickly from testing to manufacturing and enabling faster collaboration between teams.
The facility is built to meet upcoming EU rules for raw material classification and occupational safety, supported by full digital tracking of all materials. BASF Coatings reports that the way the lab moves and stores those materials, with shorter transport paths, centralized storage and direct logistics connections, cuts emissions by 25.1 tonnes of CO₂ a year. Materials are also supplied based on real-time consumption, reducing waste and improving resource efficiency.
The lab’s software systems further automate work, with customized programs managing laboratory processes and an RFID-based warehouse system handling data collection and raw material ordering.
The Wuerzburg team develops waterborne basecoats for automotive OEMs worldwide.
