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MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF’s Care Creations
has yesterday officially opened its new Application Technology Laboratory for
personal care in Lagos, Nigeria. With the establishment of local competence in
application and formulation technology, BASF commissioned its local technical
service for African hair and skin care applications throughout sub-Saharan
Africa, as per the company's press-release.
At the same time, the company
strengthens its network of local expertise in marketing and sales in the region.
"Customized solutions meeting the specific requirements of consumers in
different markets are key for business growth. With our broadened presence and
the investment in a new Application Laboratory in sub-Saharan Africa, we can
provide on-site technical expertise and market insights to our customers and
support the local development of tailor-made products for the specific needs of
African hair and skin," said Dirk Mampe, Vice President Business Management
Personal Care Solutions Europe.
Hair and skin and thus consumers’
personal care regimens vary widely across regions, necessitating tailored
cosmetic products. The new state-of-the-art Application Laboratory in Nigeria is
designed to offer formulation support and, based on BASF’s deep global expertise
in hair and skin care performance testing, to expand and develop
consumer-relevant claim support for the needs of consumers in sub-Saharan
Africa. The laboratory is part of BASF’s new regional headquarter for West
Africa which was commissioned in Lagos in October last year. As one of the
fastest-growing beauty markets in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is well-suited as
a regional hub for BASF’s personal care business.
"The expansion of
BASF’s operations in West Africa, including the opening of this new Personal
Care Application Laboratory, clearly demonstrates BASF’s commitment to West
Africa and the confidence we have in Nigeria and the whole region," said Jean
Marc Ricca, Managing Director for BASF West Africa.
The new laboratory is
also part of BASF’s global application technology network in 21 countries. Being
at the pulse of the sub-Saharan African personal care market, the local BASF
team will support customers in the creation of both hair and skin care
applications for African consumers to answer specific needs and
trends.
The unique African hair is typified by kinks and coils along the
hair shaft, an elliptical cross-section, and fewer cuticle layers than other
hair types. These characteristics make natural African hair more difficult to
comb through and prone to breakage, necessitating a tailored care regimen to
maintain healthy hair. Popular styles such as natural afro hair,
chemically-relaxed hair, dreadlocked hair and the usage of styling tools, e.g.
flat irons, also call for specialty products.
As with hair, African skin
types have distinct characteristics such as a relatively high amount of
protective melanin, skin lipids and sebum secretion, and a comparatively large
pore area. An intensive and gentle cleansing combined with suitable skin care
products can improve the skin texture by supporting the balance between moisture
and sebum production.
The BASF division Care Chemicals offers a broad
range of ingredients for personal care, home care, industrial &
institutional cleaning, and technical applications. |
