BASF has inaugurated its new production plant for mobile emissions catalysts in Sroda Slaska, a Special Economic Zone near Wroclaw, Poland, the company said on Friday.

The grand opening event was attended by a number of national and local government officials, including Polish Vice Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jacek Mecina, as well as BASF board member Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel.

Construction of the new 40,000 square meter manufacturing facility -- BASF’s largest emissions catalysts plant in Europe –--began in late 2012, supported by an initial €90 million investment. The plant began production trials in April 2014, and last month started up two emissions catalysts manufacturing lines, with an initial employee base of 100.

Additional expansions will follow, raising the total investment for the plant to approximately €150 million. Once all 10 planned light duty and heavy duty catalysts production lines are operating at full capacity by 2016, BASF expects to employ more than 400 people at the Sroda Slaska site.

The emissions catalysts produced in Sroda Slaska will be used by manufacturers of light-duty gasoline vehicles and light and heavy duty diesel vehicles to meet more stringent Euro 6/VI emissions regulations.

“The launch of this new production plant provides a vital addition to our global manufacturing network for innovative automotive emissions control technologies,” said Kenneth Lane, president of BASF’s catalysts business. “Tightening emissions regulations will be a key growth driver for our business. Our investment in Sroda Slaska will provide the capacity we need to meet increased customer demand in the most efficient way possible.”

Among the advanced technologies that will be produced at the Sroda Slaska facility are Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, cutting-edge SCR on Filter (SCRoF) solutions as well as PremAir-branded ozone destruction catalysts for automotive applications.

“Due to its attractive location and its positive economic development, Poland is an attractive place for BASF to invest,” said Dr. Joachim Meyer, head of BASF's Central Europe business center. “This new facility strengthens our position as a supplier of innovative solutions to the markets of Central Europe.”