- AkzoNobel invests over €20 million to expand Expancel production in Sweden.
- The Stockvik facility near Sundsvall will be expanded.
- Completion is expected by the end of 2018.
- Expancel microspheres are used in food packaging, paints, and the automotive industry.
Investment and Expansion
AkzoNobel’s Specialty Chemicals business is investing more than €20 million to increase production capacity in Sweden for its Expancel product line of expandable microspheres. The expansion will take place at the Stockvik facility near Sundsvall, with completion expected by the end of 2018.
Rising Demand
Expancel microspheres are experiencing increased demand across various markets, including food packaging, paints, and the automotive industry. These microspheres are essential in many consumer goods, industrial applications, and the construction industry.
Product Applications
Expancel consists of expandable, microscopic spheres with a thermoplastic shell encapsulating a gas. When heated, they expand up to 60 times in volume, making them suitable for diverse uses such as insulation in shoe soles and as filling material. The number of applications is growing, particularly in products where weight is critical, such as cars and wind turbines.
Innovative Solutions
AkzoNobel continuously develops new solutions to meet evolving customer needs. For instance, they have introduced microspheres to corks for better wine preservation and in porous ceramics for diesel particulate filters in trucks, which help reduce emissions.
