French chemicals and plastics producer Arkema is building a new plant on Jurong Island, Singapore, to produce its flagship Rilsan polyamide 11 high-performance polymer. This plant, for which production will be 100%-derived from renewable castor beans, represents a 50% increase in Arkema’s global polyamide 11 capacity.
The new site investment supports strong growth in demand for advanced bio-circular materials. Rilsan polyamide 11 is recognized worldwide for its superior properties and performance in very demanding applications, significantly contributing to the development of sustainable solutions in fast-growing sectors, such as new energy vehicles, 3D printing, as well as consumer goods, electronics, sports, and lifestyle markets.
After overcoming the difficulties linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, Arkema’s new site project is fully on track. The company confirms its ambition to start production in the first half of 2022. When complete, this will represent the biggest integrated bio-factory in the world dedicated to high-performance polymers.
According to Erwoan Pezron, Global Group President for Arkema’s Technical Polymers business line, “Singapore’s Jurong Island offers many advantages in terms of infrastructure, logistics, industrial integration, and operational excellence, as well as optimization of the activity’s carbon footprint. This major investment bolsters our global presence in bio-sourced materials while bringing us significantly closer to our customers in Asia.”
Founded in 2004, Arkema is a manufacturer of both industrial chemicals and performance products, including acrylics, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), hydrogen peroxide, technical polymers, specialty chemicals, and functional additives. The company reported sales of around EUR 8 billion in 2020 and operates in some 55 countries with 20,600 employees worldwide
(Sources: Arkema; Plastics Today; Composites World)
