Expansions: Arkema boosts elastomer capacity in France; SI expands antioxdant capacity in India

Materials firm Arkema has boosted its previously announced global Pebax elastomer capacity expansion at its Serquigny, France site, from +25% to +40% in two separate phases, firstly in Q1 2023 by raising global capacity by 15%, the additional 25% starting in Q3 2023.

The greater increase in Pebax elastomer capacity will support the strong demand from partner customers in the sports, consumer electronics, medical and industrial markets. Applications range from ultra-fast running shoes to catheters or flexible device screens.

Beyond this new capacity expansion in France and to support the growth of its global customers, the Group is currently assessing further investment opportunities, including in Asia.

As customer demand is increasingly driven by sustainability and social responsibility, over the last few years Arkema has benefited from strong growth in particular for its biobased Pebax Rnew grades, derived from renewable castor beans. These materials have a significantly lower carbon footprint thanks to their bio-based content and can be fully recycled as part of Arkema’s Virtucycle recycling programme for advanced polymers.

It adds that it will continue to innovate and invest to further improve its materials’ carbon footprint. As part of this expansion for example, water consumption will be reduced by 25% at the Serquigny site thanks to process improvements.

Additives firm SI Group says it will add manufacturing capabilities and capacity to begin producing Ethanox 4757 aminic antioxidant at its Rasal, India facility. It is an octylated-butylated diphenylamine primary antioxidant used in lubricants, greases, industrial, automotive and heat transfer fluids. Commercial materials are anticipated to be available in Q4 2022 and will add several thousand tonnes of availability.

This new product complements SI Group's existing range of antioxidants for lubricants and will strengthen the company's product offerings for lubricant customers. The aminic antioxidant is designed to extend the life of lubricants.

"SI Group has been a leading supplier of phenolic antioxidants for decades and we're excited to expand our portfolio to include aminic antioxidants. Leveraging our backward integration, SI Group will be able to offer our customers additional security of supply for this key material," said Stuart McTavish, Market Development Manager – Fuel and Lubricant Additives at SI Group.

SI Group markets its fuel and lubricants antioxidant portfolio under the Ethanox brand name, 4757 antioxidant can be utilised across a variety of industrial, grease, and transportation lubricant applications.

(PRA)

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