Bostik, the adhesive solutions segment of Arkema, is undergoing a $27 million investment in its Middleton, Massachusetts, manufacturing plant to increase the capacity and reliability of its high-molecular-weight polyester production while supporting the local economy and furthering sustainability values. 

As the largest Bostik manufacturing plant in the United States, the Middleton facility prioritizes worker safety and produces a diverse range of resins and adhesives, including high-molecular-weight polyesters, one of the company’s core technologies within its heat-activated, specialty hot melt technology platform. This platform also includes copolyamide (Thermelt^®) and thermoplastic polyurethane technologies.  

The company’s polyester production investment reflects a key infrastructure upgrade to a foundational technology that can be transformed into several formats, such as pellets, powders, webs, and films. Optimizations include adding a reactor to double the capacity across trains and replacing existing reactors to increase reliability, business continuity, and product output speeds. To help make these efforts a reality, Bostik invested more than $12 million in local vendors for installation, fabrication, and other civil works. 

"Our polyesters can be recyclable or compostable and can address changing regulations, such as food contact compliance and being BPA and halogen-free. They also facilitate the use of other lightweight materials in applications to reduce environmental impact. By investing in our Middleton plant community to produce more of these products at a reliable rate, we, as an Arkema company, are better positioned now more than ever to help our regional and global customers achieve their sustainability goals," said Chris Glover, senior vice president of North America Group Manufacturing.

Increasing high-molecular-weight copolyester capacity and quality also aligns with Arkema’s core sustainability values. “Our polyesters can be recyclable or compostable and can address changing regulations, such as food contact compliance and being BPA and halogen-free,” said Glover. “They also facilitate the use of other lightweight materials in applications to reduce environmental impact. By investing in our Middleton plant community to produce more of these products at a reliable rate, we, as an Arkema company, are better positioned now more than ever to help our regional and global customers achieve their sustainability goals.” 

Learn more about Bostik at www.bostik.com. Additional information about Arkema is available at www.arkema.com.