COLOMBES, France (Oct. 13, 2010)—Arkema S.A. said it will build a latex plant in China to produce emulsion polymers for use primarily in the coatings and adhesives markets.
The Colombes-based company said it will invest $30 million in the project. The factory will be built at Changshu, China, and start up in late 2012.
“Building the emulsion systems facility in China is an important milestone for the firm's business, said Richard Jenkins, managing director of Arkema Emulsion Systems Business Unit.
“The Changshu facility will allow us to support our global customers who are operating in, or expanding into, the region,” he said. “This investment represents our first step toward establishing Arkema Emulsion Systems as a multinational latex supplier.”
The expansion of manufacturing of emulsion products in China will enhance Arkema's position as an integrated global raw materials source for its customers in many industries, the company said. Additionally, it reinforces Arkema's strategy to improve its position in Asia and increase its acrylics downstream integration.
Adding capability for emulsion products will further enhance Arkema's product offerings in the region to coatings manufacturers, especially after the completion of the Coatex acrylic polymer plant, expected to start up mid-2011.
Emulsion polymer latexes are used in interior and exterior architectural coatings, elastomeric roof and wall coatings, traffic marking paints, sealant and construction products, and pressure-sensitive adhesives for tapes and labels.