Technology

Lupotech G is a proprietary gas-phase polyethylene process developed by BASF in the 1990s, designed for the production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and medium-density polyethylene (MDPE). Its development was rooted in BASF’s expertise in catalysts and process engineering, targeting efficient, versatile, and cost-effective PE manufacturing using fluidized-bed reactor technology.

When BASF and Shell created Elenac as a joint venture to combine their polyolefin (mainly polyethylene) activities, Lupotech G was contributed as the lead BASF gas-phase process while Shell contributed other assets.​ Elenac operated with a portfolio that included Lupotech G for gas-phase PE production and was a direct predecessor for Basell (see below).

In 2000, Elenac (BASF/Shell, holding Lupotech G), Montell (Shell/Montedison, holding Spherilene), and Targor (BASF/Hoeschst) merged to create Basell (ownership initially Shell and BASF).​ The result: Basell, for the first time, controlled both gas phase polethylene process technologies Spherilene (Himont/Montell) and Lupotech G (BASF/Elenac). European Commission records and internal Basell publications explicitly detail that these two licensing streams were combined under the Basell/technical licensing unit.

After the consolidation, Basell reviewed its technological “menu” and pursued a selective licensing model:

• Spherilene was actively licensed for LLDPE/HDPE swing and specified as being inherited from Montell/Himont.​
• Lupotech G was selectively offered for gas-phase HDPE/MDPE/LLDPE, and Basell maintained legacy reference plants but limited new outside licenses after the mid-2000s, focusing on other (mainly Spherilene) variants in the gas-phase space, and on their Hostalen and Lupotech T in other PE segments.

As time went on, Basell/LyondellBasell further invested in Spherilene as their global offering, while Lupotech G was retained for in-house use or legacy plants, not as a widely promoted licensing product. Later on, LyondellBasell discontinued licensing of Spherilene technology as the technology has been effectively superseded by LyondellBasell's Hyperzone PE process, which represents a strategic consolidation and evolution of the company's PE technology portfolio.

References

1. R. Püntener. Studienreise - Firma Gawaplast 2009. vta-aktuell 3/2009. pp. 16-17
2. Aug 1, 2006. Basell plans PE plant based on Spherilene S Technology in Germany. Plastermart
3. Oct 12, 2023. Pipe Customer Event - Site Wesseling-Knapsack Presentation. LyondellBasell
4. Dec 23, 1997. Case No IV/M. 1041 - BASF / SHELL. Commission of the European Communities
5. Mar 29, 2000. Case No COMP/M.1751 - SHELL / BASF / JV - PROJECT NICOLE. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities