Arkema Increases Specialty Polyamides Global Capacities

To support its customers’ growth around the world, in particular in the sports, consumer electronics and automotive markets, Arkema continues to expand its specialty polyamides production capacities in China and the United States.

In China, at its Zhangjiagang site (Jiangsu Province) specialized in biosourced specialty polyamides, Arkema is increasing its compounding capacities and in 2017 will bring on stream two production lines to manufacture polyamide 11 in addition to polyamide 10 already produced on the site. Rilsan polyamide 11’s outstanding properties in terms of resistance to impact and to chemicals, light weight and easy processing make it a choice material to fulfil our customers’ specific needs in the automotive, consumer electronics and sports sectors.

With these developments and other investments made in recent years on the site amounting to €10 million overall, Arkema is significantly consolidating its offering together with the flexibility of its manufacturing plants in Asia for biosourced polyamides marketed under the trade name Rilsan. 

In the United States, a new investment in the Birdsboro site (Pennsylvania) will enable the manufacture of new Pebax® biosourced grades for the sports and electronics market. Hence, Arkema is complementing its Pebax thermoplastic elastomer range particularly sought after for their light weight, impact resistance, sturdiness and flexibility at temperatures as low as -40°C.

These investments are part of the development of the Group’s research and growth platforms related to weight reduction of materials, design of materials, solutions for electronics, and the development of biosourced products.

Thanks to production and R&D facilities in Europe, Asia and the United States, the Group’s commercial partners can be assured of top quality technical and logistics services at local level. A world leader in Specialty Polyamides, Arkema offers its customers a comprehensive range of innovative materials with its Rilsan and Pebax globally recognized brands.