Arkema says its US plant is well placed for global sales

Arkema is to expand the capacity of its US plant for PVdF polymer by 2,000 tpa, with a $12m (E9m) investment at its Calvert City plant in Kentucky. The programme is scheduled for completion in early 2008 and will make the plant one of the largest in the world for the high performance fluoropolymer.

The unit enjoys an integrated feedstock position and modern technology and, like its counterpart, the Pierre-Benite plant in France, is well placed to serve both the US and Asian markets, the company says. Sold under the Kynar name, Arkema’s PVdF has very good weathering properties and is resistant to corrosive chemicals. It is widely used in chemical engineering and in construction applications, appearing on many outstanding buildings.