BASF celebrates its 150th anniversary

BASF celebrated its 150th anniversary last month in the Feierabendhaus in Ludwigshafen. "150 years is a special company anniversary – an opportunity to look back and reflect but also to look forward,” said Dr Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE.

German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Malu Dreyer, Minister-President of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate also congratulated BASF in front of an audience of more than 1000 guests from government, business, science and society.

Over the past 150 years, BASF has grown from a company with 30 employees to become the world’s leading chemical company with around 113,000 employees in 80 countries. "Our success today is due in part to the fact that the right course was set years ago. Especially in chemistry, we are constantly building on the achievements of our predecessors,” said Bock.

The company looked back at its 150-year history in a multimedia presentation on 15 large screens. Following the beginnings with dyes, the industrial production of ammonia for fertiliser was achieved a few years later. Then plastics were added. Since then BASF’s portfolio has continuously developed and grown – ranging today from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection to oil and gas.

The event saw the premiere of the composition ‘Symphony No 8: Water Dances,’ composed for BASF’s anniversary by Michael Nyman and perfomed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.