Arkema commissions new plant

Arkema Inc. has commissioned a new high-content ethylene-vinyl acetate (HC EVA) copolymer production unit at its Balan facility in Ain, France.
The Balan plant has the capacity to supply 35 per cent of the European HC EVA market and export 30 per cent of its production outside Europe, in particular to North America and Asia. The new plant has been designed to produce classic HC EVA as well as very-high-content specialty EVA grades.
In a press release, Bernard Roche, group president of Arkema’s technical polymers group, said the new EVA unit “was built in accordance with the best safety and quality standards. This plant will allow us to assist our customers’ developments over the long term.”
The safety equipment built into the process is based on the latest technologies and includes a thermal oxidizer that significantly reduces volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions.
Arkema was launched on October 1, 2004, as a result of the reorganization of Total’s chemicals business.
In the U.S., Atofina Chemicals, Inc. is now Arkema Inc. With 2,600 employees, Arkema Inc. reported sales of US$1.6 billion in 2004.
In Canada, Atofina Canada, Inc. is now Arkema Canada Inc.