Arkema Announces Doubling of Production Capacity for Its Specialty Molecular Sieves

Regulatory News:

To support its customers’ growth, in particular in the refining and petrochemicals sector of Asia and the Middle East, Arkema (Paris:AKE), through its subsidiary CECA, an adsorption and filtration specialist, announces a project to double production capacity for its specialty molecular sieves. This capacity extension, representing capital expenditure of some €60 million, will take place in France on the Honfleur site dedicated to molecular sieves, with start-up scheduled for summer 2016.

CECA, the world’s n°2 in molecular sieves for petrochemicals and refining applications (Siliporite^®)

In order to support the growth of its customers in these sectors, the Arkema subsidiary announces a project to double production capacity for specialty molecular sieves at its Honfleur site in France. This capacity extension, which will operate an optimized manufacturing process, represents an investment of some €60 million. It is designed to produce adsorbents for aromatics separation in petrochemicals, in particular the latest generation ultra high performance CECA molecular sieves - Siliporite^® SPX 5003 - already produced industrially and marketed throughout the world. Production is scheduled to come on stream in two phases, the first in summer 2016 and the second in early 2017.

"Boosting CECA’s production capacity for specialty molecular sieves will enable us to support the growth of the market, of the order of 6 to 7%, especially in Asia and the Middle East, and in particular to serve our petrochemicals customers targeting end-markets such as synthetic textiles and PET bottles,” explains Marc-Antoine Mallet, CECA Managing Director.

Investment in line with the growth momentum of Arkema’s High Performance Materials segment

This latest investment provides Arkema with a further growth engine to drive its long-term ambition. It enables both Arkema and its subsidiary CECA to demonstrate their know-how in providing their customers with innovative solutions for the oil and gas growth markets. The investment also consolidates the IFP Energies nouvelles, Axens, CECA cluster of excellence in France in the field of petrochemicals and in particular xylene separation.

Moreover, the project entails the creation of some fifteen jobs at the Honfleur site. Ergonomics and working conditions issues were integrated at the plant design stage. Consistent with the Arkema Group’s continuous progress approach, safety-environment considerations, naturally taken into account, will be implemented to further minimize the environmental footprint of the manufacturing site as a whole.

CECA, a subsidiary of the Arkema Group, is a world player in Specialty Chemicals. CECA constantly strives to improve its customers’ performance by creating and developing adsorbents, chemical intermediates, and additives. CECA operates an extensive network of industrial facilities in Europe, together with two research centers dedicated to customer innovation.

A global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, Arkema is building the future of the chemical industry every day. Deploying a responsible, innovation-based approach, we produce state-of-the-art specialty chemicals that provide customers with practical solutions to such challenges as climate change, access to drinking water, the future of energy, fossil fuel preservation and the need for lighter materials. With operations in close to 50 countries, some 19,000 employees and research centers in North America, France and Asia, Arkema generates pro forma annual revenue of some €7.5 billion, and holds leadership positions in all its markets with a portfolio of internationally recognized brands.

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