French materials supplier Arkema SA is planning to increase fluoropolymer production capacity at its plant in Calvert City, Ky., by 20 percent.
The investment is scheduled to start mid-2018 to produce the materials, which are marketed under the brand Kynar.
The expansion is fueled by strong demand in the new energies and water management markets as well as in more traditional applications such as chemical process industry and high performance cables.
Arkema already operates fluoropolymer production facilities in Europe, North America and Asia, and the investment is expected to further consolidates its position in PVDF market.
In its recent capital markets day in July, Arkema said it increase investment in development of its advanced materials as part of future growth.
The company completed a similar expansion at its Changshu, China plant earlier this year.
The new capacity, Arkema said, will enable the group to support its customers' growth in America, particularly in emerging applications such as water filtration.
“Over the last five decades, the Calvert City plant has proven itself to be outstanding in efficiency, quality and innovation. This latest investment … will enable us to support the fast growth of our customers, in particular in the United States, with ever more innovative products suited to their evolving needs,” said Erwoan Pezron, global group president for Arkema's technical polymers.
