Arkema to expand organic peroxides capacity in China

Colombes, France – Arkema SA is investing €50 million in an expansion project at its site in Changshu in eastern China to increase production capacity for organic peroxides.

The move will see the French supplier increase manufacturing capacity for the materials by "two-and-a-half-fold," according to an Arkema announcement.

The goal, it said, is to support Asian customers in fast-growing markets, particularly in renewable energies.

Having laid the foundation stone for the project, Arkema  expects to complete the industrial start-up of the site by September 2025, said its 27 Sept statement.

The French group manufactures Luperox-branded organic peroxides at the site, used as crosslinking agents for a wide range of polymers.

Organic peroxides are used as curing agents in a wide range of elastomer compounds, including those based on EPDM, silicone and natural rubber.

In particular, Arkema noted that the chemicals are used as crosslinking initiators for polymers employed in the manufacture of photovoltaic panels.

The latest expansion follows Arkema projects to increase organic peroxide capacity in India by 70% in 2022 and double capacity at its Luperox 101 plant in Gunzburg, Germany – the latter started up this summer.

According to French supplier, the projects tap a number of new and more efficient technologies to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of the group's organic peroxides business.