DÜSSELDORF/MÜNSTER, Germany – BASF Coatings GmbH and Henkel AG & Co. KGaA have signed a joint-venture agreement to develop corrosion-protection solutions for the automotive industry. Headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, the joint venture is anticipated to launch in early 2011.

The primary focus of the joint venture will be research and development. It will bring together the unique capabilities of both companies in the areas of metal pretreatment and dip coating to develop products and processes that offer greater benefits in terms of cost, performance and environmental compatibility than the standard corrosion-protection processes currently used within the automotive industry.