BASF-Fortitech complete final phase

Fortitech, a US supplier of nutrient systems, announced yesterday that the chemical group BASF has completed the transfer of its human nutrition premix business and customers in the Asia Pacific region to Fortitech.

As part of the transfer, Fortitech has assumed BASF's premix manufacturing facility in Malaysia and formed a new international affiliate, Fortitech Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd.

The expansion represents the final phase in the customer and facility transfer for the worldwide joint venture that Fortitech and BASF formed for the manufacture, marketing and sales of human nutrition premix products in June 2002.

Under the joint venture agreement, BASF transferred its customers in South America to Fortitech South America in July 2002. In September 2002, BASF transferred its facility in Denmark and European customers to the newly formed Fortitech Europe. The joint venture built upon the North American strategic alliance the companies formed in June 2001.

"Demand for fortified foods and wellness products continues to grow around the world, particularly in the Asia Pacific marketplace,"​ said Walter Borisenok, president of Fortitech. "Our global joint venture with BASF dramatically increases our ability to offer customers in the region enhanced access to Fortitech's nutrient premixes and high demand ingredients from BASF so customers can offer stronger, more marketable products."​

Fortitech has formed a new affiliate, Fortitech Asia Pacific, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to serve the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, India, Pakistan and New Zealand. The affiliate will supply custom premixes in liquid or powder form and can comply with Kosher and Halal standards.

In addition, the company has fully integrated its technical and sales support teams as well as in-house quality control program at the premix manufacturing facility and laboratory.

BASF will become the primary supplier of a broad range of nutritional ingredients to Fortitech and provide Fortitech with access to its nutritional research and development efforts. The manufacturing facility is set up to formulate and produce small and large volume premixes in liquid or solid form based on the customers' specifications.

"This joint venture brings together the best of Fortitech and BASF and strengthens our efforts to provide innovative human nutrition products to current and prospective customers," commented Andy Postlethwaite, director, Life Science and Functional Polymers, corporate strategy, BASF (Malaysia).