COLOMBES Cedex, France - Arkema has brought on stream, several weeks ahead of schedule, a 50 percent increase in its fluorinated polymer production capacity at its Changshu, China, site. Arkema now has major production capabilities for Kynar^® PVDF in Europe, North America and Asia, and will be able to accommodate the growth of its customers around the world.

Based in Changshu, the new line dedicated to the production of Kynar and its VF2 (vinylidene fluoride) monomer will bolster the group’s presence in emerging countries while sustaining its development in fast-growing specialty products. These new capacities will enable the group to better meet global demand for PVDF, both in traditional markets such as coatings, chemical engineering and offshore oil extraction currently experiencing strong growth, and in emerging applications like water treatment, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic panels.