Arkema has welcomed a new senior vice-president Performance Additives and member of the group’s executive committee, replacing Marie-Pierre Chevallier who has retired.

Arkema announced a partnership with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Université de Haute-Alsace to inaugurate a new lab at the Mulhouse Institute of Materials Science.

The evaluation process audits the following aspects of human resources: HR strategy, digital HR leadership, work environment/working conditions, integration, employer brand and recruitment, career management, values/ethics and CSR policy, compensation and recognition at work, commitment, and diversity and inclusion.

The company was a part of Arkema’s performance additives business line, and existed with little integration within the group’s other activities. Febex reported sales of around €30 million in 2021, employs 59 people, and operates one site in Switzerland.

The companies are entering into a long-term power purchase agreement with EDF Energy Services LLC (EDF). The agreement intends for American Acryl, a joint venture between the companies, to get 100% of its expected annual energy usage to be supplied by wind power.

Arkema recently announced the mass-balance certification of a range of bio-attributed acrylic monomers, and specialty acrylic additives and resins. Arkema’s use of the mass balance approach in manufacturing complements the bio-based segregated polymers, resins, and additives Arkema is already offering.

Bostik, the adhesives segment of Arkema, announced the opening of the Paris, France, Ideal Work showroom.

Arkema is boosting its previously announced global Pebax® elastomer capacity expansion at its Serquigny, France, site from an increase of 25% to an increase of 40%.

Beginning in November, Arkema representatives will teach several hundred high school students from the castor-rich state of Gujarat, India, classes on the basics of sustainable materials.

Arkema announced plans to acquire Polimeros Especiales, a waterborne acrylic resins provider in Mexico. 

In line with the expectations of the Paris Agreement, Arkema has set a target, based on a science-based target (SBT) approach, to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its scope 3 emissions by 46% by 2030 relative to 2019. 

Arkema recently announced that it has finalized its acquisition of Permoseal, a South African producer of adhesive solutions for DIY, packaging, and construction. 

Arkema recently shared details regarding its second annual Coating Rendez-Vous digital event, which will be held June 21-22, 2022. 

Arkema has developed a digital interface offering quick, secure, and 24/7 access to real-time information on orders and materials. 

Arkema recently announced details regarding its financial performance in the first quarter of 2022, announcing group sales  rose by 29.7% compared to the 2021 quarter, to almost €2.9 billion (approximately $3 billion).

Arkema’s corporate headquarters in Colombes, France, and its Marseille and Serquigny plants in France are now SuCCESS™ (Sustainable Castor Caring for Environmental and Social Standards) certified by independent certification bodies empaneled by the Sustainable Castor Association. 

Arkema recently announced that it is showcasing a broad offering of coating materials for waterborne, high solids, UV/EB, and powder formulations at the 2022 American Coatings Show (ACS) in Indianapolis, Ind., April 5-7, booth #1130. 

Arkema recently announced that it finalized its acquisition of Ashland’s Performance Adhesives Business on February 28, 2022. 

A new solution has been developed in the form of pre-dispersed masterbatches of core-shell particles in (meth)acrylate monomers. These new liquid toughener dispersions are stable and have been proven to increase the toughness of acrylic materials. The utility of these tougheners has been demonstrated in light-curable thermoset formulations and in 2K acrylic structural adhesives.

The recently announced Arkema–Académie des Sciences Prize for Innovation in Chemistry for Sustainable Materials is intended to reward a scientist of international standing in the field of materials.

Arkema will increase its global manufacturing capacity for Pebax elastomers by approximately 25% through an investment at its Serquigny plant in France.

The founding members of the Pragati project for sustainable castor crops recently finalized and published the final audited and certified results of the fifth year of the program.

Arkema recently announced a project to double its UV curable resins production capacity at its Nansha plant in China. 

Arkema recently announced its proposed acquisition of South Africa-based Permoseal, a manufacturer of adhesive solutions for woodworking, packaging, construction, and DIY.

Arkema recently announced that Armand Ajdari has been named chief technology officer, effective January 1, 2022.

Arkema recently announced that it has been recognized among the chemicals sector’s global leaders in sustainability in the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.

I recently reached out to key industry players—ranging from raw materials suppliers to manufacturers of finished adhesives and sealants—to get their takes on factors ranging from supply chain volatility and sustainability initiatives to research and development efforts.

Arkema recently announced that it has climbed to 11th place overall, and the top spot for the chemical sector, in The Wall Street Journal’s ranking of the 100 most sustainably managed companies.

Our annual ASI Top 20 details the leading worldwide manufacturers of adhesives and sealants. We targeted sales figures (and other details) for finished adhesives and sealants, as well as related products such as tapes, to develop the ranking.

Arkema recently announced its ambition to become a world leader in specialty materials realigned around three coherent businesses: Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions.

Tariffs, trade deals, and acquisitions—oh, my! In response to continued uncertainties resulting from ongoing political tensions and changing market dynamics, raw materials and chemicals suppliers are undertaking a number of strategic initiatives.

Brenntag recently announced that it will become the primary distributor for Arkema Inc. waterborne resins in Canada.