SAO PAULO, Brazil - Arkema has opened a new development and application laboratory at its Araçariguama plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, dedicated to the Arkema Coating Resins and Coatex businesses. Arkema Coating Resins is a business unit of Arkema; Coatex is a subsidiary of Arkema Group.

The new facility will focus on innovation and technical customer support across several market segments, including coatings, adhesives, construction, textiles, mineral processing, paper and graphic arts. More than 150 agents, authorities, suppliers and partners were invited to attend an opening ceremony at the new facility on April 23, 2014.

Arkema has invested approximately $2.5 million to construct and equip the new lab, which opened on April 23. Tests performed at the facility will include methods crucial to customer applications, including:  chromatography, glass transition temperature, metal finishing technology (MFT), rheometer – RheoStress 6000, CEM – Smart 5, scrub resistance, washability, peel, shear, tack, elongation, traction and particle size.

The facility will support the introduction of the ENCOR^® brand into the Brazilian market. ENCOR products produced at the same site include ENCOR 726, ENCOR 726 Plus and ENCOR 1243 latexes.