BASF, originally an acronym for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik, is a German chemicals company. It was founded by Friedrich Engelhorn in Mannheim in 1865, and later on moved to Ludwigshafen am Rhein.
They develop and manufacture for example:
- Agricultural chemicals
- Vitamins
- Plastics
- Polymers and Acrylic monomers
- Synthetic leather
- Absorbents
- Solvents
- Colors and Pigments
- Oils and technical gases
From 1925 and on, especially during the Second World War, BASF became part of IG Farben, a conglomerate of all German chemical industries. When the allies disintegrated IG Farben due to several war crimes, the company reappeared as a separate business.