Bangkok--31 Oct--BASF
An innovative drainage system for beach protection made with BASF's Elastopave(R) polyurethane (PU) solutions has received the "National Innovation Award" by the National Innovation Agency under Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation for its societal contribution. Developed and patented by Sea and Land Corporation co., Ltd., this award-winning drainage system used Elastopave for the first time to prevent sand erosion as stormwater overflows from the land to the sea.
The new drainage system has already been installed along the coastline of South Pattaya beach this year. In 2020, it will be installed in Jomtien Beach, followed by the Bang Sean Beach in 2021 and gradually in all beach projects across Thailand as part of its 20-year National Strategic Plan.
"With water levels at the Gulf of Thailand rising at a rate of four millimeters a year and intensified flooding during storm seasons, coastal protection has become one of the key priorities for many cities across Thailand," said Professor Dr. Thanawat Jarupongsakul, the advisor of Sea and Land Corporation. "Through in-depth research coupled with strong support from BASF and our technical partner, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), we have successfully developed a new drainage system to minimize soil and beach erosion along coastlines."
The system is made up of long columns of gravel approximately 150 centimeters in length that are inserted vertically underground. Bonded with water permeable and highly porous Elastopave, stormwater can seep away and discharge quickly through the system into the sea, preventing flooding while contributing to groundwater recharge.
"Compared to traditional flood defense systems, the newly developed Elastopave system is simpler and more cost-effective to install with readily-available equipment," said Larsen Kolberg, Head of Business Management, Construction Industry, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF. "The aggregates are coated with a smooth PU layer which helps to minimize waste and clogging of residue, reducing environmental pollution and increasing safety for water-related activities at the beaches."
Over 50 projects across Asia have benefited from BASF's PU-based Elastopave solutions. In Korea, it has been increasingly used for road applications on sidewalks for improved drainage and noise absorption.
Typically, it is used on pedestrian zones, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, parking, and golf courses for reduction of flooding, aquaplaning, and black ice for vehicles. In the city of Erftstadt, Germany, Elastopave was recently installed on 750 square meters of cycle path, enabling urban dwellers to enjoy a safer and more sustainable mode of transport.
For more information on BASF's water-permeable PU solutions, visit https://products.basf.com/en/Elastopave.html
About BASF's Performance Materials division
BASF's Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors – transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with a deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2018, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of EUR7.65 bn. More information online: www.plastics.basf.com
About BASF in Thailand
BASF has been presented in Thailand for more than 50 years. With 632 employees in Thailand as of December 31, 2018, BASF offers a wide range of products and solutions to support almost all the key industries in the country, including agriculture, automotive, personal and home care, health and nutrition, construction, and packaging. BASF maintains a head office in Bangkok and operates three production sites around the country, as well as an automotive coatings and performance materials technical lab in Samutprakarn. In 2018, BASF posted sales of EUR514 million to customers in Thailand. Further information is available on the Internet at www.basf.com/th/.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around EUR63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.