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Materials News
Arkema outlines growth plans until 2015
A
t its recent Investor Day, French chemicals supplier Arkema detailed its its growth strategy for the next five years with a target of achieving EUR1 billion EBITDA from its vinyl, industrial chemicals and performance product segments, and upping its sales to EUR7.5 billion from the current EU5.8 billion. It expects growth to come from Asia with an increase of 60% sales.It is already taking steps to meet the growing demand in Asia. Arkema will triple the output for PA at its Shanghai plant by 2013, to meet the growing demand from the automotive and energy sectors. The new facility will have a polymerisation capacity of 6,000 tonnes/year for its Rilsan PA11 and Rilsamid PA12 products.
In line with achieving its goals by 2015, the company says it will focus on innovation on sustainability to generate EUR400 million in new sales over the next five years. This growth will be driven by composite and bioplastic materials and alternative energy and water treatment.
In terms of the solar power market, Arkema supplies its Kynar film for use in the multi-layer back sheet of photovoltaic panels. The polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) films are produced using the company's patented blown film technology.
It also expects to speed up its focus on composites and bioplastics, the latter already accounts for 30% of its current business.
Arkema, which was set up in 2004 when the Total Group's chemicals division was restructured, allocates about two-thirds of its turnover on R&D for bioplastics. Its portfolio of bioplastics includes Rilsan 11, a castor oil-based PA, Pebax Rnew, with up to 90% biosourced elastomer, Rilsan Clear Rnew, a transparent PA made from 54% renewable raw materials and Rilsan HT, a high-temperature castor oil-based polymer for automotive applications.