BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions

What BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions does

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) is a wholly-owned business division of BASF SE, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, that develops and manufactures emission control catalysts, aircraft cabin air quality systems, precious metals trading and recycling services, and emerging hydrogen fuel cell components. The company operates 30 sites across 14 countries with approximately 4,400 employees, serving automotive OEMs, aerospace operators and MROs, hydrogen fuel cell manufacturers, semiconductor and glass producers, and industrial recycling customers. ECMS was formally established as a distinct business unit under President & CEO Dirk Bremm on January 1, 2022, and leverages BASF's parent-company infrastructure, R&D platforms, and financial resources.

ECMS's core technology portfolio includes proprietary catalyst formulations such as the Tri-Metal Catalyst (enabling partial palladium substitution with platinum in light-duty gasoline vehicles), SCR.2F combined SCR/diesel particulate filter technology, and the Deoxo/VOZC/VOC2.0 aircraft cabin air converter family. The company holds registered trademarks across VOZC, Deoxo, UpCore, EXACTUS, Celtec, Verdium, and VOC2.0, and produces low-PGM-loaded catalyst coated membranes for PEM water electrolysis at gigawatt capacity at the Budenheim, Germany facility. Its Verdium brand offers third-party mass-balance certified recycled precious metal with up to 30 metric tons of carbon reduction per kilogram and up to 90% lower CO2 versus primary mining. Aerospace cabin air systems have been deployed on commercial aircraft for over 40 years.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: hardware sales of emission control catalysts and temperature sensors (heavy duty, light duty, motorcycle, aerospace), transaction-fee-based precious metals trading and recycling services (including the Verdium certified recycled metal line), professional services through aerospace MRO stations and the UpCore upgrade program, and emerging hydrogen/fuel cell component sales. The hybrid B2B go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales teams serving major automotive OEMs and aerospace accounts with regional channel partners (Seal Dynamics for aerospace aftermarket, ONTAL for temperature sensing in Mexico, AAR OEM Solutions, ProCat/GlobalMRV). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; ECMS does not report standalone revenue, operating as an integrated business unit within BASF SE.

Name

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions

Legal name

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions LLC

Website

https://basf-catalystsmetals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions is a BASF SE division that develops emission control catalysts, aircraft cabin air systems, precious metals trading and recycling, and hydrogen fuel cell components for automotive OEMs, aerospace operators, and industrial customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emission Control Catalysts

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Emissions Control Catalysts (DeNOx/DeSOx/DOC/CO Oxidation) (IMAEAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Catalysts & Adsorbents (IMAEABAB), Precious Metals & Catalyst Materials (PGM Catalysts) (IMAEAIAN), Catalyst Supports & Carriers (Alumina/Ceramics/Monoliths) (IMAEAIAL), Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC), Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base) (IMAEAIAD)

Keywords

• Emission control catalysts
• Precious metals recycling
• Automotive catalyst manufacturing
• Aerospace cabin air quality
• Industrial temperature sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Iselin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Catalysts Sales: Sale of emission control catalysts for automotive (light and heavy duty), motorcycles, aerospace, and industrial applications. Products include three-way catalysts, diesel oxidation catalysts, SCR systems, and specialty zeolites.
2. Precious Metals Trading: Trading of precious metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium with financial risk management services for automotive and industrial customers.
3. Precious Metals Recycling: Recovery and recycling of precious metals from spent catalysts and scrap materials. Supports PGM needs with recycled metal having significantly lower carbon footprint than primary mined metal.
4. Temperature Sensing Products: Sale of thermocouples, optical pyrometers, and temperature sensors for glass, semiconductor, cement, and industrial applications, including calibration and recycling services.
5. Aerospace MRO Services: Maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft ozone and VOC converters, including restoration of catalysts and converter upgrades via UpCore program.
6. Hydrogen/Fuel Cell Components: Production and sale of catalyst coated membranes, MEAs, and components for PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers supporting the hydrogen economy.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) manufactures and sells emission control catalysts for automotive (light-duty, heavy-duty, motorcycle), aerospace, and industrial applications, along with precious metals trading and recycling services. The company also produces optical and thermocouple temperature sensors for industrial process control, catalyst coated membranes and MEAs for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers, and provides MRO services for aerospace converters. Its portfolio is anchored by proprietary brands including VOZC, Deoxo, UpCore, EXACTUS, Celtec, and Verdium (recycled metal with mass-balance certification).

Product overview

BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) offers a diversified portfolio of catalytic and precious metals solutions organized around three core product lines: Catalysts (including Heavy Duty, Light Duty, and Motorcycle emissions catalysts for automotive and aerospace applications), Precious Metals (encompassing Trading, Precious Metal Chemicals, and the Verdium™ recycled metal brand), and Recycling (covering Automotive and Chemical Catalysts recycling). The company serves the automotive industry, aerospace sector, semiconductors, and hydrogen economy with full-loop services including precious metals trading and recycling. Key branded products include VOZC™ (Volatile Organic Compound/Ozone Converter) for aircraft cabin air quality, UpCore™ fleet upgrade technology, Deoxo™ ozone converters, EXACTUS® optical temperature sensors, Celtec® MEA technology for fuel cells, and the Verdium™ certified recycled metal brand. Temperature sensing products include various thermocouple types. The portfolio integrates catalyst technologies with precious metals expertise and recycling capabilities to provide end-to-end circular solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Verdium: A recycled metal brand providing independent, third-party certification based on mass balance for PGM space with carbon reduction claims of up to 30 metric tons per kilogram
• VOZC
• Deoxo
• UpCore
• EXACTUS
• Celtec

Products and services

• VOZC (Volatile Organic Compound/Ozone Converter)

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30 metric tons of carbon reduction per kilogram of Verdium recycled metal
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and strategic.

• Seal DynamicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 June 2026Seal Dynamics appointed as exclusive aftermarket distribution, technical sales and repair management partner for aerospace customers in Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Provides broad geographic coverage and deep technical sales expertise to serve airlines and maintenance providers worldwide for VOZC technology and cabin air quality solutions.
• Trigona Fuel Cell Components GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Joint development of state-of-the-art production facility for green hydrogen and fuel cell components in Budenheim, Germany. Partnership producing low-PGM-loaded catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) for PEM water electrolysis stacks with gigawatt capacity.
• Grundstücksverwaltung Rheinufer GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Co-investor in Budenheim production facility for green hydrogen and fuel cell components. Site situated within industrial premises in Rhein-Main Metropolitan area center of Europe.
• ONTALregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 September 2025ONTAL, a leading solutions provider for the glass industry, appointed as authorized distributor for Temperature Sensing solutions in Mexico. Covers glass, heat treating, cement and other industrial applications. Combined expertise enables better customer service with thermocouples, optical pyrometers, calibration services, and spent thermocouple recycling.
• Advent TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Agreement to establish end-to-end supply chain for hydrogen fuel cell systems in Europe. BASF scaling up Celtec MEA production at Advent's planned manufacturing facility in Western Macedonia, Greece under Green HiPo IPCEI program. Partnership covers fuel cells and extends into water electrolysis.
• GlobalMRVregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 March 2021ProCat Testing, a BASF subsidiary, appointed as North American distributor for GlobalMRV's Firefly advanced emissions data acquisition and analytics system. Collaboration advances digital transformation of vehicle powertrain calibration and durability testing.
• Sibanye-StillwaterstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Co-sponsored development of Tri-Metal Catalyst technology enabling partial substitution of palladium with platinum in catalytic converters. Investment in market development to ensure PGM industry sustainability and supply certainty for customers.
• Impala PlatinumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Co-sponsored development of Tri-Metal Catalyst technology with Sibanye-Stillwater and BASF. Committed to investment in market development for primary products to normalize longer-term PGM demand with supply ratios.
• AAR OEM SolutionsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 April 2019Agreement to jointly serve aircraft ozone and VOC converter market, providing improved airplane cabin air quality solutions. Combined reach and expertise for MRO and OEM customers.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals company with a Catalysts business unit serving chemical, petrochemical, and emissions end markets. Broader portfolio than ECMS, with direct overlap in industrial and specialty catalysts.
• Forvia (Faurecia): French automotive technology group whose Faurecia Clean Mobility business supplies complete emissions control systems to global OEMs. Broader incumbent competing in the same automotive catalyst end market with system-level integration.

Direct peers

• Umicore: Belgian materials technology group with direct overlap in automotive catalysts, PGM recycling, and fuel cell catalyst materials. Operates comparable closed-loop precious metals services and competes head-to-head on light-duty gasoline and diesel platforms.
• Cataler Corporation: Japanese automotive catalyst specialist majority-owned by Toyota Tsusho, supplying gasoline and diesel catalyst substrates globally. Direct peer in light-duty automotive catalyst programs with comparable OEM customer base.
• Johnson Matthey: UK-based global leader in emission control catalysts, PGM trading and recycling, and hydrogen technologies. Most direct competitor to ECMS across light-duty, heavy-duty, and aerospace catalyst portfolios as well as PGM services.
• Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo: Japanese precious metals leader with PGM trading, refining, recycling, and catalyst material offerings serving automotive, semiconductor, and hydrogen markets. Highly comparable to ECMS Precious Metals Services and Recycling business.
• Heraeus Precious Metals: German precious metals and technology group with strong PGM refining, recycling, and trading capabilities serving automotive catalyst and industrial customers. Directly comparable to ECMS' PGM recycling and trading operations.

Emerging players

• Advent Technologies Holdings: US/Greek fuel cell company partnered with ECMS to scale Celtec HT-PEM MEA production. Emerging hydrogen economy player directly tied to ECMS' fuel cell catalyst business, with shared Western Macedonia manufacturing ambitions.
• Topsoe (Haldor Topsøe): Danish catalyst company specializing in hydrogen, ammonia, and refining catalysts with growing electrolyzer and fuel cell offerings. Emerging peer in the hydrogen economy where ECMS is investing through Budenheim and Celtec partnerships.

Others

• Corning Incorporated: US-based specialty glass and ceramics company supplying cellular ceramic substrates that are the physical foundation for ECMS' catalyst coatings. Critical supplier/adjacent player in the catalyst value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@basf-ecms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/basf-environmental-catalyst-metal-solutions

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries29 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions