Arkema announces the acquisition of American company Oxford Performance Materials
As part of its strategy to further expand in performance materials, Arkema announces the acquisition of the US company Oxford Performance Materials, Inc. (OPM), maker of polyether ketone ketone ultra-high-performance technical polymers marketed under the brandname OXPEKK®, with sales of the order of $ 2 M.
“ Arkema has had a long-standing interest in ultra-high-performance polymers that offer outstanding technical differentiation, opening up the way for major innovations for our customers “, said Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema Chairman and CEO. “ We are delighted to welcome OPM’s teams within Arkema. I firmly believe that this new activity has a huge growth potential. ”
“ OPM has spent nearly ten years perfecting the polyethyl ketone ketone (PEKK) molecule. Now with Arkema, we can broaden our industrial strategy and pursue more market opportunities. OPM’s single-minded focus on PEKK and Arkema’s technical polymer competencies and capabilities will be a formidable combination offering highly promising prospects for the development of ultra-high-performance polymers ” said Scott DeFelice, OPM President and CEO.
OXPEKK® polyether ketone ketone products feature outstanding characteristics, in particular excellent high-temperature and chemical resistance, unmatched abrasion resistance, and natural flame retardancy. They already have many applications, including in aerospace, long-term medical implants, and down-hole equipment for the oil and gas industries.
The addition of OXPEKK® polyether ketone ketone products to Arkema’s already diverse portfolio complements a set of high-performance materials that include Kynar® fluorinated polymers, Altuglas® PMMA, Rilsan® polyamides, Pebax® thermoplastic elastomers, as well as Nanostrength® and Graphistrength® nanostructured materials.
As part of its strategy to further expand in performance materials,