Powered by unique and ultra-accurate simulation methods, extensive material data, and easy-to-access web services, the computer-aided engineering (CAE) competence Ultrasim® creates an unparalleled offering for BASF customers. As a pioneer in the field, BASF introduced the first integrative simulation capability for plastics in 1999, laying the foundation for what is today a strong global network of CAE simulation services. In 2024, Ultrasim® celebrates 25 years of helping customers use BASF plastics and foams to develop sustainable innovations in industries ranging from automotive to appliances, footwear, furniture, renewable energies, and more.
“The late 1990s were an exciting time”, Stefan Glaser, today Vice President Simulation Engineering & Ultrasim®, recalls. He had joined BASF in 1996 to develop BASF’s integrative simulation capability and prepare its launch. “It was a completely new way of thinking. The internet opened up new possibilities, Google went live in 1998, and we at BASF already thought about connecting the data of our plastic materials and use them to optimize our customers’ products. This was truly pioneering work.”
In 1999, BASF launched its integrative simulation capability, which was soon rebranded Ultrasim®. Since then, the Ultrasim® competencies have expanded continuously: “In the last 15 years, we added at least one new simulation capability to our Ultrasim® portfolio per year to address new applications of our plastic materials”, Glaser shares. Today, Ultrasim® provides simulation services for process design (filling and foaming simulations) and mechanical design (static and crash analyses). The plastics are described with accurate material models that cover a wide range of phenomena like the dependence of the material response on strain rate, temperature, moisture content and, in particular, its processing.
“The track record of Ultrasim® is impressive”, acknowledges Josef R. Wünsch, Senior Vice President Research & Development Performance Materials, “Over the past 25 years, we have helped our customers from a wide range of segments to drive exciting innovations in their fields using our high performance materials – be it energy absorbers and engine mounts in cars, materials for battery packs, photovoltaic connectors, sport shoes, wheelchairs, and many more.”
Regardless of the target application, all customers enjoy valuable benefits from using BASF’s simulation services: Ultrasim® helps them achieve a more sustainable part development with less waste, time, and energy. This results in lower costs and higher performance of their products. Customers can rely on the global network of Ultrasim® simulation experts who work hand-in-hand with the respective technical development colleagues at BASF to deliver optimum service tailormade to the customers’ specific needs.
The pioneering story of Ultrasim® continues into the future
“Ultrasim® has been a true success story – and it doesn’t stop now”, shares Wünsch, “We continue to develop our offering and have recently revolutionized the field of CAE material simulation again: with our Ultrasim® Web Services making it a real customer experience.”
Ultrasim® has pioneered the world of web-based simulation services to seamlessly integrate BASF’s material and part design knowledge with customers’ in-house development processes: The Ultrasim® Web Services offer simulation services as easy-to-access and 24/7 available web apps. The apps’ interfaces are streamlined for specific industry challenges and come with integrated support, which enables cost-effective collaboration between customers and BASF simulation experts.
Find out more about the entire Ultrasim® portfolio at www.ultrasim.basf.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.
About BASF’s Performance Materials division
BASF’s Performance Materials division is at the forefront of the much-needed sustainability transformation in plastics. Our products are co-created with customers around the globe to bring innovations to major industry sectors such as transportation, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. Our R&D focuses on all stages of the plastics journey: Make, Use and Recycle. The MAKE phase is about improving how plastics are made, from product design to the choice of raw materials and the manufacturing process itself. The USE phase enhances plastics’ strengths such as light weight, robustness, and thermal resistance. At the end of the product lifecycle, the RECYCLE phase looks at how to close the loop to achieve a circular economy. In 2023, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €7.2 billion. Join #ourplasticsjourney at: https://www.performance-materials.basf.com.
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BASF and its customer Evonik have agreed on the first delivery of BASF’s ammonia BMBcertTM grade. Thereby, both chemical companies demonstrate their commitment to offer products with a reduced product carbon footprint (PCF). With its ammonia BMBcert, BASF delivers to Evonik a product whose PCF is at least 65 % lower than the standard product*. Both, BASF and Evonik are extending their product portfolios and launching ammonia-based products applying a biomass balance approach. These products are readily available via existing sales channels and fully integrated into the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems of the companies.“Evonik and BASF share the same vision: We are convinced that the chemical industry can transform and replace fossil with renewable feedstocks and utilities. The supply with ammonia BMBcert is a big milestone for both of us,” said Dr. Jens Aßmann, Vice President Business Management Ammonia Value Chain and Operations Amino Resins at BASF. Evonik has received a first shipment of ammonia BMBcert produced by BASF. By incorporating BASF’s ammonia BMBcert into its ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) PLUS certified production processes, Evonik demonstrates its commitment to a more sustainable economy and its ambitious emissions reduction targets. By 2030, Evonik seeks to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25 % and Scope 3 emissions by 11 % compared to 2021 levels, and to become climate-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement and validated by Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). Evonik plans to use ammonia BMBcert to produce a range of sustainable products, including VESTAMIN® IPD eCO and VESTAMID® eCO Polyamide 12. “eCO” stands for Evonik’s aim to eliminate CO2 via mass balance approach using renewable feedstock in existing systems and production processes. With the eCO grades, customers benefit from more sustainable products with no compromise in performance. Thus, conventional, trusted VESTAMIN curing agents for epoxy resin systems with typical applications in industrial flooring, marine and anticorrosive paints can easily be replaced by the IPD eCO grade. The same proves true for VESTAMID eCO Polyamide 12, which covers tailored, high-performance polyamide, typically found in shoe soles, sunglasses, gas pipes, safety-related automotive parts and many more. “We are excited to partner with BASF to source ammonia with a reduced carbon footprint. This collaboration witnesses our dedication to environmental stewardship and our ability to innovate in a rapidly changing market,” said Silvia Torrado, Global Procurement Director for Base Petrochemicals at Evonik.BASF applies a biomass balance approach to replace fossil resources at the beginning of the production process with certified biomethane from biowaste raw materials which are attributed to the product. The mass-balanced product is certified according to ISCC PLUS standards. In addition, BASF is using electricity from renewable sources for the manufacturing of the ammonia, further reducing its PCF. As outlined in its sustainability roadmap, the BASF Monomers Division announced to offer at least one circular or lower PCF option for every major product line by 2025. Mass balanced products are drop-in solutions, meaning they have the same properties as the corresponding conventional products, but with an attributed share of circular raw materials. The division’s sustainable offerings are an essential part of BASF’s path to climate neutrality and net-zero CO2emissions by 2050. * Based on the average CO2 footprints stated in the “Default values for the transitional period for the CBAM between October 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025” published by the European Commission on Dec 22, 2023.
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