Katharina Fechtner is a PhD chemist and Innovation Manager for Global Sustainability at BASF Coatings. With more than 13 years of experience across research, technology and business development, she now focuses on driving forward visionary sustainability strategies. Her work centers on enabling innovation through “Future Target Pictures,” integrating environmental responsibility into industrial ecosystems, and fostering transformation across value chains. Katharina strongly believes that a positive vision of the future is essential to making meaningful change happen.

The Surface Technology global business unit of BASF's Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, is a leading global supplier of innovative surface treatment technologies. Chemetall develops and manufactures customized technology and system solutions for applied surface technology. The products protect metals against corrosion, facilitate forming and machining, optimally prepare parts for the painting process and ensure excellent adhesion of the coating. The products are used in a wide range of industries and end markets such as automotive, aerospace, aluminum finishing and metal forming. Chemetall's core competence lies in the chemical treatment of metal surfaces. The focus of its global activities is on the development and implementation of customized technology and system solutions in surface technology. Globally established products such as Oxsilan®, Gardobond®, Ardrox® and Naftoseal® have had a significant impact on metal treatment.