Arkema history, profile and corporate video
Arkema SA engages in the manufacture and supply of chemical products. It operates through the Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products segments. The Industrial Chemicals segment covers chemical activities on major intermediates. It comprises the following business units: Acrylics, Coating Resins, Specialty Acrylic Polymers, Photocure Resins, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Thiochemicals, Fluorochemicals, and Hydrogen Peroxide. The Performance Products segment involves the applications products in the Technical Polymers, Specialty Chemicals, and Functional Additives business units. The company was founded on January 31, 2003, and is headquartered in Colombes, France.
HISTORY
The Arkema group was created in October 2004, following the reorganization of Total’s Chemicals branch. Thanks to innovation, targeted acquisitions and investments in emerging countries, it has become a recognized world player in the field of specialty chemicals.
2013
- June: start-up of the acrylic acid capacity extension at Clear Lake (Texas) which brings the site to a nameplate capacity of 270 KT per year.
- May: Arkema completes its second registration phase under REACH. 273 substances are now registered and the Group expects to register a total of 480 substances.
- May: Arkema sponsors the trimaran Arkema-Région Aquitaine which was built with materials and technologies developed by Arkema that help optimizes its weight, strength, and therefore performance.
- April: Arkema acquires a stake of some 25% in the Indian company Ihsedu Agrochem, a subsidiary of Jayant Agro, specializing in the production of castor oil, renewable raw material of its polyamide resins 10 and 11.
- April: Arkema acquires a stake of 60% in AEC Polymers, a French manufacturer of structural adhesives.
2012
- October: New settlement of Arkema in Brazil where the Group acquired from Resicryl a production plant of acrylic emulsions and additives.
- September: The Group reveals its new visual identity and a new baseline “innovative chemistry” which reasserts its focus on specialty chemicals and innovation.
- July: Arkema finalizes the sale of its vinyl products activity to the Klesh group. With this divestment, the Arkema group completes its strategic shift and repositions itself in the field of specialty chemicals.
- February: Arkema finalizes the acquisition of Chinese companies Casda Biomaterials, a global leading producer of sebacic acid, and Hipro Polymers, specialized in specialty polyamides 10.
- January: Arkema acquires Seppic’s specialty alkoxylates business.
2011
- November: Arkema acquires the Chinese companies HiPro Polymers et Casda Biomaterials, which are specialized in the production of bio-sourced polyamid 10 and its plant-based raw material – sebacic acid. This acquisition strengthens Arkema’s position in China, one of its geographical priorities over the last five years. The polyamid 10 product extends its range of high added value polyamids 11 and 12, and reflects Arkema’s growth.
- October: First stone laid for the Group’s future R&D center in Changshu (China). This will be the second center in Asia, after Japan.This confirms Arkema’s ambitious plans for strong growth in Asia, where it aims to generate 25% of its revenue by 2015, of which half is to be in China.
- October: First production run of a new facility for the production of Coatex rheology additives in Changshu (China).
- July: Arkema completes the acquisition of Total’s specialty resins (Cray Valley, Cook Composites & Polymers, and Sartomer).
- June: Arkema enters the CAC 60 Paris stock market index
- April: First production run of a new facility for fluoropolymers in Changshu (China)
- April: Arkema announces the construction of a world-size industrial platform for thiochemicals and the production of methionine in Kerteh (Malaysia), in partnership with the South Korean firm CJ CheilJedang
2010
- November: the company successfully completes its first REACH registration phase.
- September: Arkema is awarded the Pierre Potier prize for Kynar Aquatec®.
- January: Arkema completes the acquisition of specific acrylic assets from Dow in North America.
2009
- September: Arkema builds carbon nanotubes pilot plant at Mont (France).
- August: Acquisition by Arkema of certain acrylates and latex assets from Dow in North America.
- July: The Group invests in specialty acrylic polymers production through its subsidiary Coatex.
2008
- April: Initial share capital increase operation reserved for Arkema personnel is a success.
2007
- June 5: First Arkema General Shareholders Meeting.
- October: Arkema completes the acquisition of Coatex.
2006
- May 18: Arkema’s IPO on the Paris stock market (Segment A of Eurolist by EuronextTM).
2004
- October 1: Creation of Arkema.
*Information from Forbes.com and Arkema.com
**Video published on YouTube by “Arkema Group“