Arkema says Singapore polyamide plant on track for 2022

SPECIALTY materials company Arkema has said despite challenges from the pandemic it is on track to rapidly expand production of polyamide 11 through a new plant in Singapore.

Arkema uses castor beans to produce the monomer amino 11 which it then processes into polyamide 11 under the brand Rilasan. The new plant is based on Jurong Island in Singapore and will begin production in the first half of 2022.

Arkema markets these bio-based polyamide resins for use in a range of applications including electronics, consumer goods, and fast-growing electric vehicle and 3D printing sectors.

Once complete, the €300m (US$362.3m) facility will be the biggest integrated bio-factory in the world dedicated to high performance polymers, Arkema says.

Arkema declined to disclose the capacity of the planned facility but has stated that it will expand the company’s global polyamide 11 capacity by 50% and support growing demand for advanced bio-circular materials.

Arkema has now completed in-depth studies for the facility and its technical teams have started infrastructure and construction work for the complex.

Erwoan Pezron, Senior VP of High Performance Polymers at Arkema, said: “After facing early challenges due to the global pandemic, we are operating at full strength and are now entering the peak construction phase with an estimated 2,000 workers on site during the summer months.”