- 15% debottlenecking at Spinetta (Italy) and Franklin (Virginia) plants
- Global bis-peroxide capacity to grow by 30% by end 2014
- Bis-peroxide used in rubber crosslinking for wire & cable, automotive, and footwear
- Bis-peroxide market expected to grow 6% annually in Asia, Americas, and Europe
Capacity Expansion
Arkema has increased its bis-peroxide production capacity by 15% at its Spinetta (Italy) and Franklin (Virginia) plants. This expansion is in response to strong demand in the synthetic rubber crosslinking industry, particularly in Asia. The increased capacity is already effective and marks the first stage of a multi-step plan to grow global bis-peroxide capacity by 30% by the end of 2014.
Market Applications
Bis-peroxide, specifically Bis-Isopropylbenzene-Peroxide, is widely used in the crosslinking of rubber in various sectors such as wire & cable, automotive, and footwear. The market for bis-peroxide is expected to grow by approximately 6% annually across Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
New Developments
Arkema has developed a new grade, Luperox® FreeO, which offers an alternative to current crosslinking technologies used in the foamed EVA industry. This new grade produces no strong-smelling and persistent VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), meeting a significant expectation for footwear manufacturers.
